October 4, 2018 - No. 078 In This Issue UN court orders Washington to lift Iran sanctions linked to humanitarian goods, civil aviation Constant Aviation's Footprint Grows in Central Florida TRAXXALL Announces New Client Jet Linx New CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile Releases Make Aircraft Maintainers More Efficient Lithuanian Airline-ACMI Provider Becomes Cautious After Growth Inseego's Ctrack Aviation Asset Management Wins CompassIntel IoT Innovator Award Bombardier Breaks Ground on New Service Center in Miami Japanese Investors Build Aftermarket Presence IFS Named as Aerospace and Defense EAM Software Market Leader by ARC Advisory Group Propeller Airports Selects McGee Air Services For Ground Handling And Logistics Services At Paine Field Boeing Teams with Robotic Skies to Provide Enhanced Commercial Unmanned Aircraft System Services SpaceX launch - and historic landing attempt - from Vandenberg Air Force Base pushed back to Sunday UN court orders Washington to lift Iran sanctions linked to humanitarian goods, civil aviation The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered the US to lift sanctions on Iran which are linked to humanitarian goods and civil aviation. According to The Hague, the measures adopted by the US may endanger civil aviation safety in Iran and the lives of its users. These sanctions prevent Iranian airlines "from acquiring spare parts" and equipment, and prevent access to "maintenance, repair services and safety-related inspections" which are necessary for civil aircraft, the statement says. Also, restrictions on the importation and purchase of goods "for humanitarian needs," such as foodstuffs and life-saving medicines, as well as treatments for chronic disease or preventive care, and medical equipment, may have a serious impact on the health and lives of Iranians, the court concluded.The US "must remove any impediments" to the free exportation of foodstuffs and medicines to Iran, and to the safety of civil aviation, the statement added. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the court's ruling "another failure for [the] sanctions- addicted" US and a "victory for the rule of law." Tehran filed a complaint against Washington in July this year, saying that by pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal, the US had breached the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights signed in 1955. Back then, more than 60 years ago, the sides agreed to encourage "mutually beneficial trade and investments," and maintain "closer economic intercourse generally between their peoples." It has been almost five months since Donald Trump, a long-time critic of Iran and the nuclear agreement, pulled the US out of the deal. The decision was met with resistance from key US allies, including France and Germany. The US withdrawal from the deal came despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Tehran's compliance with the accord on numerous occasions. The renewed US sanctions on Tehran have already forced major EU companies, including France's Total, Peugeot, and Renault, as well as Germany's Siemens and Daimler, to suspend operations in Iran. Further sanctions, scheduled for November, will reportedly hit the country's oil and shipping sectors. The US has also threatened secondary restrictions on any countries or companies that continue to conduct transactions with Iran. The measures and threats were branded "psychological warfare" against the nation and its international partners by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. The EU, however, is trying to maintain ties with Tehran on an economic level. In late August, the bloc agreed on an Iranian development-aid package of €18 million ($20.9 million). Later, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel was one of the first EU politicians to say that Washington had no right to tell European companies with whom they could trade and develop economic relations. In late September, European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, who has repeatedly criticized the US withdrawal from the deal, announced that the EU signatories remain committed to the agreement. The group is working to create special payment channels to do business with Iran. https://www.rt.com/news/440187-un-order-us-iran-sanctions/ Back to Top Constant Aviation's Footprint Grows in Central Florida Constant Aviation has expanded its footprint at Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) with the addition of upgraded hangar space to support its increasing MRO activities. The company acquired the facility from StarPort 18 months ago to develop Constant's total space to around 100,000 sq ft. Constant expects to move small and mid-cabin jet maintenance operations to the new hangar. "We have been diligent in enhancing and expanding the capabilities offered in our Florida facility," said Constant Aviation president and CEO Stephen Maiden. "The breadth and depth of the services available now have attracted customers throughout the region who value a one-stop MRO solution for their aircraft maintenance needs." By moving small and mid-cabin work to the new facility, Constant will allow more room for larger- cabin needs in its current hangar. In addition to providing space for MRO services, the new facility will support Constant's paint services with added prep and detail space. "We have been bursting at the seams with aircraft, and this additional hangar space gives us the ability to serve even more customers in the region," said Constant Aviation regional v-p Kevin Dillon. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-10-02/constant-aviations- footprint-grows-central-florida Back to Top TRAXXALL Announces New Client Jet Linx - Operator of more than 100 Aircraft and 17 Bases Nationwide MONTREAL, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- TRAXXALL, providers of an innovative aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory management system, today announces its new client, Jet Linx. Jet Linx is the third largest business aircraft operator in the country. The company is locally-focused and committed to delivering highly-personalized service. It offers a Jet Card program - guaranteed aircraft availability at fixed hourly rates, and an Aircraft Management program - oversight of all aircraft ownership responsibilities, including: pilots, training, maintenance, fuel programs, hangar operations, FAA compliance and insurance. Last year, the Jet Linx team began reevaluating its aircraft maintenance tracking needs. After thorough review, Jet Linx decided to migrate its fleet of aircraft to TRAXXALL in a process that was completed in July. Today, Jet Linx is using TRAXXALL's maintenance tracking and inventory management modules across all locations. "We have been very pleased with TRAXXALL's performance and the enrollment of our fleet has gone smoothly," explains Jamie Walker, President and CEO, Jet Linx. "Maintenance tracking was the last part of our business that lacked real-time reporting." According to Walker, the benefit of real-time data transfer was one of the major reasons for adopting TRAXXALL. It is now integrated with Jet Linx's Rockwell Collins Flight Operating System (FOS), continuing analysis and surveillance system (CASS) and other systems. Furthermore, even more advanced CASS integration work is underway. The result is a much more powerful, comprehensive and accurate flow of detailed data that provides 360-degree visibility onto all maintenance-related activities. "The owners of our managed aircraft also enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that TRAXXALL protects the resale value of their assets by generating detailed reports which prove that an aircraft has been maintained in accordance with best practices. Ultimately, our decision to work with TRAXXALL was guided by the fact that we share the same commitment to service excellence," continues Mr. Walker. "We are very pleased to welcome our new client Jet Linx," adds Mark Steinbeck, President, TRAXXALL. "Tracking maintenance and managing inventory for a fleet and operations of this size requires a robust product, expert support and a results-oriented company culture. We have successfully demonstrated these capabilities and look forward to working with the Jet Linx team to develop additional reporting packages, new modules and tailored dashboards - all of which contribute directly to the optimization of Jet Linx's operations." About TRAXXALL TRAXXALL delivers the most innovative aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory management system on the market today. Founded by established maintenance tracking experts, TRAXXALL is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with offices in Jacksonville, FL and London, UK. For more information, please visit https://www.traxxall.com. About Jet Linx Aviation Jet Linx is a locally-focused private jet company founded in 1999 as a more personalized approach to national private jet companies. Jet Linx offers two different ways to experience private aviation - a guaranteed Jet Card and an Aircraft Management program - providing its clients with an all- encompassing, local solution to all of their private jet travel needs. Jet Linx is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman safety rated operator, an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of all aircraft operators in the world. It is headquartered in Omaha, Neb. and has bases in Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Denver, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St Louis, Tulsa, Nashville, Washington D.C., Chicago, New York and Boston. For additional information, please visit Jet Linx (https://www.jetlinx.com). https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/traxxall-announces-new-client-jet-linx-operator- of-more-than-100-aircraft-and-17-bases-nationwide-1027582936 Back to Top New CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile Releases Make Aircraft Maintainers More Efficient BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flatirons Solutions® is pleased to announce the general availability of new versions of its CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile applications, the latest generation of the company's industry-leading Interactive Electronic Technical Publication (IETP) viewers for aircraft maintainers. CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile are manufacturer-independent viewers that allow airline operators and OEM aftermarket service teams to access airframe, engine, and component maintenance manuals and task cards. By providing a source for all technical publications, CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile can unleash aircraft maintenance technician productivity improvements of up to 30% over traditional viewers. Built to support any device, any content, and any back-end publishing system, CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile can be deployed standalone or as part of a full publishing suite. The latest release includes a number of ground-breaking new features, including: * Support for multi-vendor aircraft models, including the new generation aircraft and their associated engines. CORENA Pinpoint Mobile provides access to tech pubs for S1000D specification aircraft alongside iSpec 2200 specification aircraft for optimum usability. * Advancements in data synchronization to reduce content payload size to accommodate the low bandwidth conditions, with incremental downloads that target only revised or newly added material. * Enhanced PDF functionality, including support for Component Maintenance Manuals (CMMs), as well as new search and indexing features for PDF manual supplements to complement the viewer's traditional XML/XHTML strengths. * Greater interactivity, including wiring diagram improvements, new multimedia features (including 3D VRML, X3D, and MP4 compatibility), dynamic stylesheets that adapt to S1000D data inputs, and S1000D process logic support for guided troubleshooting to drive more efficient and productive maintenance. * Read and sign functionality to capture acknowledgment of new content revisions from end- user maintainers, an important feature that promotes improved maintenance efficiency and regulatory compliance. "We're proud of what we've achieved with CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile," stated Vice President of Solution Management Olivier Joufflineau. "With each successive generation of the software, we've advanced the state of the art in aircraft maintenance. CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile help airlines and manufacturers turn technical information management into a source of dramatic new efficiencies, not just a cost of doing business." To learn more about CORENA Pinpoint or CORENA Pinpoint Mobile, or the CORENA Fleet and CORENA Manufacturer solutions that leverage them, please visit the Flatirons Solutions website at http://bit.ly/2Mig3p8. CORENA Pinpoint and CORENA Pinpoint Mobile will be demonstrated as part of an upcoming webinar, with viewing options offered for multiple time zones at http://bit.ly/2xMMtCX. About Flatirons Solutions Flatirons Solutions® (www.flatironssolutions.com) provides solutions for aviation and defense content lifecycle management. For more than 20 years, it has helped airlines, MROs, manufacturers, and military forces maintain and operate complex assets more effectively. Its software and service solutions help organizations to deliver the right information, at the right time, to the right people - Turning Content into Knowledge®. Flatirons operates from offices in Asia, Europe, and the United States with its headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181002005115/en/New-CORENA-Pinpoint-CORENA- Pinpoint-Mobile-Releases Back to Top Lithuanian Airline-ACMI Provider Becomes Cautious After Growth In just a few years, Avion Express has become the largest airline in Lithuania and says it is the largest narrowbody ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) provider in the world, measured by fleet size. But Avion has a major stake in both global trends and in European developments. CEO Darius Kajokas is carefully optimistic about aviation prospects but is aware of economic risks, including MRO markets in which he must buy services for his airline and ACMI fleets. Despite that jet-fuel prices have about doubled since January, carriers are not parking jets, Kajokas notes. Both demand for travel and problems with some of the new aircraft are keeping older aircraft in operation longer. Avion itself has increased its fleet 80% since 2016 and its passenger counts by 58%. It now operates 18 Airbus A320s. Kajokas says it is too early to speculate on the impact of the UK's Brexit on travel demand. Avion mostly serves Europe in the summer, but in the winter it is shifting to Turkey, Asia-Pacific and South America for a bit of natural protection against any slide in UK traffic. Generally, the Avion CEO expects MRO to grow with the rest of the industry. However, "since we acquire maintenance services from other providers, we acknowledge some difficulties may arise," partly due to maintenance labor shortages. "It takes five to six years to prepare a qualified (maintenance) specialist, as opposed to two years for pilots," he says. To deal with any MRO constraints, Avion will have to "look deeper into the situation and concentrate even more on planning and fleet supervision." Kajokas is thinking about further expansion but acknowledges that the collapse of Air Berlin and Monarch Airlines in 2017 show expansion plans must be carefully considered. Meanwhile, he is ensuring Avion has pilots for itself and ACMI clients by introducing a cadet program and type-rating program. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/lithuanian-airline-acmi-provider- becomes-cautious-after-growth Back to Top Inseego's Ctrack Aviation Asset Management Wins CompassIntel IoT Innovator Award Engineered together with aviation partners, purpose-built solution grabs fourth industry recognition combined with multiple accolades this year Inseego Corp. INSG, -0.51% apioneer in 5G and intelligent IoT device-to-cloud solutions, has been recognized by Compass Intelligence as a CompassIntel IoT Innovator for its industry-leading Ctrack Aviation Asset Management solution, engineered together with aviation partners to solve unique airline operations worldwide. The annual program recognizes top companies innovating in specific verticals across the Internet of Things (IoT). The Ctrack Aviation and Asset Management and Tracking Solution has been awarded and honored for innovation and leadership in the category IoT Innovator: Aviation and Airport. Inseego was awarded the coveted leadership spot for demonstrating innovative product technology with a suite of solutions that support industry innovation and advancements in processes and operations specific to aviation or airport operations. The Ctrack Aviation Asset Management and Tracking solution is purpose-built to optimize utilization of assets, improve fleet maintenance, ground operations, fuel management, safety, security and the overall passenger experience. "We are honored to be recognized by Compass Intelligence as the leader in IoT innovation that's optimizing airline operations around the globe," says John Weldon, SVP Enterprise SaaS at Inseego. "Each success story demonstrates how quickly the Ctrack Aviation Asset Management and Tracking solution transforms complex and unique aviation needs into solutions. By automating manual processes and enhancing the value of information, airlines and airport operations can realize substantial cost reductions and improvements across the board." Compass Intelligence IoT Innovator award winners were announced October 3, 2018 and were selected for distinct categories specific to industry, emerging technologies, and core use cases by more than 30 industry-leading independent press, editors, journalists, thought leaders and analysts. To learn more about Inseego's Ctrack Aviation Asset Management Solution, visit Inseego at the GSE Expo, this week in Las Vegas, Booth 802. To schedule a meeting at the show, contact aviation@inseego.com. About Inseego Corp. Inseego Corp. INSG, -0.51% enables high performance mobile applications for large enterprise verticals, service providers and small-medium businesses around the globe. Our product portfolio consists of Enterprise SaaS solutions and IoT & Mobile solutions, which together form the backbone of compelling, intelligent, reliable and secure IoT services with deep business intelligence. Inseego powers mission critical applicationswith a "zero unscheduled downtime" mandate,such as asset tracking, fleet management,industrial IoT, SD WAN failover management and mobile broadband services. Our solutionsare powered by our key innovations in purpose built SaaS cloud platforms, IoT and mobile technologies including the newly emerging 5G technology. Inseego is headquartered in San Diego, California with offices worldwide. www.inseego.com https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/inseegos-ctrack-aviation-asset-management-wins- compassintel-iot-innovator-award-2018-10-03 Back to Top Bombardier Breaks Ground on New Service Center in Miami Bombardier Business Aircraft is continuing to expand its a customer support efforts with today's groundbreaking for a new $100 million, 300,000-sq-ft service center at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport that will double the company's footprint in Florida and extend its reach in both the U.S. and Latin America. To be operational in 2020, the center will house up to 300 employees and will provide a range of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modifications, avionics installations, and aircraft on ground support for Bombardier's Learjet, Challenger, and Global business jet lines. In addition, the facility will have paint capabilities. Plans call to shift work and capabilities from its nearby Fort Lauderdale center, but that base will continue to provide line maintenance. "By doubling our capacity to support more aircraft, and adding new capabilities, our customers will benefit from the peace of mind that comes from our OEM expertise and from reduced aircraft downtime," said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Bombardier Business Aircraft vice president and general manager of