August 16, 2018 - No. 065 In This Issue P&WC Adds Another Designated Maintenance Facility in Brazil UPS, mechanics union reach deal including 31% raise over 5 years Delta Air Lines Foundation Issues Aviation Maintenance Grants Camp Introduces System Integration National Training Aircraft Symposium Tackles Pilot Shortage and Critical Aviation Industry Issues No Talks Yet With Honeywell Over EC Complaint. Malta Expands Robust Aviation Industry MTU Maintenance Canada Celebrates 20th Anniversary Yulista opens new Andalusia aviation facility Maintenance Issues at Air India Ground 20 Aircraft Embraer Opens New Sorocaba Interior Shop SpaceX President to Speak at AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference P&WC Adds Another Designated Maintenance Facility in Brazil Pratt & Whitney Canada (Booth 2010) has appointed helicopter MRO provider Helipark Manutenção Aeronáutica, located in Carapicuiba in São Paulo state, a designated maintenance facility for seven of its turboshaft engine models, to support P&WC's growing sales of engines and aftermarket services in Brazil. Helipark Manutenção Aeronáutica joins Rico and ABA Manutenção de Aeronaves as designated maintenance facilities P&WC has appointed to its MRO network in Brazil within the past 12 months. The Canada-based turbine-engine OEM appointed both Rico-based in Manaus in Amazonas state-and Barreiras, Bahia-based ABA as designated maintenance facilities last summer. Rico provides MRO for the PT6A engine models powering the more than 400 Cessna Caravans that operate in the vast Amazon basin, and ABA performs MRO on the PT6As powering many aircraft operating in Brazil's large agricultural-aviation industry. Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, P&WC's v-p for customer service, told AIN that Helipark will perform line maintenance and provide technical support at Carapicuiba (which forms part of the São Paulo metropolitan region) for customers operating P&WC-powered helicopters. Helipark will also provide P&WC turboshaft operators with mobile repair services, in the form of mobile repair teams that use specially outfitted trucks to travel to customers' base and line-station locations to perform line maintenance on their rotorcraft. The seven P&WC turboshaft models Helipark will support power a range of light-to-medium size, single- and twin-engine helicopters operated in Brazil. Helipark will provide MRO and support for the PT6B-37A turboshaft powering the single-engine Leonardo AW119, the PW206C powering the twin-engine A109; the PW207C powering the A109 and AW109; and the PW210A powering the Leonardo AW169 medium twin. The Carapicuiba-based MRO shop will also handle work on the PW207D powering the twin-engine Bell 427, as well as the PW207D1 and PW207D2 powering the twin-engine Bell 429. A NETWORK APPROACH Another P&WC designated maintenance facility is PT6A specialist Covington Aircraft, whose Brazilian shop is located in Goiânia in Goiás state. In addition to creating a growing network of designated maintenance facility partners throughout Brazil, Pratt & Whitney Canada also has its own MRO and parts-distribution operation there, Pratt & Whitney Canada do Brasil, which is located at Bertram Luiz Leupolz-Sorocaba Airport, a general aviation airfield in Sorocaba in São Paulo state which is now seeking regulatory approval for international operations. At Sorocaba, P&WC provides MRO and spares services not only for its many Brazilian customers but also for customers in other South American countries, because Brazil is the only South American nation in which the Canadian company has physical MRO facilities. "It's important to think of what we do [at Sorocaba] not as an individual site, but really as part of a network," said Kumarasingam. In addition to the designated maintenance facilities operated by partner companies, P&WC has seven field service representatives and a number of customer managers who serve fleet customers-such as regional airlines and large operators of helicopters and fixed-wing business aircraft-based in Brazil. In addition, the Canadian OEM has sales representatives and field service representatives based in other countries in the region, such as Chile and Colombia, he said. Kumarasingam said Latin America is an important business-aviation market for Pratt & Whitney Canada, with Brazil-which P&WC recognizes as having the third-largest domestic aviation industry in the world-representing a particularly key country market for the company's Latin American bizav sales and service activities. "In Latin America, our market share is about 40 percent in business aviation," he said. "Another important catalyst for us is that we have contributed to the success of the Phenom product line with Embraer." Embraer chose P&WC's PW617 turbofan engine to power the Phenom 100 and the PW535E to power the Phenom 300. "We continue to look for opportunities" to add new business in Brazil, said Kumarasingam. In large part this is because P&WC has seen considerable sales success there in the past decade: its market in Brazil has grown by more than 80 percent in the past 10 years, he said. In 2007, the company had slightly more than 1,600 turbine aircraft engines operating in Brazil; today, P&W has more than 3,200 engines in service with Brazilian operators. Of these 3,200-plus engines, some 60 percent are PT6As of various models, powering aircraft types that range from Air Tractor and Thrush agricultural sprayers to Embraer Bandeirantes and the approximately 460 Beech King Airs operating in Brazil, according to Kumarasingam. (Many owners use their King Airs to commute between their city residences and their large ranches or estates out in the vast Brazilian countryside.) The remaining 40 percent of the P&WC turbine engines operating in Brazil power helicopters, business jets, and regional airliners. