February 26, 2018 - No. 016 In This Issue Saab Unveils GlobalEye Middletown, Cincinnati State exploring aviation training partnership Aviation industry mechanics retiring faster than they are being replaced, report says New FBO Company Makes First Acquisition Avocet Aviation Services To Operate Second MRO Facility Avionics Techs Combine Love of Aviation, Problem-Solving Ramco Moves toward 'Ecosystem' with Expanded Portfolio UP to get nine new airports in 15 months: Civil aviation minister HAECO Opens New Hangar for Large Jets at PTI Maintenance Facility SpaceX Delays Next Falcon 9 Rocket Launch to Conduct Nose Cone Checks Saab Unveils GlobalEye Saab lifted the lid on its GlobalEye "swing-role surveillance system" multi-sensor platform in a ceremony held at the company's Linköping, Sweden, plant on Friday. The aircraft is the first of three on order for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence. An order for the first pair was placed in November 2015 and a third was added in February 2017. Company officials were reticent to provide any details about a projected first flight date, but the first aircraft is essentially complete with systems installed. All of the mission equipment has been tested in an integrated ground test rig, and flight tests will be undertaken primarily to validate laboratory projected figures rather than to test whether the systems work. Ground tests will precede flight tests, in which the first phase will focus on aircraft handling and systems. GlobalEye is based on the Bombardier Global 6000 airframe. The aircraft are delivered "green" to the Linköping factory where they are extensively modified under a supplemental type certificate. As well as the mission system installation, Saab strengthens the airframe in key areas, notably those that mount the 2,200-pound Erieye ER radar antenna fairing, while adding extra fins to preserve aerodynamic stability. Additional cooling for mission systems is incorporated. The conversion program centers on the Saab Erieye ER S-band airborne early warning radar, an all-new sensor that can be packaged into the same "ski box" fairing used by previous iterations of the Erieye. The ER is the first airborne radar to feature gallium nitride (GaN) semi-conductor technology, allowing it to generate considerably greater power. Detection range is extended by about 70 percent to more than 300 nm. This provides significantly longer warning times against potential intruders, permitting commanders to maintain interceptors on ground alert rather than having to fly combat air patrols. Alternatively, the radar can detect low-observable targets at ranges that are typical for non-GaN radars against non-stealthy targets. Partnering the Erieye ER are an underbelly Leonardo Seaspray 7500E AESA radar that provides coverage-including synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) modes-for surface targets on land or sea, and a FLIR Systems Star Safire 380HD electro-optical turret under the nose. Wingtip fairings support an electronic support measures suite, and the GlobalEye is equipped with radar, laser and missile approach warning systems, and countermeasures, for self-protection. Data from these sensors is fused by the central mission command-and-control system and displayed on five operator consoles. A rest area is provided for four additional mission personnel. The operator consoles are arranged in a line along the cabin side, facing outwards. They can be tilted to offset the effect of the nose-up attitude of the aircraft when it is flying long-endurance orbits at low speed. The business jet cabin offers very low noise levels and a 3,500-foot cabin altitude, creating a comfortable working environment for the crew. Endurance is approximately 11 hours. When Saab's first AEW platform, the Saab 340-based FSR 890, was fielded by the Swedish air force, it was operated in minimally manned mode, with radar data being downlinked to sensor operators in ground stations. The two Saab 340s that have been flown by the UAE since 2010 are operated in a similar fashion, and the GlobalEye system is also designed to be operated from the ground, depending on mission requirements. No handover dates for the GlobalEye have been forecast, although Saab has suggested a roughly approximated "36-month" timescale from contract signature for the first, with the second and third aircraft delivered during the following year or so. At the time of the program launch in 2015 it was announced that the UAE's two Saab 340s would also be upgraded with Erieye ER, which has a similar overall footprint to the legacy radar system currently in use. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-02-23/saab-unveils-globaleye-0 Back to Top Middletown, Cincinnati State exploring aviation training partnership MIDDLETOWN-Looking to the future and eyeing opportunities to expand the local workforce, Middletown officials are considering a partnership to prepare people for careers in the aviation industry. Middletown City Council expressed an interest in partnering with Cincinnati State and other organizations to develop an electronics lab to train people to become FAA certified avionics or aircraft electronics technicians that could begin as early as this summer. City Manager Doug Adkins told council that Cincinnati State would like to develop an aviation maintenance programs with designs to eventually become a fully certified program to supply workers for FAA certified maintenance positions. Adkins said this would be modeled after the program Cincinnati State operates at its in Harrison campus and the adjacent