MROs and Completion Centers

HAITEC has gained Part 45 base maintenance on the Gulfstream G650. As an EASA Part-145 organisation, HAITEC holds approvals from Civil Aviation Organisations of Russia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Bermuda and the FAA for a broad range of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, as well as ACJs, BBJs and Gulfstream business jets. “Our steady growth also puts us in a privileged position to offer new employment opportunities to qualified international aviation professionals in Erfurt and Hahn. Starting in September 2016, we will offer EASA Part-147 approved type training in our new facilities and already accept applications,” according to Frank Rott, CEO of HAITEC.

Dassault Falcon is about to break ground on a large MRO facility in Bordeaux, France. It will be a massive 77,500 sq ft facility aimed at supporting the growing high-end Falcon fleet. It is to be constructed near the company's final assembly plant. Once completed the MRO facility is expected to be able to service up to six jets at once. Ground breaking is slated for October 16th.

Manion Aviation and Meridian Jet Center recently came together on an agreement that now allows Manion to be an authorized sales representative for Meridian Jet Center. With the new designation they will be providing MRO service sales for a wide variety of business aircraft makes and models. Manion Aviation represents corporate jet owners and operators who are seeking the best MRO service solutions for their aircraft.

Flying Colours achieved a Supplemental Type Certificate for ADS-B OUT for Bombardier Challenger 600-2B16 (604 and 605) airframes from the US-based FAA. The first aircraft to be fitted with the system, a Bombardier Challenger 605, was completed at their USA facility in late September. The STC will be submitted for validation by both Transport Canada and Europe’s EASA this year.

Jet Aviation Singapore recently completed the first 8C (120-month) inspection undertaken in Asia on a Bombardier Global Express. It was an extensive inspection for the 10-year check-up on this particular Global Express and represents as the largest and most exhaustive maintenance program for Bombardier’s Global Express aircraft. Since it is so rigorous, the entire cabin had to be dismantled so intensive scrutiny of the airframe and structures be realized. While all of this was happening Jet Aviation Singapore simultaneously undertook a full interior refurbishment, including interior veneer, headliner, sidewalls and galley refurbishment. In addition, the company accomplished with this delivery the first full exterior strip and repaint on this type of aircraft in the region.

Full PR to the above Jet Aviation Singapore piece above

Jet Aviation St. Louis has completed the installation of a sophisticated system of controls for climate, air quality, and final finish in the Paint Shop that is already known throughout the industry for delivering a top-quality aircraft paint job. “Our new computerized and automated climate-control system, painter decontamination chambers, and paint delivery and quality-control devices provide the best quality control in the art of aircraft painting,” said Britt Julius, manager, Paint Shop. “We’re refining every part of the process. We leave nothing to chance to ensure that our customers get a flawless, high-gloss paint finish.”

ST Aero has opened a new VIP interior center in Singapore. With it up and running now it is expected to serve clients from the Middle East and closer home, the Asia Pacific region. It is a sizable facility that boasts 2,690m2 of space with the ability to host up to a Boeing 757. Specifically, the center aims at providing services for the BBJ and ACJ family of jets and smaller with maintenance and upholstery work. New work has already been lined up for the new facility. Aircraft arrivals are scheduled through the first three quarters of 2016. Works include C-checks, landing gear and APU changes, as well as cabin management and inflight entertainment systems upgrades.

Officially launched at Singapore Airshow in 1996, Jet Aviation Singapore is proud to observe its 20th anniversary of providing quality services at this year’s Airshow. Jet Aviation Singapore was established at Seletar Airport as an Authorized Service Center (ASC) for Gulfstream aircraft in 1996, gaining Bombardier Service Center authorization the following year. Coupled with the help of Jet Aviation’s long-established MRO and Completions facility in Basel, Jet Aviation Singapore soon became a valuable partner to transient aircraft throughout Asia and Southeast Asia. “It was a new territory and the first five years presented many challenges. In fact, the learning curve was both steep and unexpected,” said Ruedi Kraft, Vice President of Business Development for the Basel Completions Center and former founding vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Singapore. “We’d been in international business aviation for nearly 30 years at that time and simply thought that we could transfer our business paradigms to Asia. We misjudged that, of course, but we were persistent.”

