September 21, 2017 - No. 074 In This Issue AAR To Acquire Two MRO Facilities from Premier Aviation Ameco Beijing looks to develop new MRO capabilities Bombardier Looks To Bolster Maintenance Staff Companies and Colleges Unite to Train 'New Collar' Students Russia and China to Partner on Engine for New Widebody Lagos Airport Secures NCAA Certification 38 Years After Opening Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Expands To Meet Demand White House To Nominate AOPA's Landsberg to NTSB Corporate Pilots Association Membership Now Open to Mechanics Elon Musk drops his spectacular SpaceX blooper reel AAR To Acquire Two MRO Facilities from Premier Aviation WOOD DALE, Ill., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global aviation services leader AAR (NYSE: AIR) announced today that it has agreed to acquire two of Premier Aviation's aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities - one at Trois-Rivières Airport in Québec and one at Windsor International Airport in Ontario. "We are excited to add an experienced workforce and two world-class facilities to our award-winning MRO network, and we look forward to growing our position in, and bringing more flexibility and value to, the Canadian market," said John Holmes, President & Chief Operating Officer, AAR. "The culture of continuous improvement and execution excellence at these facilities is consistent with AAR's commitment to the highest levels of service." Premier Aviation established the MRO facility in Trois-Rivières in 2002 and expanded it to 150,000 square feet in 2011. The facility can accommodate up to seven narrow-body aircraft. Premier began operating in Windsor in 2012 in a new 143,000 square-foot hangar with full back shop capability and capacity for six narrow-body aircraft. The facilities have made significant investments in tooling over the past few years and currently employ over 300 well-trained aviation mechanics and personnel who will retain their positions based on expected workload. "We are honored that a company with the reputation, breadth and depth of AAR has recognized the quality of our MRO facilities, and we are pleased that the customers and employees of these facilities will continue to be well-supported," said Ronnie DiBartolo, President of Premier Aviation. "This transaction also allows Premier to focus its resources on future areas for growth at our other two MRO facilities." Holmes added, "This Canadian presence will be complementary to our U.S. MRO operations and workforce." The Canadian MROs will join AAR's award-winning network that also includes airframe maintenance facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana; Miami, Florida; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Duluth, Minnesota; and Rockford, Illinois, as well as component repair facilities in New York and Amsterdam; and landing gear services in Miami. Across these sites, AAR provides industry leading maintenance, repair and overhaul for regional, narrow-body and wide-body aircraft operators. AAR was ranked as the largest MRO services provider in the Americas and third in the world, before this acquisition. About AAR AAR is a global aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 5,000 people in over 20 countries. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR provides aviation services to commercial and government customers in over 100 countries through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include inventory management; parts supply; OEM parts distribution; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; and component repair. AAR's Expeditionary Services include airlift operations; mobility systems; and command and control centers in support of military and humanitarian missions. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com. About Premier Premier Aviation is a highly recognized Canadian-owned aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and aircraft painting company serving the North American industry, with facilities in Québec, Québec, Canada; and Rome, New York, United States. Since its inception in 2002, the company has been delivering high-quality aviation maintenance services to a steadily growing number of airlines and aircraft lessors. More information can be found at www.premieraviation.ca. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aar-to-acquire-two-mro-facilities-from- premier-aviation-300522042.html Back to Top Ameco Beijing looks to develop new MRO capabilities Ameco Beijing wants to develop new MRO capabilities, as it seeks to capitalise on the growth of aviation in Asia-Pacific. In a statement, the MRO firm says that besides continuing to develop new capabilities on new-generation aircraft, it is doubling its efforts on its modification and retrofit capabilities, such as developing a parallel production line for Boeing 757 passenger-to- freighter conversion. Ameco also plans to build up its 787 and Airbus A350 starter generator capabilities, and is developing a new landing gear overhaul capability. At present, Ameco conducts landing gear MRO services for the A320 family, A330 and 737NG and 747-400. In addition, Ameco intends to invest and establish a new component workshop. It also currently conducts repair work on thrust reversers for the International Aero Engines IAE V2500-V5, CFM International CFM56-5B, CFM56-3, CFM56-7B, and Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplants. On VIP aircraft, Ameco says it will continue in its development of a new workshop to meet completion demands of widebody aircraft. In January, Ameco completed China's first 6C- check on an A319 business jet. The company, adds that it is also seeking