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-14/pwc-adds-another-designated-maintenance-facility-brazil Back to Top UPS, mechanics union reach deal including 31% raise over 5 years Leaders of the UPS aircraft mechanics union are declaring victory in securing a tentative new contract that they say will deliver the country's best pay and benefits. The pact "sets a new bar for aircraft mechanics in the U.S. airline industry, with pay rates and benefits that surpass those at FedEx and all other major U.S.-based carriers," the union said in an announcement early Tuesday. "Upon ratification of the new contract, Local 2727 members will become the highest paid aviation mechanics in the country by a wide margin." If ratified as expected, the 1,300 members of the Louisville-based union would receive raises of about 16 percent now with 3-percent annual pay hikes. That means nearly 31 percent in increases over the five-year contract. Along with an increase in pension contributions and enhanced health care benefits, UPS agreed to pay retroactive hourly compensation calculated from the end of the last agreement in November 2013 that could gross aircraft maintenance technicians $25,000 to $65,000 and about half that range for utility helpers. UPS said in a statement that "we believe the proposed contract meets the needs of our employees and the business by rewarding employees with industry-leading pay and benefits, while also providing enhanced flexibility, positioning UPS to meet customer needs, and addressing competitor challenges." The aircraft mechanics, who are represented by Teamsters Local 2727, have aggressively accused the shipping giant during the last two years for foot-dragging over a new agreement. They picketed at Amazon warehouse sites in the region and also protested outside of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's Louisville home - after demanding that the Trump administration step up. The mechanics get about $50 a hour now. The group cited Trump's and McConnell's pledges that workers would benefit from the corporate tax cut approved last December by Congress in better pay and benefits. UPS reported saving tens of million of dollars from reduced tax rates. After the last agreement expired in late 2013, employees continued working under the terms of the last agreement, as is common in collective bargaining. Teamsters representatives declined to disclose all details of the proposal until about 1,200 maintenance technicians and 100 utility helpers can review it. A ratification vote is expected sometime next month. However, Tim Boyle, the local union president, credited pickets at McConnell's home in Louisville and targeted lobbying in Washington for pushing along the discussions recently. McConnell's staff called the National Mediation Board, which had been overseeing the bargaining, to ask about the progress, Boyle said. It helped that mediators ordered the parties back to the table recently, which accelerated the discussions, he said. "It's been a long haul and it's a good contract," Boyle said, adding that "there's nothing that touches" the health benefits package. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/companies/2018/08/14/mechanics-union-hails-tentative-ups-contracts-pay-benefits/979373002/ Back to Top Delta Air Lines Foundation Issues Aviation Maintenance Grants The Delta Air Lines Foundation is continuing support the future of aviation professionals with grants totalling USD350,000 to nine Aviation Maintenance training programmes across the US. The grants will allow the programmes to enhance their curriculum development, projects and material support, increasing students' awareness, knowledge and skills of Avionics/Electrical and Composite Structures. Tad Hutcheson, senior vice president, Delta Air Lines Foundation, elaborated, "Delta and The Delta Air Lines Foundation are committed to investing in the future of aviation professionals in the local communities where we live, work and serve. "Knowledge of avionics, electrical systems and composite construction is critical in the aviation industry, and this grant will help better prepare students for their future careers." In addition to these programmes, Delta and The Delta Air Lines Foundation also have immersive collegiate partnerships. https://traveltradedaily.com/americas-travel-channels/item/5097-delta-air-lines-foundation-issues-aviation-maintenance-grants Back to Top Camp Introduces System Integration Aircraft maintenance management provider Camp Systems has introduced new functionality aimed at enhancing the company's non-scheduled maintenance capabilities. The Camp Engine Health Monitoring "EHM/MTX Integration" service provides operators with expert analysis of their engine's health and alerts them whenever trend data indicates an inspection or other "on-condition" maintenance action is recommended. Using the company's new Maintenance Observation tool, that information can be processed in an integrated path from engine data to due list, with complete control by the operator. Recommended actions are included in a filterable list within Camp maintenance. With the integration now provided in the system, operators can choose to have their dedicated analyst automatically escalate the issue to a discrepancy on the due list, or they can stage the recommended action to the observation list for further disposition. Escalation from observation to actionable discrepancy is easily accomplished with the click of the mouse, recording and rendering the entire history as a traceable event. Using the tool, operators can seamlessly flow between their Camp EHM and Camp maintenance services, improving communication and productivity. The electronically