January 10, 2019 - No. 003 In This Issue Investment into American Airlines Maintenance Facility unveiled DGCA approves Aeronautics & Aircraft Maintenance engineering course in Jamia Progress at NARTP means renewed focus on aviation education for South Jersey Traxxall Continues Growth with New Denver Base Building An Independent Full-Service MRO In Australia Blockchain In Aircraft Component Trading Industry MRO Insider Launches Customer Rewards Program Eagle Services Asia Inducts First Pratt & Whitney GTF Engine Duncan Inaugurates New Utah Mx Facility SpaceX's Starship Prototype Could Make First Test Flight in Just Weeks Investment into American Airlines Maintenance Facility unveiled TULSA - The City of Tulsa unveiled upgraded facilities at the American Airlines Maintenance Facility Wednesday morning. Vision 2020 tax money provided the $2.3 million need for a new tail slot on a hangar door. American Airlines facilities in Tulsa are from the World War II-era. The hangar doors they drive planes through are tall enough to fit the aircraft they use now, but those are retiring this year. The planes they will be replaced by, the Boeing 737 and Aircraft A 319, are taller and would not fit inside. Adding the tail slot, essentially a garage door above the current hangar doors, allows the taller tails to pass through. "It took a facility that was really going to become unusable to us and allows us to use it 365 days a year," Craig Barton, Vice President of Technical Services for American Airlines, said. Mayor G.T. Bynum says construction started in July and cost $2.3 million. The change will allow the airline to service larger aircraft in the future. "You already see the commitment by American Airlines to bring work here to Tulsa if the facilities are there for their employees to utilize," Mayor G.T. Bynum said. The goal is to keep Tulsa an integral part of American Airlines operations so the company stays in Tulsa for several more decades. It is the largest commercial maintenance base for aviation in the world and employs more than 5,000 Oklahomans. "The City of Tulsa being such a great partner ensures that we keep our eyes focused here in Tulsa," Barton said. Mayor Bynum said this is the first of many Vision 2020 projects that citizens will see come to fruition in the near future. He said in the years past they have been in the planning and design phases. https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/investment-into-american-airlines-maintenance-facility-to- be-unveiled Back to Top DGCA approves Aeronautics & Aircraft Maintenance engineering course in Jamia The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted approval to Pawan Hans Limited to run a course in Aeronautics and Aircraft Maintenance engineering at the Jamia Millia Islamia, the varsity said Tuesday. The DGCA granted CAR-147(Basic) approval under B1.3(Helicopter-Turbine) and B2 (Avionics) category to Pawan Hans Limited to run the B.Sc Aeronautics and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course at the varsity, they said. The CAR-147 (Basic) or B.Sc (Aeronautics) programme is a joint venture of Pawan Hans Limited and the varsity set up through a memorandum of understanding signed on July 27, 2017. A training organisation has been established with an objective to provide a world class quality education and practical training in aviation at par with latest technology enabling students competent for taking modules examination as per CAR 66 requirements, in order to acquire DGCA License (AME license in Mechanical/Avionics stream), the varsity added. After successful completion of training syllabus, the students would be awarded a Certificate of Recognition by PHL-CAR147 (Basic) and B.Sc (Aeronautics) degree by he varsity. B.Sc (Aeronautics) is a three year under-graduate programme providing students a strong specialised aviation knowledge to pursue higher education in the field of aviation, which may enable them to acquire top positions in aviation industry and open up new vistas, the varsity said. https://www.zeebiz.com/companies/news-dgca-approves-aeronautics-aircraft-maintenance- engineering-course-in-jamia-79251 Back to Top Progress at NARTP means renewed focus on aviation education for South Jersey Beyond the boardwalk and sandy beaches, nestled in the Pinelands a few miles from Atlantic City is a single building that took nearly 10 years to build and that local officials hope will mean the beginning of a new future for Atlantic County residents. "We're redefining the area," said Howard Kyle, chief of staff for Atlantic County, who has been deeply involved with the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA) in the development of the National Aviation Research and Technology Park (NARTP) in Egg Harbor Township. Once complete, the ACEA hopes the NARTP will nearly double the well-paid aviation workforce in the region and is getting local educators on board to train those potential employees. It's not new that that Atlantic County officials hope to establish an aviation hub in the region - that has been in the works for more than a decade. But the recent announcement of a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University that would help to build out the educational and workforce development components of that future hub has sparked new excitement in a county most known for its tourism and hospitality industry. "It is a very exciting time for Atlantic County, without a doubt the most important thing we can do to diversify the county's economy," said Atlantic County Institute of Technology Superintendent Phil Guenther. "What we're looking at at ACIT is our role in preparing the workforce to take advantage of the opportunities available." Last month, the county announced that area superintendents were meeting with Embry-Riddle to discuss development of an aviation STEM program in the local high schools where students could earn college credit. Embry-Riddle has already signed on to plan an adult aviation maintenance and technical academy, working closely with Atlantic Cape Community College, which also has its