approvals from other airworthiness authorities for market expansion. Ameco currently provides completions on the business jet variant of the A330, 737 and 747. Over the past year, the company says it has added new customers for its airframe services, with airlines coming from Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey, Iraq and Hong Kong. Ameco adds that such work from international airlines have led to "fast growth", especially at its 10 line maintenance stations across China. "Ameco is dedicating itself to meeting customers' maintenance needs and promoting brand image through the comprehensive and one-stop maintenance services," says Zhu Xiao, Ameco's executive vice president and chief market officer. "In the future, Ameco will seek more cooperation opportunities on new maintenance service to reach a full coverage on products and services." https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ameco-beijing-looks-to-develop-new-mro- capabilities-441250/ Back to Top Bombardier Looks To Bolster Maintenance Staff The shortage of qualified aircraft technicians has been a growing topic of discussion within the industry, and even aircraft manufacturers are not immune from the problem. To address its requirement for more avionics and maintenance technicians, Bombardier Business Aircraft is outwardly recruiting for multiple positions. The Canadian airframer is staging a job fair tomorrow for customer response team A&P and avionics technicians for its Teterboro Airport service facility. The company will be interviewing candidates from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Hilton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and those interested can RSVP by calling (860) 292-7216. Bombardier's business aircraft service network currently employs approximately 1,000 technicians at nine facilities. They also support 16 mobile customer response teams and service the company's worldwide fleet of 4,700 Learjets, Challengers and Globals. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-09-20/bombardier- looks-bolster-maintenance-staff Back to Top Companies and Colleges Unite to Train 'New Collar' Students So long white collar and blue collar. Now it's all about the "new collar" job. In the current technological economy, where factories and production plants are closed or workers are replaced by computers, those computers need to be maintained and programmed. Enter "new collar" jobs - positions that require some specialized education (typically in a technical field), but not a four-year college degree. And some companies have become so desperate for the right worker, they have started or invested in job training programs of their own, partnering with schools to equip students with the exact skills they will need to get a job, and then to do the job right. Delta, for example, has partnered with 37 aviation maintenance schools across the country to give thousands of students the technical knowledge needed to be an aviation maintenance technician (AMT) - and ideally to get them jobs at Delta down the road. Joe McDermott, managing director of Delta's cabin, training and support services, said that the schools were a mix of aviation and aeronautical institutes; community colleges; one state university, Utah State; and even one high school, Aviation in New York, adding that they were all chosen through an in-depth auditing process. Filling the Gaps in Education Delta is looking to teach students the specific skills they will need to work for a commercial airline - the exact knowledge the company feels today's aviation programs lack. McDermott said the current curriculum as regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration is "very generic." "We're seeing a huge gap," he told NBC News. "Students just weren't aware of the jobs and requirements it takes to work at a major airline. We wanted to go in and give a bit of real exposure to these students." It's not all the schools' fault, McDermott adds; part of the reason the system has been failing graduates is because the FAA has been slow to update the curriculum, wasting valuable hours on learning skills that may not even used anymore on commercial airliners. "A lot of what is being taught doesn't quite align with the technical knowledge that is needed," said McDermott, adding that even after completing the best training as an AMT (it takes 1,900 hours for an AMT to complete training, typically broken out into two years), additional training is needed and it takes at least a year of working with Delta before an AMT is cleared to sign off on anything. Like Blue Collar, but Swankier Delta's strategy in partnering with schools is multifold: On one hand it wants to give students the education they need to fill future jobs - but the company also wants to shed light on what has traditionally been seen as a blue-collar job. "We want students - and their parents - to know that this is a job that isn't just about [changing] oil," McDermott said. "This is a role that requires high technical capacity. You'll be using tablets and computers to troubleshoot these incredibly powerful machines. It's cool." And it pays well - salaries start at about $50,000 a year, McDermott says - has good benefits and flight privileges, and enables upward mobility. "After seven years with Delta, an AMT can make over $100,000 a year," McDermott added. That said, it's a lot of manual labor, and an AMT "may spend Christmas standing outside in the rain at LaGuardia," McDermott said. The Demand for 'New Collar' Workers Is Extreme "New collar" jobs have been popping up across a variety of sectors. Cathy Barrera, chief economic adviser for ZipRecruiter, a job