transmitted records eliminate manual processing steps and potential errors that may result. The company (Booth 4004) also recently launched Camp Connect, which allows users of shop floor data systems Corridor and Quantum Control to integrate with the Camp system. Through the use of the new technology, users can reduce time and cost spent on manual processes such as data entry and document preparation. It allows users to download upcoming scheduled maintenance tasks from Camp directly into the shop floor data programs, which upon completion of the work, can upload compliance data into the Camp platform. It will result in improved documentation as tasks performed beyond scheduled maintenance are transferred back to Camp, providing detailed aircraft records. Through the direct connections, maintenance providers can free staff to focus on other activities and the automation can result in faster turnaround on price quote requests. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-14/camp-introduces-system-integration Back to Top National Training Aircraft Symposium Tackles Pilot Shortage and Critical Aviation Industry Issues A worldwide pilot shortage and new, innovative ways to enhance aviation training are key discussions this week in Daytona Beach, Fla. at the 2018 National Training Aircraft Symposium: The Changing Role of the Pilot, hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The conference features presentations and keynotes speakers from NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Piedmont Airlines, the Aviation Technician Education Council, the Air Line Pilots Association and the U.S. Air Force, among others. Attendees from the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands are participating as subject experts, including leaders in the aviation industry and from Embry-Riddle and other universities. Emerging topics focus on the accelerating demand for more pilots and mechanics, the introduction of new technology in aviation, the training and implications of personal air vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems and educating students at a younger age in aviation-related fields. Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D., told the audience he was pleased to see symposium topics expanded to include aviation maintenance as well as autonomous vehicles and cyber security. His opening remarks also mentioned a number of programs at Embry-Riddle that are helping to address key issues such as pilot demand, including Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses partnership in the new Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program, to identify, select and develop the next generation of pilots. A 2017 Boeing study estimated that more than 600,000 commercial airline pilots will be needed globally over the next two decades. In addition to Delta and other airlines, JetBlue Airways is working on creative approaches to pilot sourcing, including partnerships with universities such as Embry-Riddle, to help feed the pipeline, according to Nancy Shane, Ph.D., who has a master's degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle, and is manager of Pilot Gateway Programs at JetBlue. Representatives from the Air Line Pilots Association also discussed education outreach programs providing guidance to pilots seeking employment and mentoring assistance. New pilot training models such as mixed reality, augmented reality and virtual reality were featured topics on the first day of the conference. Lulu Sun, Ph.D., Embry-Riddle associate professor of Engineering, presented "Exploring the Best Practices of Virtual Training Delivery for the Prospective Air Traffic Controllers." Stephanie Fussell, an Embry-Riddle doctorate student in Aviation discussed "Implementing Immersive Virtual Reality in an Aviation/Aerospace Teaching and Learning Paradigm," and William L. Little, aerospace technologist for software systems with NASA, talked about NASA's Kennedy Space Center Augmented/Virtual Reality Lab. Attendees also saw first-hand how augmented reality can be used, from seeing inside an actual aircraft engine to preflight training, as demonstrated by Lori Brown, associate professor and researcher from Western Michigan University, in her presentation, "Holographic Micro-simulations to Enhance Aviation Training with Mixed Reality." "Right now the airline industry is facing as much stress in the hiring domain as it has in years," said Michael E. Wiggins, Ph.D., professor and department chair of Aeronautical Science for Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus. "There is a big push to try to get flight students through the training faster, quicker, cheaper and more effective so that we can continue to safely operate the National Air Space System." To see more topics addressed during the symposium and full presentations, which will later be posted online at Embry-Riddle's Scholarly Commons Digital Repository, go to https://commons.erau.edu/ntas/ https://news.erau.edu/headlines/national-training-aircraft-symposium-tackles-pilot-shortage-and-critical-aviation-industry-issues/ Back to Top No Talks Yet With Honeywell Over EC Complaint IATA and Honeywell have not started talks on a possible settlement of the European Commission (EC) complaint filed by the association against the supplier, even as discussions with CFM International over a similar complaint led to a settlement that both sides welcomed. "We have not moved to the first step on Honeywell yet," IATA General Counsel Jeff Shane told Aviation Daily. Shane was on the IATA team that worked with representatives from GE Aviation and Safran, joint-venture partners in CFM International, on the CFM complaint. The CFM and Honeywell complaints, filed in March 2016 in support of informal EC Competition