Gulfstream Soars on Aircraft Orders

Aircraft backlog at Gulfstream Aerospace is at its highest point in six years, with book-to-bill coming in at 1.7:1 during the third quarter, Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of parent company General Dynamics, said this morning during a quarterly investor call. General Dynamics’ aerospace division, which also includes Jet Aviation, saw orders in the quarter jump 79 percent, to $3.247 billion, while backlog climbed to $14.69 billion at the end of last month.

Novakovic remains bullish on sales going forward, saying the pipeline is robust and termed demand for Gulfstreams as “very strong.” She also said Gulfstream’s G400 and G800 announced earlier this month have been well received by the market, with “many orders” already booked for the new jets.

Meanwhile, third-quarter Gulfstream shipments fell by one unit—a super-midsize G280—from a year ago, to 31 (25 large-cabin jets and six G280s), due to one customer pushing their aircraft delivery to the fourth quarter, she said.

Deliveries in the first nine months totaled 80 aircraft (68 large cabins and 12 G280s), down from 87 (71 large-cabins and 16 G280s) in the same period last year. According to Novakovic, the lower shipments are due to pandemic-related production cuts announced last year, noting that these reductions peaked in the second quarter. Thus, fourth-quarter deliveries are expected to match the 40 aircraft shipped a year ago, while next year and 2023 will see increases, she said.

Antavia Opens Larger Wheels, Brakes MRO at Paris CDG

Ametek MRO group company Antavia has opened a new, larger wheels and brakes maintenance and repair facility at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Specializing in commercial, business, military, and government jets, the 2,500-sq-m (26,910-sq-ft) facility has been designed to replicate Antavia’s facility near Toulouse and features workspaces created around lean principles.

The facility enables the company to add equipment and provide shorter overhauls and tire changes. It also holds a significant inventory of spare parts, including tires valued at more than $1 million.

The opening of this facility, which is also Civil Aviation Administration of China-approved, comes on the heels of Antavia marking its 40,000th wheel and brake repair milestone. “It is our policy to duplicate skills and expertise in our areas of niche expertise,” said Alan Harding, divisional v-p of MRO Europe & Asia for Ametek MRO. “We have developed a huge depth of experience in the wheels and brakes arena that Antavia will replicate in Asia as we expand our footprint and increase our services in 2022.”

Heli XP Fair Opens in São Paulo

The Heli XP show being held today and tomorrow at Helipark in São Paulo is Brazil’s second in-person event since the pandemic began. A total of 20 helicopters are on display at the event, with the Airbus/Helibras ACH145 and Leonardo AW109 marking their Heli XP debuts.

Helipark has made available part of its 230-meter (754-foot) runway for Heli XP demo flights. This year’s fair will fully occupy a hangar, a 75 percent increase from the first Heli XP in 2019. It is running from 1 to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow but is open only to industry professionals and invited guests.

A host of the usual LABACE exhibitors are present at Heli XP, including Helipark and competitors Helicidade and Helicenter; Lider Aviation; Bell representative TAM AE; logistics firm AGS; aircraft importers Razac, Sertrading, Timbro, and WM; helicopter dealer Gualter Helicopteros; caterers Sky Service and Marcia’s; and several MRO, insurance, and finance firms.

"We are very pleased with the adhesion of manufacturers and other players in the executive aviation sector to Heli XP,” said Gledson Castro, director of Heli XP organizer G2C Events.

Brazil has the world’s second-largest helicopter fleet and is first in daily operations. The event is associated with HAI and NBAA, with institutional support from the Brazilian Association of Helicopter Pilots and the Brazilian Association of Aeromedical Operators.

JSSI’s SierraTrax Expands Mx Tracking to More Aircraft

Following its acquisition this summer by Jet Support Services (JSSI), maintenance tracking provider SierraTrax has added five aircraft to its platform: the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24; Bombardier Challenger 300 and 350; and Robinson R66 helicopter.

Providing digital aircraft records, maintenance tracking, and professional scanning to owners and operators, SierraTrax’s software currently supports more than 1,000 registered aircraft. Business aircraft types covered include those manufactured by Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Embraer (Phenom), and Learjet.

“We’re excited to expand our offering to a broader customer based through our partnership with JSSI and remain committed to extending our digital maintenance tracking services to larger jets and helicopters,” said SierraTrax founder Jason Talley.

JSSI chairman and CEO Neil Book said the addition of the aircraft types builds on his company’s strategy to enable more owners and operators to simplify aircraft maintenance and manage it more efficiently. “In acquiring SierraTrax earlier this year, we have combined strengths to provide even greater data transparency and insight into a growing number of business aircraft,” Book said.

4AIR takes the confusion out of participation in aviation sustainability initiatives.

Whether you operate one aircraft or a large fleet, integrating a carbon offset program into your flight department’s operations can be a labor-intensive and confusing task. The team at 4AIR has the insights you need to make your operation’s participation as simple as a daytime VFR landing.