Cincinnati State West Airport, which the college owns. The city is being asked to donate about $30,000 toward the total costs of nearly $150,000 to develop an avionics laboratory at the college's Middletown campus that would expand its electronics lab to include this program, Adkins said. He said additional details would come as discussions continue with Cincinnati State on the proposed partnership. He said the proposed program envisions starting a drone flight training program this fall and a drone repair program in spring 2019. Avionics are the electronic components of various instruments within an aircraft and the demand for technicians to maintain and repair that equipment is expected to increase in the future. He said there will be an increased demand for electronic maintenance technicians as more drones are becoming more commonplace. Adkins also said there is already a push as Magellan Aerospace is planning an expansion that will require up to 40 additional workers by 2012-2022. He said participants in the avionics certification program can use this as a first step toward obtaining other certifications such as power plant, airframe, and unmanned aerial vehicle instrument/control testing. Adkins said the proposed avionics program will be offered in two variations during the initial rollout, as a semester-long course for regular students and as a one-week professional course being offered to those already in the field but needed to augment their education. In addition, he said that Safeskies, the maintenance company that operates at Middletown Regional Airport, is also considering sending its technicians through the program. He said the company does not repair electronic instruments on-site. Adkins also said that Cincinnati State and the city would also be seeking additional partnerships to assist with this investment. He said the city has held discussions with the Middletown City School District and Butler Tech about becoming possible education sponsors in the project. He said this type of partnership, between education and sponsor, is exactly what the state leadership wanted to see in order for them to "feel comfortable" in reviewing the $750,000 capital budget, Adkins said. Middletown officials see this as a way to build infrastructure for workforce development while marketing the airport property to prospective companies in the aviation industry. City officials and some local business people look to Middletown Regional Airport as a place to develop for aircraft maintenance and repair as the city has a large section of land on the west side of the airport to develop. http://www.journal-news.com/news/middletown-cincinnati-state-exploring-aviation-training-partnership/ruhIlUaO9t6RyRLhRSVDjK/ Back to Top Aviation industry mechanics retiring faster than they are being replaced, report says A new report finds that while 30 percent of the aviation mechanics workforce is at or near retirement age, new entrants into the field only make up 2 percent of the workforce population each year. he report from the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) found that while there are more than 286,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanics, 27 percent of the workforce is aged 64 and above. The large gap between the demand for trained workers and the number of new employees entering the aviation mechanics industry is problematic. Boeing projects in its 2016 Pilot and Technician Outlook that 679,000 new maintenance technicians will be needed to maintain the world's airlines over the next 20 years. Airlines in North America specifically will require 127,000 maintenance personnel, the report said. According to the ATEC report, enrollment in all Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) schools totals nearly 17,800, but the program's capacity is more than 34,000. And while A&P program capacity has increased by 2 percent in the last 18 months, enrollment has decreased by 2 percent. Steve Sabold, director of admissions at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), said certified mechanics are an industry necessity. "Every aircraft that goes up in the air needs to be signed off on by an A&P certified mechanic," Sabold said in an interview with Transportation Today. "That alone makes them, once they get their certification, a very hot commodity." But getting young people into the program may be difficult because of a larger issue that affects all skilled trade positions. "There's not a lot of people going into skilled trades period," Sabold said. "When you have less people going into skilled trades across the board, it certainly doesn't help us fill up our pipeline any quicker." Meeting that demand, Boeing said, will require educational outreach, career pipeline programs, and other innovative solutions. ATEC suggests a focus on strategies to increase the number of female candidates, where currently they make up just 2.3 percent of the certified mechanic workforce. Improving the retention of graduates of AMT schools is another critical factor. AMT school respondents who were surveyed by ATEC estimate that 20 percent of graduates pursue careers outside of aviation, and just 60 percent take the FAA test for mechanic certification. Dan Cooper, vice president of economic development and governmental affairs with Tri County Technical College in South Carolina, said the attitudes of parents can also add to the problem of engaging students in the skilled trades. "A lot of the parents want their kids to be more successful than they were," Cooper said. "They have no idea that these jobs have the