search website, said that since January, the number of such jobs posted on the site each month has increased by 45 percent. Guy Berger, an economist at LinkedIn, declined to disclose data, but noted that these skills-based jobs, where knowledge is acquired through training or certificate programs, "are numerous and, in some cases, expanding into industries and functions where they didn't previously exist." "They cover a wide spectrum, ranging from electrical technicians to dental hygienists to web designers," he said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that as of the end of June, there were 6.2 million job openings - a record high. Eugene Giovannini, chancellor at Tarrant County College in Texas (one of the schools partnering with Delta), identifies many of these openings as "new collar jobs that are unfilled as a result of an unskilled and under-skilled workforce." Delta isn't the first company to recognize this problem of under-skilled workers and try to fix it. IBM, whose CEO Ginni Rometty coined the term "new collar" in an op-ed in USA Today last December, rolled out the P-Tech program, an IBM-sponsored six-year high school and associate's degree that is currently available in several U.S. cities. While some go on to receive additional education, a good portion of the graduates go on to work for IBM, said Kelli Jordan, the company's talent leader for new collar initiatives. For now, there's just not enough talent to go around - and in many cases, workers are getting scooped up before they've even graduated. "We want to get graduation rates up," McDermott said. "People aren't failing out - they're being absorbed by other companies." At Lansing Community College in Michigan, one of the colleges Delta has teamed up with, there are 68 students in the two-year program that began this fall, said the college's president, Brent Knight. Although it can accommodate around 100 students, Knight anticipates a waiting list. "For the first time ever, the school is adding a second shift so that more students can enroll," he said. For students like Jacob McDuffey, it's an opportunity to soar in a new career. "I'm learning exactly what they want me to learn," McDuffey said. "I think it's pretty astonishing." https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/companies-colleges-unite-train-new- collar-students-n802251 Back to Top Russia and China to Partner on Engine for New Widebody Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with China's AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine Company calling for the joint development of a turbofan engine for the proposed new Russian-Chinese widebody known as the C929 in China and the LRWBA (long-range widebody aircraft) in Russia. The MOU, signed during Aviation Expo China in Beijing, calls for UEC-part of the Russian industrial conglomerate Rostec-and AECC to collaborate on research and competitive analysis, defining customer requirements, determining the engine's architecture and deciding on its basic technical parameters. "The signing of the memorandum on the development of the engine for the LRWBA is a milestone for the civil aviation of Russia and China," said Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov. "It's not just a matter of being competitive; it is a matter of technological independence for our countries. Our ultimate goal is the creation of our own powerful world-class engine certified in accordance with the highest international standards." Plans call for the start of engine testing in 2022 and certification in 2027. A joint effort by China's Comac and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, the C929, or LRWBA, would seat some 280 passengers and fly to a range of 6,500 nm, placing it roughly in the category of the Airbus A330-900. Cost estimates place total investment at between $13 billion and $20 billion, and schedules call for first flight in 2023. If all goes according to plan, the new airplane would enter service in 2026. Initially, the 75,000-pound-thrust-class engines for the new widebody would likely come from Rolls-Royce and/or GE, "which already have suitable models with the required thrust," according to UAC president Yury Slyusar. UEC has already begun development of an engine at its design house in Perm called the PD-35, which could form the basis of Russia's participation in the joint program with China. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-09-20/russia-and-china- partner-engine-new-widebody Back to Top Lagos Airport Secures NCAA Certification 38 Years After Opening he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) certified Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Monday, 38 years after it commenced flight operations. According to the NCAA, the certification process began in 2006. The Director-General of the NCAA, Muhtar Usman, presented the certificate to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, at the agency's headquarters at the Lagos airport. Mr. Usman said that the airport is the first to be certified in Nigeria, adding that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja would be the next. "The current drive towards the certification of Nigerian airports is very significant, not only as a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations, but even more importantly as one of the critical safety targets set by the Abuja Ministerial Declaration of July 2012 that mandated all African states certify their international airports," Mr. Usman said. "It is also interesting to note that certification is an enabler for the attainment of a regional hub, which Nigeria desires for Lagos and Abuja. Aerodrome certification