Malta Aviation Conference Kicks Off in Person

With the theme of “Rebooting the Industry,” the third edition of the Malta Aviation Conference and Expo (MACE) kicked off yesterday, assembling industry professionals for three days of panel discussions, keynotes, and networking.

“Following the hand dealt to the aviation industry by the pandemic, we managed to bring together the industry to discuss and collaborate on ways by which together we can take the industry back to pre-pandemic heights," said MACE founding partners Stanley Bugeja, Jonathan Dalli, and Joshua Zammit.

More than 35 speakers are participating in the conference, including Ian Borg, who is the minister for transport, infrastructure, and capital projects for Malta, and Charles Pace, director general of civil aviation for Transport Malta.

Borg underscored the importance of MACE as Malta’s largest aviation conference, saying it is a platform to attract keynote speakers and potential investments in the growth of the industry. “Malta’s aviation register, 9H, is one of the fastest-growing ones in Europe, showing that the most influential aviation leaders are looking at Malta to continue expanding their services,” he said. “Presently at around 600 aircraft registered, we are committed to continuing building on this growth, and conferences like MACE are an excellent opportunity to foster healthy dialogue, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices to expand our horizons."

FL Technics Contract Opens Eastern Europe to Meggitt

UK-based Meggitt has signed a three-year, multimillion-euro contract with Avia Solutions Group’s FL Technics—and by extension sister company Jet Maintenance Solutions—to supply MRO services to operators in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States for sensors, valves, actuators, and fire extinguishers. The agreement, which FL Technics calls a “SMARTSupport” contract, builds on an existing one with FL Technics for the rest of Europe.

“This latest contract further strengthens our partnership with FL Technics and opens up new opportunities for us in the Eastern European and Russian regions,” said Meggitt services and support division president Stewart Watson. “We are also delighted to welcome Jet Maintenance Solutions to our family of customers and hope to continue to build on our relationship with the prestigious Avia Solutions group of companies.”

The new contract also “demonstrates mutual trust and dedication towards our business relationship that is now...evolving into a full-scale partnership,” added FL Technics CEO Zilvinas Lapinskas.

Former EDS Pilot, Aviation Manager Scott Miller Dies

Scott Miller, who spent 47 years as a pilot and 26 years with the Electronic Data Systems (EDS) flight department, eventually becoming its manager, has died at age 72 after being diagnosed with incurable cancer.

“He so loved to fly,” recalled his partner Nancie Kathrens. Miller’s last flight on July 30 was one of his regular contract flights in a Gulfstream for Cook Canyon Ranch. After he landed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, he wasn’t feeling well and went straight to the hospital, she explained. After 10 days there and a lengthy chemotherapy treatment, he elected to go home. “It was brutal on him, and he said, ‘no more,’” she told AIN. He died on September 27.

Miller served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, finding inspiration to pursue an aviation career while working on the flight deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier. He eventually became a corporate pilot after moving to Texas. After leaving EDS, Miller continued flying while teaching at CAE, then retired but flew as a contract pilot for Cook Canyon Ranch.

A memorial service is planned for November 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, those who knew Miller should email Kathrens a note with a favorite memory of him.

Duncan Adds Specialized Welding Services to Portfolio

Duncan Aviation continues to build on its portfolio of services with its machining and welding department achieving certification for the AWS D1.2/D1.2M Structural Welding Code—Aluminum. The Lincoln, Nebraska-headquartered MRO obtained the certification after documenting and demonstrating proficient and consistent structural welding processes and procedures.

It also comes as Duncan Aviation had purchased a new, high-tech aluminum MiG wire-feed welder with a digital function display to perform structural welding projects. An onboard computer monitors all weld variables and adjusts the arc and wire feed in real-time to provide for a more consistent weld. In addition, the computer saves and stores welding settings for future use.

Duncan Aviation’s team can provide a range of welding and machining services with the AWS D17.1/D17.1M code for aerospace applications. Duncan Aviation further can now also repair damaged scaffolding, fixtures, and stairs used by internal teams and the company expects it can expand its services to regional companies in other industries.

Matt Gudgel, Duncan Aviation machine shop team leader, pursued the capabilities when an OEM in a different industry approached him, saying it was challenging to find local/regional welding resources certified to perform this structural weld, Duncan Aviation said.

Duncan Aviation has certified welder/machinist Marcus McMeekin in the welding code and plans to add more certified machinists by the end of the year.

AIN Events: Building a Sustainable Flight Department

AIN continues to host one-day regional conferences to help corporate flight departments become more sustainable, with the next set for November 10 in Dallas. Attendees will learn about aviation’s contribution to carbon emissions, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), regulator/government roles in minimizing aviation emissions (including CORSIA and carbon credits), and making sense of carbon offsets, among others. You’ll also have an opportunity to network with other top-tier aircraft operators and presenters. Future events will also be held in Fort Lauderdale (December 8) and Los Angeles (January 19).Register today, as seating is limited.