potential to make six-figure salaries. People consider skilled trades jobs to be dirty or only for those who aren't as smart. But that's just not the case." The decreased enrollment in aviation mechanics may also be due to the experience of the students themselves. "I think there is less exposure for young adults in utilizing skilled trades today," Sabold said. "As technology has advanced, I don't think young adults see the people doing the hands-on work that is necessary, and because of that may not think of aviation mechanics as a career option." According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, aviation mechanics make a median salary of $60,270 per year, as of 2016. Aviation companies, Sabold said, are working to get more young adults into AMT programs. "Aviation companies are being proactive about getting into the schools, even as early as middle school and changing the mentality of students," he said. "They are starting to step up and help others see the benefit of a certified aviation mechanic career." For example, this month both Piedmont Airlines and Constant Aviation will participate in open house events at PIA to reach out to potential students about careers in aviation mechanics. Piedmont Airlines is owned by American Airlines and operates hubs in Philadelphia and Charlotte Douglas International Airports. Constant Aviation, with locations at airports in Cleveland, Orlando, Phoenix and Las Vegas, specializes in airframe and engine maintenance, major repairs and avionics. "Open Houses give PIA the opportunity to deliver critical information about career demand," said Suzanne Markle, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, in a written statement. "That we are hosting events with such a large number of companies in comparison to the number of upcoming graduates attending is a strong indicator of career demand." PIA offers programs in aviation maintenance and aviation electronics. PIA's campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach have been selected as four of approximately 40 aircraft maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines. "We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level mechanic skills we know our employers are looking for," Markle added. https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/8321-aviation-industry-mechanics-retiring-faster-replaced-report-says/ Back to Top New FBO Company Makes First Acquisition Modern Aviation, a new FBO company, has launched with its first acquisition: Air Wilmington, the lone service provider at North Carolina's Wilmington International Airport. The location, which features an 8,400-sq-ft terminal and more than 100,000 sq ft of hangar space, had been owned by current president and CEO Bill Cherry and his family for the past four decades. The airport board gave its approval of the sale on February 7, and the facility is expected to retain its name and staff. "We look forward to continuing Air Wilmington's legacy of exceptional customer service, quality, and safety, strong relationship with the airport, and active involvement in the community," said Modern Aviation CEO and co-founder Mark Carmen. He stated that his company's goal is to "build a national network of premier FBO properties characterized by excellent facilities and outstanding service," and he has added Emmanuel Yapo, previously director of corporate development with Atlantic Aviation, to his staff. Modern is supported by Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a middle-market, growth-oriented private equity fund. "We are very excited to back Mark and his team at Modern Aviation with our capital and work with them as they seek to build a major new FBO platform company," said Tiger founder, CEO and managing partner Emil Henry, Jr. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-02-23/new-fbo-company-makes-first-acquisition Back to Top Avocet Aviation Services To Operate Second MRO Facility Avocet Aviation Services LLC. is set to begin maintenance operations at its second maintenance facility located at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The FAA granted Avocet Aviation operational approval for the 26,000 square foot facility on December 22, 2017, after concluding its lease agreement with the airport earlier that month. The new facility (pictured left), which will accommodate multiple narrow-body aircraft both within and outside the hangar, will complement Avocet's existing MRO facility located at Orlando-Sanford International Airport. The Lakeland Linder Airport facility will provide full maintenance services, including Heavy Maintenance, "A" checks, Line Maintenance, Drop-Ins, and Engine Services, mirroring those services provided at is Orlando-Sanford facility. In addition to handling over-flow work from Avocet's Orlando-Sanford facility, Lakeland Linder will also provide Paint and Aircraft Refinishing Services. The new Lakeland facility will increase Avocet's overall capacity and ability to fulfill slots, while also recruiting highly-skilled talent from a strong base of experienced personnel in the region. "Avocet is expanding its footprint in the state of Florida to ensure that we are ready to meet the needs of a dynamic industry as new aircraft come on line and existing fleets continue to age," said Avocet Aviation CEO, Patrick Arellano Sr. "Lakeland Linder Regional Airport was the perfect choice for a second site for Avocet. Its location places us in a strategic logistics hub, while also having the right infrastructure and local talent in place." Lakeland Linder Regional Airport is located along the