Jet Aviation Group President Rob Smith adds, “Our commitment to our customers in the region has never waned and our long-term strategy — our commitment to providing the most benefit through continuous focus on quality, service, comfort and high standards — is now really paying off. We have cooperated with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) throughout our two decades of dedicated service and are very grateful for their continued support, which was particularly instrumental to our 2014 expansion project.” Steady growth began in early 2000 and Jet Aviation Singapore has continued to expand and upgrade its facilities and services ever since. FBO services were extended to Changi International Airport in 2006, and the company expanded its footprint in Asia with the establishment of a maintenance facility in Hong Kong in 2008. Its MRO facility became an authorized Boeing BBJ line maintenance center in 2010, and in 2013 it was appointed an Authorized Service Center for Nextant 400 XT aircraft. That same year, the company also formed a strategic alliance with the Air Transport Training College (ATTC) at Seletar Aerospace Park to build up a pool of local talent.

A major milestone was realized in May 2014 when Jet Aviation opened a new multi-million dollar hangar facility adjacent to its existing location, effectively tripling its size to meet growing regional demand. With the expansion, the company further developed its cabin refurbishment business by adding a large Interior Shop and broadening its interior service offerings, while also introducing its new hangarage and parking services. Designed to accommodate large, long-range business jets, particularly the regionally popular Gulfstream G450, G550 and G650 aircraft, Jet Aviation Singapore also enhanced its partnership with Gulfstream, upgrading its status to Factory Authorized Service Center and Warranty Repair Facility. In addition, Gulfstream technicians are located on site to assist with airframe, avionics and interior work, including refurbishment. In late 2014, John Riggir joined Jet Aviation Singapore as vice president and general manager, and is responsible for further expanding the facility’s service offerings. The company undertook three major refurbishments in 2015, including a full interior refurbishment on a Global Express, and is currently completing another full cabin refurbishment on a second Global. Towards the end of last year it received Part 145 CAAC maintenance approval to support Chinese operators of Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft, in addition to FAA approval for the Gulfstream G650 and its Interior Shop. In November 2015, Jet Aviation Singapore received the Asian Business Aviation Association’s (AsBAA) Best Maintenance & Repair Services Industry Award. Jet Aviation recently completed the refurbishment of its FBO at Seletar Airport, including new customer and crew lounges, offices, conference rooms and other amenities, while integrating the new corporate branding.

Company Flying Colours is expected to approximately double the size of their cabinetry finishing shop of its Peterborough, ON. facilities. The expanded facilities if Flying Colours will allow the company to finish completion projects earlier. Of course that translates into the reduction of down-time for the aircraft being worked on. The expansion is currently underway and is expected to be completed in April 2016. “We are seeing more work coming from a number of Bombardier Global projects, as well as a rise in the amount of mid to large size refurbishments coming through the doors.” said Sean Gillespie, executive vice president, Flying Colours, “The increased demand for work on larger type aircraft and our Global ASF status means we need to match customer expectation in terms of their experience when visiting us.”

Dassault Aviation recently approved Sabena Technics as a Major Authorized Service Center for Falcon 10, 20 and 50 aircraft. The aircraft will be serviced at Sabena Technics’s Dinard, France facility, which specializes in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of business, regional and military aircraft. The facility is equipped with a 3,324 square meter four-aircraft hangar dedicated to Falcon 10, 20 and 50 activities, and offers paintwork and a full complement of back shop capabilities, including cabin interior, non-destructive testing, avionics and electromechanical hardware repair and refurbishment. It is staffed by a team of 75 technicians and repair specialists, including more than 40 licensed to work on Falcon aircraft.

In addition to its private customers, Dinard is a major provider to the French government and military forces, handling technical and logistical support and line and heavy maintenance for their Falcon 20, Falcon 10 and Falcon 50 fleets under long term contracts, including Maintenance in Operational Condition activities. “Sabena Technics has been serving private and government maintenance and repair needs for more than half a century and is at the leading edge of MR&O technology,” said Jacques Chauvet, Dassault Falcon’s Senior Vice President, Worldwide Customer Service. “The new agreement will strengthen Dassault’s ability to serve its many legacy operators, which, thanks to the legendary durability of Falcon aircraft, typically remain in service far longer than the industry norm.”

Jet Aviation Vienna has been appointed a factory authorised service centre for Gulfstream G550 aircraft. “Our goal is to ensure customers have access to services closer to geographical demand. Demand for services in the region is high and our facility in Vienna is well situated to handle higher maintenance volumes to support our base maintenance centers in Basel and Geneva.” said Stefan Benz, senior vice president of MRO and FBO operations in EMEA and Asia, Jet Aviation.

Jet Aviation Singapore has recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain the Gulfstream G280 business aircraft. The company also obtained approval from the Thai civil aviation authority to add the G280 to its certificate.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that a number of its facilities have received the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The buildings in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia, were designed to support continued growth of Gulfstream’s worldwide fleet and include manufacturing, refurbishment and parts facilities in Savannah and a maintenance facility in Brunswick. “As part of our commitment to sustainability, Gulfstream is focused on reducing our environmental impact, both in the air and on the ground,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “One of the ways we do that is by making our infrastructure more sustainable. These projects have helped us ensure that the distribution of our parts and the manufacturing of our all-new aircraft family, the G500 and G600, are more sustainable. Having the LEED designation for these facilities demonstrates our continued commitment to preserving the environment for future generations.”