customer experience. Bombardier credited the support the state of Florida and Miami-Dade County in the project. The facility is located on one of the largest general aviation airports in Miami-Dade County, the company noted, and is helping in the county's efforts to develop a comprehensive aerospace cluster in the region. "Miami-Dade County is proud to be a key player in Bombardier's grassroots development of the aerospace industry in our region," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. "This new facility will employ nearly 300 of our residents in high-paying jobs averaging $70,000 annually, while also forging workplace partnerships with our local schools for continuing career opportunities." The center is part of a larger effort by Bombardier to build up customer support throughout its service center network and mobile response teams globally. Along with its future plans in Miami, Bombardier is hiring maintenance technicians throughout its network to accommodate recent expansions, citing a need to fill both technical and professional openings. "Technicians will receive Bombardier's Type Training Course for mechanical and avionics certification to provide maintenance services at all Bombardier's nine service centers worldwide," the company added. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-10-03/bombardier-breaks- ground-new-service-center-miami Back to Top Japanese Investors Build Aftermarket Presence Japanese penetration of the maintenance and engine leasing markets has deepened following investment by Tokyo Century and All Nippon Airways Trading Company (ANATC) in Florida-based GA Telesis. Once the deal is complete, Tokyo Century will increase its stake in GA Telesis, which focuses on parts, maintenance and asset management services, to 49%, while ANATC will own 10%. Furthermore, the three parties have revealed plans to set up a joint venture engine leasing business that will operate under GA Telesis's management and focus on current-technology engines. This would add another string to Tokyo Century's bow in the aviation finance market, where it already owns one-fifth of aircraft lessor Aviation Capital Group, as well as 16.7% stake in Jetstar Japan. While aircraft leasing has many participants, the engine leasing business is split between OEM- connected lessors and a only a handful of independents. Thus more Japanese investment is significant in a market where one of the biggest players, Engine Lease Finance, is already owned by a Japanese company: Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance. "Our initial investment in GA Telesis from 2012 has performed well and proven our initial investment thesis," says Koichi Nakajima, deputy president of Tokyo Century. "We have made a commitment to our customers and the industry to provide the best services in aviation." ANATC's investment is also interesting because it marks the latest stage in the development of an aftermarket company that receives relatively little attention, despite having operations in three countries--Japan, Singapore and France--and a workforce of 2,300. It was founded in 1970 to provide aircraft parts services, but has since expanded to cover retail, digital marketing, food and electronics as well. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/japanese-investors-build-aftermarket- presence Back to Top IFS Named as Aerospace and Defense EAM Software Market Leader by ARC Advisory Group October 3, 2018 - IFS, the global enterprise applications company, today announced it has been independently confirmed as the number one vendor of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software, by market share, for the global aerospace and defense (A&D) sector. This marks the tenth consecutive year major research and advisory firm ARC Advisory Group has named IFS as the global leader in EAM software for the specialized A&D market. The ARC "Enterprise Asset Management Global Market 2017 - 2022" report found IFS has nearly doubled its total A&D market share and increased its lead year over year against the next highest participants. The figures include revenue increases following the 2017 acquisition of aviation maintenance management software provider Mxi Technologies. "IFS is particularly strong in the aerospace and defense market worldwide," Ralph Rio, Research Director for Enterprise Software, ARC Advisory Group said. "The company has further extended its lead following strong sales of IFS Maintenix and IFS Applications to organizations across the A&D sector." Over the past year, IFS has closed a number of high-profile deals and partnership agreements with the likes of PSA Airlines, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), AECOM, TEST-FUCHS, Tsunami Tsolutions, G7 Aerospace and Calidus. These customers and partners join a leading user base in aerospace and defense that includes BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, SAAB, HAL, Emirates, LATAM, China Airlines, Air France-KLM and Southwest Airlines. Scott Helmer, President, Aerospace and Defense Business Unit at IFS, added, "Over the last ten years, IFS has