I-4 corridor, midway between Tampa and Orlando. During the last five years, more than $100 million in improvement projects have been completed at the airport to enhance, expand and improve its operations which span 1,742 acres, one million square feet of facilities, and an 8,500-foot runway. Contributing more than $284 million to the region in economic impact, the airport is now able to service the international business and aviation community having just opened a U.S. Customs Office. "We enthusiastically welcome Avocet and their employees to our growing aviation community here at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport," said Gene Conrad, Lakeland Airport Director. "Avocet not only brings additional jobs to the airport, but their tenancy elevates the services available and aligns with our continued facility and business growth." Avocet has proudly served the aviation industry since 1989, performing specialized services on a wide range of commercial aircraft including Airbus, Boeing and more. As one of the largest MRO service providers in the region, Avocet Aviation is proud of its highly-skilled team of employees, and commitment to providing superior, personalized and cost-effective and efficient, on-time service at a high standard of quality and safety. Avocet Aviation is also focused on driving the aviation and maintenance industry forward with its STAND UP for STEM program, which focuses on training, education and employment initiatives designed to build a bright and sustainable future for the industry by inspiring the next generation of highly-skilled and trained engineers and specialists. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12399573/avocet-aviation-services-to-operate-second-mro-facility Back to Top Avionics Techs Combine Love of Aviation, Problem-Solving ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (AP) - A pair of legs stick out from the open cockpit door on Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. It's a small, single-engine airplane capable of hauling six people and Adam Barnick is contorting himself between the seat and rudder pedals to reach behind the airplane's instrument panel. He's in the process of installing new avionics in the small general aviation airplane at Jet Air Group at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. It's one job in a list of work booked into the summer. "This is one of our latest installs, a whole new panel and a whole new dash," Barnick told USA Today Network-Wisconsin as he stood next to the cream-colored airplane, now equipped with new radios and other electronic instruments within reach of the pilot. Barnick is one of three avionics technicians at Jet Air Group, and one of four employees in the avionics division of the flight service and aircraft maintenance business located adjacent to the main terminal at the airport. In recent years the aviation industry has faced a dearth of workers to fill roles ranging from mechanics to regional pilots. Technicians like Barnick repair and install electronic systems used for navigation, engine monitoring and communications. Some also work with customers to design and fabricate custom instrument panels and systems, or install antennas and other vital pieces of electronic equipment essential for flying. They are key to keeping both commercial and general aviation aircraft in the air for decades. New and upgraded flight instruments and radios breathe new life into 20- and 30-year-old aircraft. Square, digital, multifunction displays are steadily replacing old analog "steam gauges" found in older aircraft. Like the rest of the world, airplanes are largely trading dials and needles for electronic displays and touch screens. The move is being accelerated by a Federal Aviation Administration push to move the American air traffic system from radar-based traffic management to one using satellite signals. The system is known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. The new system means many aircraft owners operating in controlled ADS-B airspace must re-equip with new gear by January 2020. The variety of work - few jobs are the same - is part of what keeps Barnick and his co-worker David Talo in the industry. "Every job is different," Barnick said. "Even if you have the same airplane come in, even the same avionics we install, it's different." Talo concurs. "It allows me to think, allows me to make decisions ... and it's something new every day," he said. "Especially in a (flight services provider) like this, you have no idea what's going to roll through the door and you have to be up for the challenge. That's what I like." Aviation, like other industries, faces an outflow of talent as older workers near retirement. Nationally, the field of aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is expected to grow about 5 percent (about 7,500 jobs) by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for workers extends to the cockpit, too, where airlines - particularly regional carriers that provide airline service from smaller cities under the names of major airlines - face a shortage of pilots. Across the commercial sector, the number of the number of pilot jobs is expected to see a roughly 4 percent increase (4,400) jobs in the next decade, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's State of Opportunity series throughout 2018 will talk with the working women and men of Wisconsin about their jobs and the pride they take in their work. For many, aviation is a calling and a passion. Barnick went to college in 2010 and earned a two-year degree in avionics from Fox