Directorate inquiries, were meant to convey the magnitude of the problem from IATA members' point of view, Shane said. "We just wanted the commission to understand that the industry as a whole treated this as an [important] issue," Shane explained. Not long after the formal complaint, GE and Safran senior executives approached IATA, starting a series of detailed negotiations that lasted about 18 months. The result: an agreement announced last month that saw IATA drop its formal complaint in exchange for CFM agreeing to abide by a set of "conduct policies" and "implementing measures" hammered out during the talks. GE also plans to abide by the new guidelines. "The thing I found so remarkable is that what began as an adversarial proceeding ended up being a collaborative effort," Shane said. The policies into effect in February 2019. One reason for the delay: everyone needs time to digest them. Because the policies--which are public on CFM's website--were not consolidated in one place prior to the IATA negotiations, quantifying their ramifications is difficult. But both IATA and CFM expressed satisfaction with the outcome. "We hope that this agreement will be an example for other manufacturers to follow," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO. CFM said the policies "help to confirm, clarify, and complement" its aftermarket practices. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/no-talks-yet-honeywell-over-ec-complaint Back to Top Malta Expands Robust Aviation Industry The island nation of Malta has a reserve of skilled aviation workers and an impressive number of registered aircrafts. Now, the government is crafting innovation-friendly frameworks, partnering with private enterprises, and cultivating new relationships abroad to help the sector reach new heights. Over the past 20 years, strategic investment in diverse aspects of the aviation industry in Malta has led to job creation, revenue generation, and significant economic growth for the island nation. The country has focused on attracting repair and overhaul as well as research and development entities to establish operations on their land. During this time, Malta also became a signatory of the Cape Town Convention (an international treaty that standardises transactions involving movable property such as aircraft equipment), making the country's aircraft industry more attractive for investments. According to Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, and Capital Projects, Dr. Ian Borg, the number of registered aircrafts has doubled since 2012 and the number of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders has grown from 18 to 35 within Malta. Last year, aviation maintenance alone constituted three percent of Malta's GDP. As the government looks ahead, it hopes to increase this percentage. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the nation will continue to build on its success "by aiming to attract more airlines and related services to set up their base in Malta". To this end, ministers are currently working on a plan that includes the possible expansion of Malta International Airport to cater to increased air traffic, as well as a 4-million-euro investment in training for aviation workers. Combined with private development agreements and newly forged relationships overseas, the future of Maltese aviation is bright. NEW DEVELOPMENTS Earlier this summer, the first Malta-registered Airbus A380 was unveiled at Safi Aviation Park - which also happens to be the largest passenger airliner in the world. It has a wingspan of 80 metres and is certified to carry more than 850 passengers. Even with its size, the A380 flies extremely efficiently, emitting fewer greenhouse gasses than smaller planes, thus, leaving less of an impact on the environment. Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly will operate the jet, becoming the company the fourth European airline to operate an A380. The plane itself is a significant addition to Malta's aircraft register, which totals more than 280. More recently and perhaps more importantly, Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks Limited signed a contract with aircraft maintenance company SR Technics on August 6 to create a 35-million-euro, 30,000 square meter six-bay hangar. Construction will begin this year. "The state-of-the-art hangar enables us to continue providing efficient and high-performance maintenance services based on safety, quality and reliability, and to deliver aircraft on schedule", CEO Frank Walschot said of the project. It will also enable the company to recruit and train up to 300 more Maltese workers. Prime Minister Muscat, Minister for the Economy Christian Cardona, and CEO of Malta Enterprise, Mario Galea, were all present in Valletta for the announcement. "All this is positive but there are more goals to reach", the prime minister said. FOSTERING A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP In a government statement released after the Valletta gathering, Maltese trade promotions representatives committed to securing even more business in the sectors that stimulate commercial aviation activity. "[Aviation] is an important industry which employs highly skilled and talented individuals from various fields of expertise", they wrote. The government and the Malta Chamber of Commerce will also continue to support Malta-based businesses as they expand their aviation products and services to international markets. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carmelo Abela, emphasised that continued growth in the aviation industry will require a strong relationship between the government and private enterprises, as well as a proactive approach toward legal, financial, and educational challenges. Abela also said Malta will "make the best possible use of its diplomatic networks to continue building relationships and identifying trade opportunities". LOOKING OVERSEAS Nurturing international relationships is, in fact, a key aspect of Maltese aviation growth. For one, Transport Malta and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau met in Tokyo this month to discuss the potential for air links between their respective nations. The conversation revolved around regulatory frameworks, routes to be operated, capacity entitlements, code-sharing, aviation safety, and other operational considerations. In recent appearances, Minister Abela has also stressed the promising potential of promoting business in Sub-Saharan markets, especially those with a strong oil and gas industry. Brexit may also provide opportunities for Malta to partner more closely with other European airlines. EU airlines need effective management and control within the Union to pass legal requirements, and some aircrafts will face restrictions entering and leaving the United Kingdom after it officially leaves the Union. Thanks to its strategic geographical position and attractive aviation programme, Malta offers a practical alternative. Government and industry stakeholders insist that their bilateral relationship with the UK is also an asset in this regard. Malta has already found tactical methods to differentiate its offerings and attract both businesses and investments within the aviation sector. Recent announcements only cement the country's position as a growing aviation force and elucidates the many benefits this role brings for the Maltese economy. https://www.southeusummit.com/europe/malta/malta-expands-robust-aviation-industry/ Back to Top MTU Maintenance Canada Celebrates 20th Anniversary Vancouver, August 14th -- MTU Maintenance Canada, a North American affiliate of German engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, celebrated its 20th anniversary this weekend with customers, partners, and employees. The event included a ceremony at the facility as well as a trip to local Abbotsford Airshow. In total, MTU Maintenance Canada has seen over 1,100 engine shop visits over its 20 year history. In 2011, the company introduced its Accessory Repair Center of excellence which completes over 11,000 accessory repairs per year. "We are incredibly proud of our long history of serving commercial and military customers in North and South America," says Helmut Neuper, President and CEO of MTU Maintenance Canada. "My heartfelt thanks goes out to our customers, partners and employees, who made it possible to achieve the twenty year milestone. I look forward to building on this success, with the V2500 line recently introduced in December 2017." MTU Maintenance Canada employs a workforce of nearly 400 experienced and highly-skilled professionals and is a valued employer in the region's aerospace sector. Jim Quick, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) states: "MTU's achievement over its 20 years is evidence of the talent and expertise of British Columbia's aerospace sector. We're proud of MTU's success and support their continued investment into the facility, as it benefits British Columbia's diverse, strong and growing economy and local community." Neuper too highlights the commitment of the workforce: "We have an outstanding record of service for the military version of the CF6-50 and were commended for our high EGT margin and 100% on-time delivery. It is a real pleasure to be able to work with such a dedicated team." The MTU Maintenance Canada facility has been part of MTU Maintenance network of companies, the global leader in customized solutions for aero engines worldwide, since 1998. Prior to this, the shop was owned and run by Canadian Airlines. Based in Richmond, British Columbia, the company repairs and overhauls engines and accessories across nearly 12,000 square meters combined. The site in the immediate vicinity of Vancouver Airport specializes in tailor-made solutions for CF6, CFM56 and V2500 engines as well as comprehensive accessory and LRU services for engines ranging from the CF34 to the GE90 engine families. About MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer, with core competencies in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames, manufacturing processes and repair techniques. MTU plays a key role in the new engine market through its partnerships in many international development, manufacturing and sales programs, to which it contributes its high-tech components. One third of the global fleet of passenger airliners relies on components supplied by MTU. MTU is one of the world's top 5 providers of maintenance services for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. These activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military sector, MTU Aero Engines is the lead industrial partner for almost every type of engine flown by the German armed forces. MTU operates affiliates around the globe; its corporate headquarters are based in Munich, Germany. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12425068/mtu-maintenance-canada-celebrates-20th-anniversary Back to Top Yulista opens new Andalusia aviation facility Yulista Holding has opened its new fixed and rotary wing facility at Andalusia's Southern Alabama Regional Airport. Designed specifically for C-130 and B-737 aircraft, it can also accommodate rotary and tilt rotor aircraft. Company officials say its large bay hangar space and proximity to Eglin Air Force Base presents many opportunities. In all, the complex has two hangars, a main office and manufacturing and integration space. "Our SARA facility is going to be instrumental in serving our customers by increasing our capacity and giving us the ability to support different customers," said Josh Herren, Yulista Holding CEO. Yulista works in aircraft technology insertion, modification and maintenance, and aircraft training simulators and devices. https://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2018/08/yulista_opens_new_andalusia_av.html Back to Top Maintenance Issues at Air India Ground 20 Aircraft India's upcoming Independence Day Celebration comes with an up to 45 percent discounts for both domestic and international flights, but not everyone who booked their flights would be satisfied with their experience as Air India has grounded 20 aircraft. That is a little over a fifth of the airline's entire fleet. An accumulated USD $3.6 Billion worth of aircraft sits in the hangar. Nine of these are A321s, five are B777s, four are A319s, and two are 787s. These aircraft were reported by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) due to lack of spare parts. This caused a loss of revenue and numerous flight cancellations. The mechanics and engineers are currently working on repairs, inspections, and paperwork to get these aircraft back into service. "Almost 23 per cent of the Air India fleet is grounded for lack of spares. To put this into perspective, aircraft worth approximately USD $3.6 billion or approximately Rs 25,000 crore (at today's list price) are lying idle in the hangars," the ICPA said in a letter. "As a consequence of these groundings, the Kozhikode-Dubai and Kozhikode-Sharjah sectors - the only sectors on the A321 operations to have Extended Duty Time Operations (EDTO) - do not get aircraft due to routing restrictions, when the company has taken EDTO compliant aircraft on debt. Instead, there is significant loss being made, by irrationally routing non-EDTO aircraft on this route." On the A319 fleet, the ICPA general secretary said that the situation was only slightly better. "Four of the 22 A319 aircraft are. This makes 18% of the fleet unavailable for operation. Similarly, on the long-haul routes, the Boeing 777 fleet situation is as desperate. Of the 14, B777-300 aircraft, 5 are in the hangar," the pilot body claimed. Air India said that it is always a common practice for every airline to ground their aircraft for routine maintenance, periodical checks, and inspections by the maintenance department to make sure that aircraft are airworthy and conform to the aviation safety standards. https://aeronauticsonline.com/air-india-maintenance-issues-grounds-20-aircraft/ Back to Top Embraer Opens New Sorocaba Interior Shop At Embraer's Sorocaba facility near São Paulo, Brazil, the company has opened a new interior shop. Located at Bertram Luiz Leupolz Airport in Sorocaba, the Embraer service center provides maintenance services for all of the Embraer Executive Jets products, from the Phenom 100EV to the Lineage 1000. The interior shop provides custom interiors for new jets as well as refurbishment of older interiors. Products available include carpets; headliners; leather; new veneer and wood varnishing; and flooring products such as stone, wood, vinyl, or leather. Customers can decide on interior materials by reviewing samples at the Sorocaba interior shop and also evaluate various paint schemes. With Embraer maintenance and interior services both available in a "one-stop-shop" setup, customers can have everything done during one trip, according to Everton Vicente de Lima, general manager of Embraer's Brazil service center. This includes line maintenance, inspections, and custom interior refurbishment. The Sorocaba service center is certified to work on aircraft from Brazil, the U.S., Europe, Chile, and Argentina. Embraer has invested about $25 million at Sorocaba, which includes $5 million for equipment and tools. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-14/embraer-opens-new-sorocaba-interior-shop Back to Top SpaceX President to Speak at AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association (AFA) announced today that Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, will provide a keynote address during AFA's 2018 Air, Space & Cyber Conference held September 17-19, 2018 in National Harbor, Md. Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development and built the Falcon vehicle family manifest to more than 70 launches, representing more than $10 billion in business. "Our Air Force needs to work closer with industry than ever to fulfill our space mission," said AFA President Gen Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret). "AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference is the perfect venue to facilitate strengthening that great partnership." As the world's leading launch services provider, Shotwell will discuss partnering with the Air Force in space from the SpaceX perspective. SpaceX achieved the first re-flight of an orbital class rocket in 2017, and the company now regularly launches flight-proven rockets. In 2018, SpaceX began launching Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful operational rocket by a factor of two. More than 9,000 attendees registered for the 2017 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, a 24 percent increase from the previous year. This year, the event will feature exhibits from 137 companies and organizations, displaying their latest technological advancements throughout the 100,000 square foot exposition hall. Over 100 distinguished speakers will participate on more than 35 panels and sessions, including major addresses by Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright. Learn more and register for the 2018 Air, Space & Cyber Conference at www.afa.org/airspacecyber . https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spacex-president-to-speak-at-afas-air-space--cyber-conference-300697733.html Curt Lewis