continued to be the leading EAM software provider to organizations of all sizes in this highly dynamic industry. Our long-standing leadership position is premised on an unwavering commitment to product and service innovation supported by a team with extensive industry knowledge and experience. As optimizing EAM continues to be vital for equipment availability, safety and efficiency, these priorities will continue to drive our future growth and success." Find out more about how IFS supports its aerospace and defense customers by visiting https://www.ifsworld.com/us/industries/aerospace-and-defense/ About IFS IFS develops and delivers enterprise software for customers around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. The industry expertise of our people and solutions, together with commitment to our customers, has made us a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 3,500 employees supports more than 10,000 customers worldwide from a network of local offices and through our growing ecosystem of partners. For more information, visit: IFSworld.com Follow us on Twitter: @ifsworld Visit the IFS Blog on technology, innovation and creativity: http://blog.ifsworld.com https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12432176/ifs-named-as-aerospace-and-defense- eam-software-market-leader-by-arc-advisory-group Back to Top Propeller Airports Selects McGee Air Services For Ground Handling And Logistics Services At Paine Field EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Propeller Airports announced today that it has selected McGee Air Services, Inc. for aircraft ground handling and passenger mobility services on behalf of the airlines that will serve Paine Field. The partnership is one of several that Propeller plans on announcing as construction of the new passenger terminal in Everett nears completion. The terminal, designed by leading architectural firm Fentress, is intended to provide customers a higher level of service and comfort than larger airports and to become the go-to travel option for the northern Seattle metro area. McGee Air Services, an independent subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, will handle Paine Field's 24 daily departures and arrivals with aircraft marshaling and towing, baggage handling, loading and unloading, cabin cleaning, and passenger support and mobility services. The agreement with Propeller will create approximately 70 new union jobs for McGee's Paine Field operation. "From the beginning, the terminal at Paine Field has been about bringing civility back to the airport experience and making it enjoyable for passengers again," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports. "McGee is the right partner to manage these operations and I am confident that they will make the entire operation more efficient. McGee shares our commitment to a high level of service and getting passengers to their destinations efficiently. We're excited to have them join us." The agreement marks a change from most ground handling operations at even the smallest airports in the U.S. Normally, each airline selects its own ground handler; however, Propeller is streamlining the process. This structure will enable both companies to deliver a higher level of customer service and will make the flying experience more efficient, speedy, and comfortable for passengers. "Propeller's new terminal at Paine Field is going to be a huge asset for Washington," said Dean DuVall, President of McGee Air Services. "As a company based in the Pacific Northwest, we're excited to bring our exceptional service to the region's travelers. We're thrilled to partner with Propeller on a truly innovative project and look forward to working with everyone on the team." ABOUT PROPELLER AIRPORTS Propeller Airports is based in Everett with offices in New York, Seattle and Atlanta. Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local governments and communities to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports in key U.S. markets. For more information please visit www.flypainefield.com. ABOUT McGEE AIR SERVICES Based in Renton, Wash., McGee Air Services is a dedicated aviation services company that combines deep industry experience with a singular focus on providing best-in-class aviation services. With more than 1,700 team members, McGee currently handles 370 daily departures at major U.S. airports, including Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), San Francisco(SFO) Phoenix (PHX), Portland (PDX) and San Jose (SJC). McGee's team members are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and receive competitive wages, airline travel privileges, health care benefits and the opportunity to earn a monthly performance incentive. Learn more at www.mcgeeairservices.com. ABOUT PAINE FIELD Paine Field is one of the most unique airports in the world. Home to over 615 based aircraft, including small, single-engine recreational aircraft, corporate jets, and brand-new Boeing widebody jets. Located 30 miles north of downtown Seattle, Paine Field offers best in class aviation facilities with easy access to Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and the entire metro Seattle region. Paine Field is home to some of the most respected aerospace firms in the industry, including Boeing and Aviation Technical Services. Boeing manufactures the 747, 767, 777, and 787 aircraft at Paine Field. Aviation Technical Services is the largest third-party aircraft inspection and repair facility in North America and provides repair and maintenance services for airlines such as Alaska, American, Southwest and UPS. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/propeller-airports-selects-mcgee-air-services-for- ground-handling-and-logistics-services-at-paine-field-300724068.html Back to Top Boeing Teams with Robotic Skies to Provide Enhanced Commercial Unmanned Aircraft System Services LAS VEGAS, October 1, 2018 - Boeing [NYSE: BA] and its subsidiaries Jeppesen and Aviall have joined with Robotic Skies, a leading commercial unmanned aircraft system (UAS) support services provider, to develop and deliver industry-leading supply chain management and optimization, analytics, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the commercial and civil UAS markets. "Teaming with Boeing will allow both companies to elevate the commercial UAS customer experience and deliver operations solutions that would be difficult to achieve individually," said Brad Hayden, Robotic Skies, CEO. "This agreement represents a foundational step for the advancement of commercial UAS operations that will meet the requirements of today and help shape the future of unmanned flight. " Boeing and Robotic Skies will jointly pursue opportunities to best leverage their extensive combined experience and solutions in manned aviation programs and extend them into the UAS market, including providing services for commercially-focused regulatory compliance, ground support, training, MRO, parts distribution, field upgrades and vehicle retrofit capabilities. "We continue our dedication to working with the top providers in the industry to increase our presence in the commercial UAS field, with the ultimate goal of helping customers operate more efficiently," said William Ampofo, vice president, Business & General Aviation, Boeing Global Services. "Our relationship with Robotic Skies will bring together the best elements of both companies, as we shape our capabilities specifically to meet the unique operational requirements and challenges of commercial UAS flight." As their relationship continues to expand, the companies will provide unified operations services for both existing commercial UAS operators and for companies seeking to enter the UAS field for the first time. Operating as one of Boeing's three business units, Global Services is headquartered in the Dallas area. For more information, visit www.boeing.com/services. Robotic Skies offers comprehensive turnkey field service programs designed to keep UAS flying safely, efficiently and affordably. Founded in 2014, Robotic Skies is a brokered network of over 150 certified repair stations across more than 30 countries, providing MRO and additional support services for commercial UAS. Each service center in the network possesses the aviation expertise and factory training to ensure the mission readiness of these aircraft. For more information about Robotic Skies, visit www.roboticskies.com. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12431964/boeing-teams-with-robotic-skies-to- provide-enhanced-commercial-unmanned-aircraft-system-services Back to Top SpaceX launch - and historic landing attempt - from Vandenberg Air Force Base pushed back to Sunday This weekend's SpaceX rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, which will be the first in which the company will attempt to land a booster back on land on the West Coast, has been pushed back a day. The launch, which was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, is now slated to begin at 7:21 p.m. Sunday, VAFB's 30th Space Wing announced Wednesday. The delay was to allow more time to complete preflight vehicle checkouts, according to 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, which reported that the Falcon 9 rocket and payload were "healthy." The primary mission for the launch will be to put an observation satellite, SAOCOM, into orbit for the Argentine space agency CONAE. The launch will originate from VAFB's Space Launch Complex- 4East. As a secondary part of the launch mission, SpaceX will attempt to return the rocket's first stage to a landing zone at what was previously Space Launch Complex-4West on the base. VAFB officials encourage spectators to view the launch from the "Hawk's Nest," which is located off Highway 1 about a half-mile south of VAFB's main gate. For more information regarding public viewing locations, visit the 30th Space Wing Facebook page at www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/, or contact 30th Space Wing Public Affairs at 805-606- 3595. https://lompocrecord.com/news/local/spacex-launch-and-historic-landing-attempt-from- vandenberg-air-force/article_b6607967-5455-5bbc-8a5c-c9294f050430.html Curt Lewis