Valley Technical College campus in Oshkosh following service as a small-arms specialist on an aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy where he was around aircraft on a daily basis. Simply put, it was a passion for aviation that drove him to pursue a post-military career in the field. "I like working with electricity and like working with airplanes, so why not combine the two?" he said. "I'm one of the fortunate ones, it's what I like to do." The Marion resident worked in three other aviation-related jobs in Oregon and Michiganbefore landing at Jet Air in his home state of Wisconsin. Talo, a 57-year-old Appleton resident who carries the title of avionics floor lead at Jet Air, has worked in aviation for more than 20 years as a mechanic specializing in sheet metal. He made the transition to avionics in the past few years after a brief time working out of the industry. An advertisement from Jet Air brought him back two-and-half years ago and is leading him down a path of learning new skills - instrument panel layout, for example - while still using his background in sheet metal. "I'm the kind of individual that likes to learn," he said. "I don't like doing the same things over and over. I like doing the same things in different ways and improving those same things. Being an aircraft mechanic, and/or aircraft technician, gives me the variety I enjoy in life and the work challenge to come in and solve problems." With close to a quarter century of experience, Talo is looking ahead to the people - and passing on his acquired knowledge - who will take his spot when he retires. "Avionics techs are few and far between. You really have to work hard and finding them and retaining them," he said. "When I get close (to retirement), I'm going to take some young guy and pass on all the sheet metal and technical knowledge I have." Talo sees that desire as a tradition. "Aviation is like that," he said. "It's kind of a special fraternity and you feel compelled." Until then, Talo plans on staying in aviation and providing a key service to aircraft owners. "The look in the customer's face when he walks up and the door is open and everything is lit up, that's pretty much your payday," he said. "That's what keeps me around and keeps me interested." https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin/articles/2018-02-26/avionics-techs-combine-love-of-aviation-problem-solving Back to Top Ramco Moves toward 'Ecosystem' with Expanded Portfolio Ramco (Booth C7932) continues to expand its portfolio of large helicopter fleet operations as it looks to build an ecosystem of data collection and sharing. At the same time, though, the aviation maintenance and support software specialist is eying the "long tail" of smaller operations with plans to roll out a new push into that arena. The latest large fleet operator to select the Ramco system is Papillon Group. Papillon's Grand Canyon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines installed the Ramco Aviation Suite V5.8 system, which will integrate the manual systems of both operators into a single platform and automate maintenance, engineering, compliance, quality assurance, and crew scheduling functions. In addition, the system will provide electronic flight bag tools and automated flight operations information. "Embracing digitization with Ramco will bring a new edge to our business," said Geoff Edlund, president of Papillon Grand Helicopters, adding the service will streamline its operations and ensure real-time data availability. Papillon, which operates 80 rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, flying 600,000 passengers annually on sightseeing tours, joins a Ramco client list that includes seven of the top 10 U.S. fleet operators (in terms of fleet size). These clients-including Air Methods, PHI, Air Evac and Era Helicopters, among others-are engaged in a range of operations, from medical evacuation to oil-and-gas support and air tourism. This range of operations has helped evolve the Ramco product suite since it entered the helicopter market in 1999, said Manoj Singh, senior v-p, North America for Ramco. The company initially provided software to Columbia Helicopters, which was flying in a range of environments and needed a flexible system that could be used remotely. Ramco tailored a system that would work for those operations. At the time, Ramco was primarily enmeshed in the airline industry. But a short-lived arrangement with Boeing that limited its ability to independently market its software to airlines led Ramco to look at other opportunities, including the helicopter market, Sing said. TAILORED OFFERINGS FOR ROTOR-INDUSTRY CLIENTS Ramco had noted that most operators tracked only a portion of their maintenance, but needed access to a range of information, from parts management to flight operations, he said. Bringing on board PHI and Era, Ramco rolled out an electronic flight bag capability and provided software that took a more holistic approach to maintenance tracking. The EFB function provided an interface for the flight crew to manage their tasks on board. In addition, Ramco integrated operational information, with other process such as maintenance and billing, to provide a holistic approach for the operator. Ramco developed the software taking into account the numerous unique factors that need to be reflected in maintenance tracking. Maintenance tracking is not just a matter of how many hours or flight cycles, Singh said, but also must reflect the nature of operation, including the loads, environments, and any special equipment installed on