Jet Aviation Basel recently performed a major refurbishment in conjunction with a scheduled C-Check on an Embraer 135 Legacy 650. The refurbishment included a full carpet replacement, seat and divan re-upholstery, wood repairs, re-covering of the dado panels and a new Non-Textile Flooring (NTF) installation in the galley. In addition, the Paint Shop at Jet Aviation Basel painted the exterior in full and gave the aircraft a new fuselage design. The Legacy 650 arrived in Basel for the scheduled C-Check and refurbishment under FAA registration. As the aircraft was up for sale, a prospective buyer took advantage of the scope of the C-Check to task Jet Aviation Basel with a pre-purchase inspection. Jet Aviation Basel then handled the re-registration to EASA when the aircraft was subsequently sold.

“Planair was extremely happy with the work done on the interior of this Legacy 650 aircraft,” said Adrian Hollenbach, Technical Director & Continued Airworthiness Manager at Planair Enterprises. “The workmanship and quality is some of the best, if not the best out there at the moment. Coupled with the aircraft painting, servicing requirements and avionic upgrades, it was a very demanding project. Still, the aircraft left the facility on time and flew a faultless acceptance flight. I would recommend Jet Aviation Basel to all, and the Embraer technical team that supported and completed this project in particular.” “With almost 50 years of experience backed by extensive in-house capabilities, our highly trained professionals provide our customers a full service package to address their needs throughout the different stages of an aircraft’s lifecycle,” said Johannes Turzer, Senior Vice President and General Manager Maintenance Center Basel.

Comlux America, the Comlux Group’s completion and service center in Indianapolis, christened its newly enlarged completion hangar late last week. The project expanded the hangar size to 157,000 sq ft from 128,000 sq ft, allowing the building to house one widebody and up to four single-aisle businessjets simultaneously. Comlux America’s first widebody completion, an ACJ330, was inside the hangar during the April 27 ceremony. This aircraft will be the 12th VIP completion for Comlux America. During the event, the hangar also housed two BBJs—one in completion and the other in for maintenance—and one Sukhoi Business Jet undergoing completion. (AIN)

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Embraer Executive Jets’ service center in Sorocaba, Brazil, for maintenance of the company’s complete business jet portfolio. The approval followed the recent certification granted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With certification from these important aviation authorities, in addition to the one already conferred by Brazil’s ANAC agency, the Sorocaba service center is among a select group of maintenance and repair shops in Latin America supporting Embraer’s business jets registered in Brazil and abroad. The 216,000-square-foot Embraer facility at Bertram Lui Leupolz airport in Sorocaba near São Paulo offers a full range of services for the Phenom, Legacy and Lineage business jets families, as well as world-class accommodations and VIP lounges for passengers and crew, hangaring and aircraft ground services for all types of business aircraft. Up to 40 jets can be serviced simultaneously in the facility’s two hangars.

TAG Aviation is expected to conduct its first C-Check on a Dassault Falcon 7X

Philippe Rabier, maintenance sales director, TAG Aviation Europe said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with this prestigious project. Customers value our comprehensive maintenance service capabilities and are increasingly taking the opportunity to combine scheduled maintenance with other service offerings. TAG has invested heavily to prepare all the expertise required for C-checks and we are currently planning further C-checks for the 7X and future Falcon models this year.”

Jet Aviation’s outstanding flight safety record was commended by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) during the EBACE Convention in Geneva, where EBAA presented Jet Aviation the 2016 EBAA Gold Safety of Flight Award.The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) hosted its annual Safety of Flight awards ceremony at the end of the 2016 EBACE Safety Workshop held in Geneva on May 23, 2016.

Dubai-based DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF) has broken ground on a second hangar at its Dubai South facility. Scheduled for completion by Q3 of 2017, the new hangar will add 6,800 sqm of covered space to the existing DCAF business aviation terminal, bringing its total land-side plot area to 24,000 sqm and the apron area to 13,000 sqm. The expansion will more than double the hangar capacity as well as enable DCAF to add two single aisle aircraft maintenance bays, as well as providing enough space for an additional workshop and equipment storage. It will also significantly increase the number and size of aircraft which can be accommodated at the facility. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Board members of DC Aviation and Al-Futtaim, senior official from AFGRE, senior officials from Dubai South, and members of the media. (CJI)