is therefore an ICAO strategy for the standardization and harmonization of airport services, facilities and procedures, as well as ensuring uniformity in safety critical aerodrome elements, irrespective of differences in ownership and management of such aerodromes." Speaking at the event, Mr. Dunuma said the FAAN worked to ensure that the airport scaled the NCAA hurdle. He emphasized that the certification did not only indicate that the airport was safer, but was also more efficient and profitable, stressing that staff morale has the tendency to increase due to enhancement of knowledge and competency. However, one of the aviation security experts in Nigeria, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed skepticism over the certification of the airport. The source explained that according to the ICAO's minimal standards, for any airport to be certified, it must have adequate maintenance and security programs in place. "The issue is, are the airports ready for certification? I have heard that they might not be ready for certification. There are two issues that are very paramount to the certification exercise: we need to have an airport maintenance program and a security program. "Even the runway, too, must have a maintenance program. I don't know the NCAA checklist, but as someone who is watching from outside, I think FAAN has to have those two critical things on ground," he said. The security expert insisted that airport certification was not about terminal building, but the facilities installed at the airport, including navigational aides provided by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). "Looking from the point of view of NAMA, their navigational aides and other facilities, how far have they gone with them? The issue of airport certification is not just for FAAN alone, NAMA, too, has a role to play. Certification is not just about terminal building, but about safety and security," the source said. He also disclosed that such an airport earmarked for the exercise must be insured to the tune of $250 million, stressing that the Lagos airport did not have adequate insurance for certification. "Are the international airports that would be certified insured? I think for the international airports, they should be insured to the tune of $250 million," he said. The source challenged the NCAA to make public the criteria used in giving Murtala Muhammed International Airport certification. http://saharareporters.com/2017/09/18/lagos-airport-secures-ncaa-certification-38- years-after-opening Back to Top Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Expands To Meet Demand The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) is taking steps to cement its ranking as Forbes' top U.S. technical trade school for 2017. With an ever-growing forecasted demand for maintenance technicians, PIA has decided to grow its facilities to keep pace. After approximately 10 months of construction, PIA will open a new expansion of its Youngstown-Warren branch this Wednesday, Sept. 20. The two-story, 8,500 sq. ft. teaching facility at Hangar 3 of Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is intended to broaden opportunities for students by providing new teaching resources. "Our investment in our facilities and our students is in response to strong career demand," says President and CEO of PIA Suzanne Markle. "We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level technical skills we know our employers seek." The new $1.3-million facility includes electrical and welding classrooms, an aeronautics lab and a student resource center with a computer lab. According to PIA, the growing student enrollment created a need for additional space-and new space allowed existing facilities to be renovated for a dedicated welding shop, painting area and electronics lab. The new facility's adjacent hangar includes specialized shop areas for aircraft propulsion systems, composite materials, electricity, welding and more. In addition, PIA was able to acquire a Learjet 25 for students to use as a training aid thanks to PIA alumnus Jacob Kudrin, who now works for NASA Glenn Research Center. PIA's Youngstown Branch, which has been in operation since 2006, touts a 94% placement rate and an average ratio of 10 students for every instructor. Students graduate the 16-month Aviation Maintenance Technology diploma program with qualifications for the Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. According to Steven Sabold, PIA director of marketing and information technology, the Youngstown Branch has 70 students and expects to increase that number to near 100 by the end of next fall. "Working with aviation employers, community leaders and representatives within the school districts to create a loud and clear message is vital to helping combat the unprecedented demand for skilled technicians," says Sabold. To give students a running start, PIA has also announced an education partnership with Delta Air Lines aimed at filling the airline's demand for qualified aviation maintenance technicians. PIA's campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach are four of the airline's carefully selected schools that will give students a fast-track to employment with Delta. Instead of the typical three years of minimum experience required to work in aviation maintenance for Delta, PIA graduates will have the opportunity to go through a 16-month program with one of Delta's regional carriers, such as SkyWest Airlines or Endeavor Air (both of which already regularly hire PIA graduates), before being considered for employment with Delta. Sabold says the partnership is still in its early stages, but will likely also involve Delta providing training materials and equipment to PIA so students will have the opportunity to work directly with components they would encounter in the Delta maintenance environment. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/pittsburgh-institute- aeronautics-expands-meet-demand Back to Top White House To Nominate AOPA's Landsberg to NTSB The White House has selected Bruce Landsberg, a safety expert with a deep knowledge of the general aviation industry, to become the newest member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The Trump administration announced on September 15 that it intended to nominate Landsberg to a five-year term on the NTSB beginning Jan. 1, 2018, as well as a two-year term as vice chairman. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would fill the final slot on the board, providing the NTSB with a full complement of five members. Landsberg has had a long affiliation with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, leading its AOPAFoundation and Air Safety Institute (ASI) as executive director and then president for 22 years. Currently a senior safety advisor for the association and the ASI, he also has served as the industry co-chair of the FAA's runway safety program. While joining AOPA in 1992, Landsberg's aviation career traces back to 1967 as mission launch officer with the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He since has held roles with companies such as Beacon Flying Service, Cessna Aircraft and FlightSafety International, as well as with Flying Magazine. The business and general aviation community was enthusiastic by the selection. NBAA noted that Landsberg has written hundreds of articles on aviation safety and helped develop dozens of online courses. "His work with federal agencies, industry groups and other stakeholders makes him a perfect choice to serve on the NTSB," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. "His impressive breadth of experience and no-nonsense approach to safety will be an important asset in the Board's work." But Landsberg's imprint reaches beyond the general aviation community. National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Paul Rinaldi noted that Landsberg has worked collaboratively with his association on a variety of safety issues for 25 years and said he has "raised the bar for pilot safety." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-09-20/white-house- nominate-aopas-landsberg-ntsb Back to Top Corporate Pilots Association Membership Now Open to Mechanics The Corporate Pilots Association (CPA) announced today that, due to high interest, membership in the association will now be made available to aircraft mechanics. By joining the association, mechanics will be able to take advantage of CPA's benefits program, AvPerks. AvPerks was originally developed to support the corporate pilot and flight attendant, and now mechanics will be eligible as well. The program is noted for its unsurpassed benefits offering, as well as its ease of administration. CPA membership and benefits are available to the contract, self- employed, group, or company employees. For further information about the association, and AvPerks, log on to CPA.aero. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12367825/corporate-pilots-association- membership-now-open-to-mechanics Back to Top Elon Musk drops his spectacular SpaceX blooper reel SPACEX founder and CEO Elon Musk has released what could be the most expensive blooper reel ever showing some of the company's biggest fails. The tongue-in-cheek video, called How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, is full of explosions and fire from experiments gone awry. One particularly impressive detonation in January 2015 shows what happens when systems run out of hydraulic fluid. Other examples include a range of rockets falling over, running out of liquid oxygen and a landing leg collapsing. "Technically it did land ... just not in one piece," Musk says of the failed orbital rocket booster. After a March 2016 clip of a failed landing burn, the inventor says: "The course of true love never did run smooth". The footage is set to the Monty Python theme song, Sousa's Liberty Bell. It's proof the South African born billionaire can have a laugh - even when its at his own expense. Musk claims Tesla is tentatively scheduled to unveil its planned semi-truck in late October, about a month later than expected. "Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride tentatively scheduled for Oct 26th in Hawthorne," Musk said in a tweet on Wednesday. The entrepreneur has tantalised the trucking industry with the prospect of a battery- powered heavy-duty vehicle that can compete with conventional diesels, which can travel up to 1,600 kilometres on a single tank of fuel. Tesla's plans for new electric vehicles including a commercial truck called the Tesla Semi were announced last year and in April Musk said the release of the semi-truck was set for September. Tesla has been making strides in self-driving technology and implementing it in an electric truck could potentially move it forward in a highly competitive area of commercial transport also being pursued by Uber Technologies Inc and Alphabet Inc's Waymo. Reuters reported in August that Tesla was developing a long-haul, electric semi- truck that could drive itself and move in "platoons" that followed a lead vehicle, according to an email discussion of potential road tests between the car company and the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/inventions/elon-musk-drops-his- spectacular-spacex-blooper-reel/news-story/93576860f01fa11325d68d29db0240c8 Curt Lewis