the helicopter. Ramco developed a "huge list of parameters" for operators to capture, he said. Ramco then moved into the air medical field with companies such as Air Methods and Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH), which have several individual bases that may be staffed by a pilot and perhaps a mechanic. Ramco tailored its products to facilitate used of the system at these smaller bases, while still providing a complete picture to the parent company. Also some air medical clients have separate companies throughout the country feeding into a central corporation, Singh said. "These are very independent companies. When it came to integrating a group level, it was a nightmare." Ramco developed multi-organization unit capability, which involved a single installation that all the different organizations can access with separate logins and individually manage their information. But the installation also can pool information from these organizations that is required at that corporate level. Now with a full portfolio of clients, Ramco is looking at the next stages of evolution for its products, including building an ecosystem that can directly connect information to the supply chain and the OEM. Singh noted that the company's clients not only are the largest fleet operators, but they also are operators that have the largest collection of a given helicopter types. This provides opportunities in the areas of data sharing with the OEM. Providing clear channels of operational and maintenance data to the OEM enables the manufacturer to track trends to offer better support, as well as engineering improvements. Also, from the supply side, data sharing will enable the supplier to better plan and prepare for the parts needs of the operator, Singh said. "We are trying to improve the visibility," Singh said, and the large fleet operators provide statistical significance. Ramco already has a client on board with this initiative, and is in discussions with others over the possibility. "We have gained the scale in the industry to bring value in connecting organizations and operators and build an ecosystem," Singh said. "From the technology perspective, we are trying to make a big leap." While the software specialist expands its opportunities with large fleet operators, it is also turning its attention to smaller operators. Ramco has built a suite on the cloud that can be used by small operators. The operator can input information such as helicopter configuration, weight, balance, operational details, and inventory, via the cloud-based system and have the ability to track and manage operations similar to the system used by the large fleet operations. Singh estimates that the cloud-based system will provide at least 80 percent of the functionality of the large-fleet operator system. He is hoping for a quick ramp up of the customer base in this area, and plans to highlight the system during Heli-Expo this week. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-02-24/ramco-moves-toward-ecosystem-expanded-portfolio Back to Top UP to get nine new airports in 15 months: Civil aviation minister Union minister for civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh would get nine more airports in next 15 months. Addressing the UP Investors' Summit, the minister said Uttar Pradesh got nine out of 25 routes finalised by the Centre under the regional connectivity scheme. "Nine more operational airports will come up in Aligarh, Azamgarh, Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Moradabad, Myurpur (Sonbhadra), Allahabad and Shravasti in 15 months," Raju said. "Allahabad will be connected to 13 cities of the country. No one would have imagined this a few years ago. When the BJP came to power, there were 476 airstrips in the country and only 75 of them were airports. In three years, we have added 18 airports," he said. The minister said 56 more airports would be added in the country in next 15 months as the government wanted everyone to experience air travel. "Only one per cent population of Uttar Pradesh travels by air that is why there is a huge untapped passenger potential. Air traffic is increasing in UP at a rate of 28.8% while cargo is going up by 32%. This is when most of the potential remains untapped," he said. Raju said Lucknow airport would soon have a unit of maintenance, repair and operations. "It will give services for aircrafts at the lowest possible rates not only in India but globally too," he said. Union minister for civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh would get nine more airports in next 15 months. Addressing the UP Investors' Summit, the minister said Uttar Pradesh got nine out of 25 routes finalised by the Centre under the regional connectivity scheme. "Nine more operational airports will come up in Aligarh, Azamgarh, Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Moradabad, Myurpur (Sonbhadra), Allahabad and Shravasti in 15 months," Raju said. "Allahabad will be connected to 13 cities of the country. No one would have imagined this a few years ago. When the BJP came to power, there were 476 airstrips in the country and only 75 of them were airports. In three years, we have added 18 airports," he said. The minister said 56 more airports would be added in the country in next 15 months as the government wanted everyone to experience air travel. "Only one per cent population of Uttar Pradesh travels by air that is why there is a huge untapped passenger potential. Air traffic is increasing in UP at a rate of 28.8% while cargo is going up by 32%. This is when most of the potential remains untapped," he said. Raju said Lucknow airport would soon have a unit of maintenance, repair and operations. "It will give services for aircrafts at the lowest possible rates not only in India but globally too," he said. https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/up-to-get-nine-new-airports-in-15-months-civil-aviation-minister/story-8PxqpxFA5pQVgJ1ufgtZaJ.html Back to Top HAECO Opens New Hangar for Large Jets at PTI Maintenance Facility Piedmont Triad - HAECO Americas, one of the world's leading aircraft repair and maintenance organizations, has completed construction work on a new hangar at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The company has already hired 150 additional employees to work on large jets in the $60 million facility. The 250,000 square foot hangar, one of five hangars the company operates at the airport, was completed in December 2017. The company began moving aircraft (primarily passenger aircraft) into the facility for repair and maintenance in January. "The Airport is extremely fortunate to have HAECO Americas as one of our major tenants and a major employer," said Kevin Baker, Executive Director of Piedmont Triad Airport Authority. "This new hangar, which opened last month, represents a major commitment by HAECO to this airport and to the community as a whole." Once the hangar is fully operational, HAECO expects to hire 400 to 500 aircraft technicians to work in the hangar, according to HAECO Americas CEO Richard Kendall, bringing the total HAECO workforce at the airport to approximately 2,200 people. "We are delighted to bring the new hangar online. This gives us capacity to maintain larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A-350," Kendall said. "Our business is rooted in Greensboro beginning more than 25 years ago. This grows our footprint in the Triad as a significant player in the rising aerospace sector here." The hangar is easily the largest within HAECO Americas' facilities and almost twice the size of each of the other four hangars that HAECO currently operates at PTI Airport. The new hangar will be capable of holding eight narrowbody aircraft, or two widebody and two narrowbody aircraft simultaneously. "HAECO Americas' central location on the U.S. East Coast makes it ideal for servicing aircraft that fly the rapidly-expanding routes connecting centers in the United States, both domestically and with other countries," Kendall said at the groundbreaking for the new hangar in August 2016. HAECO's customer base includes commercial operators, freight carriers, aircraft leasing companies, private charter operators and government agencies from around the world. HAECO Americas operates a second aircraft maintenance facility in Lake City, Florida, and an engine maintenance center in Oscoda, Michigan, in addition to the North American headquarters operation at PTI. HAECO Americas, across its business segments, employs nearly 3,000 people in the United States. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12399564/haeco-opens-new-hangar-for-large-jets-at-pti-maintenance-facility Back to Top SpaceX Delays Next Falcon 9 Rocket Launch to Conduct Nose Cone Checks SpaceX has delayed its weekend launch of a Spanish communications satellite to allow time for extra tests on the mission's Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 was scheduled to launch the Hispasat 30W-6 communications satellite Sunday (Feb. 25) at 12:35 a.m. EST (0535 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. But on Saturday, SpaceX said it needed extra time to test the rocket's payload fairing, the clamshell-like nose cone that protects satellites during flight. A new launch date has not yet been announced. "Standing down from this weekend's launch attempt to conduct additional testing on the fairing's pressurization system," SpaceX representatives wrote on Twitter. "Once complete, pending range availability, we will confirm a new targeted launch date." SpaceX is not the only one hoping to launch a space mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the next week. On Thursday (March 1), NASA and the United Launch Alliance are scheduled to launch an Atlas V rocket carrying the new GOES-S weather satellite from Space Launch Complex 41 at the station. So, SpaceX may only have a short time to complete the Falcon 9 fairing checks before having to wait until after the GOES-S launch later next week for another opportunity. "The launch will take place as soon as the incident is resolved and the launch window with the greatest chances of success is available," Hispasat, the satellite communications company that owns the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, said in a statement. Hispasat 30W-6 will provide television, broadband and other communications services to Hispasat customers across Europe, North Africa and the Americas, according to a Hispasat description. The satellite will orbit the Earth in a geosynchronous orbit in the 30-degrees west position, and serve as a replacement for the older Hispasat 30W-4 satellite. Hispasat 30W-6 is designed to last at least 15 years in orbit. The launch of Hispasat 30W-6 will follow close after SpaceX's successfully launch of another mission for Spain. On Thursday (Feb. 22), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Paz Earth radar-imaging satellite into orbit for the Spanish company Hisdesat. Two prototype satellites for SpaceX's Starlink broadband internet constellation also launched on that mission. https://www.space.com/39806-spacex-delays-falcon-9-launch-hispasat-30w-6-satellite.html Curt Lewis