own aviation program. Kyle said the aviation STEM program for high schools is still in the conceptual phase and they are regularly meeting to develop it, but educators are excited. "We're in an age where STEM-type jobs are at a premium and we don't have enough trained and skilled workers in order to get into the field and continue in the field," Atlantic County Executive Superintendent of School Robert Bumpus said. "As an educator I'm really excited about politicians talking about that, realizing that good sound education means a lot for the area that the industry is in." ACIT has been preparing for the growth of the aviation industry for several years. Guenther said the county vocational high school unveiled its own aviation academy three years ago in partnership with Atlantic Cape. "That program is designed to really give a high school student a broad perspective of all the careers available in the aviation industry," Guenther said. "Our goal is that they'll come back and contribute to the aviation industry in Atlantic County." ACIT is also looking to build out an aviation maintenance program for about 100 high school students through the recently approved statewide bond referendum to expand county vocational schools. Guenther said the program would be aligned with the adult program planned for NARTP. Last year, the Atlantic County Improvement Authority put the finishing touches on exterior of the first building in NARTP. The park is located next door to the Atlantic City International Airport and the William J. Hughes Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center, which combined employ nearly 3,000 people. The park, which they anticipate will house seven buildings in total and about 2,000 employees, has gone through several incarnations in the last decade. If you ask some of those involved with it now, they aren't keen to talk about the park's history and would much rather focus on the future. "A good idea badly executed doesn't make it a bad idea," said Kyle, who sits on the board for the National Aviation and Research Technology Park. The 66,000-square-foot first building is in the midst of fit-out for its tenants now. The building's centerpiece, the high-tech Thunder Room conference center for tenants and members of the public, is complete. The remainder of the three-story building will house the Federal Aviation Administration and the New Jersey Innovation Institute, which is providing management and consulting services. Engineering firm Thunderbolt Software LLC will occupy another space, according to former park director Joseph Sheairs, and a yet-to-be announced company the fourth area. As part of its contract, New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), a corporation of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, will also be involved in developing a separate aviation STEM initiatives with local high schools. County Executive Dennis Levinson said that while tourism is a large part of the local economy, the aviation industry has the ability to provide long-term, high-paying jobs for the future. Levinson said that that public officials and politicians have always talked about diversifying the economy and adding more high paying jobs. "Now were actually doing something about," he said. "We truly believe this is the future for our area. Tourism jobs are great, but they're seasonal, they're low paying." Bumpus said plans to increase aviation STEM education should include reaching middle school students, as well, who will need to increase their skills to be able to take the math and science classes necessary to be a part of the programs that will lead to future careers. "Our kids are pretty much native in terms of using technology but they don't have it focused on career pathways," he said. "We want to channel that in a direction that's going to mean a really good career." Bumpus said the schools need to work together, not separately, to build out programs in aviation. "I know what can happen when good people get around something like this and begin to deepen their understanding and then begin to apply," Bumpus said. "That's what we're talking about, and one step at a time." https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/progress-at-nartp-means-renewed-focus-on- aviation-education-for/article_42680436-a6e8-5807-876e-9a2eaf3fb677.html Back to Top Traxxall Continues Growth with New Denver Base Maintenance tracking specialist Traxxall is continuing its expansion with the opening of a new office in Denver. The 2,300-sq-ft office, located in Englewood, Colorado, will house the firm's western sales and operations team. Traxxall expects it will staff up to 15 employees at the new base. "Our client base and aircraft enrollments continue to grow," said Traxxall president Mark Steinbeck. "And to effectively manage our growth, we are hiring new people." The company plans to hire the additional staff in the coming weeks, he added. The location is the fourth for the company and its third in North America. "This office complements our operations centers in Montreal and Jacksonville, Florida, by providing a strong western presence and the capacity to better serve clients anywhere in North America from three strategically placed locations," he said. Traxxall also operates a sales office in London. Founded in 2013, the company provides a cloud-based customizable aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory-management system for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The company has built templates for more than 180 aircraft. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-01-09/traxxall-continues- growth-new-denver-base Back to Top Building An Independent Full-Service MRO In Australia Is there room in Asia-Pacific for another one-stop MRO provider, unaffiliated with any airline? Heston Aviation acquired Aircraft Maintenance Services Australia, a line-maintenance company, from SIA Engineering because it believes there is. Heston sees an opportunity to develop a truly independent one-stop MRO company in Australia, says Heston Partner Jonas Butautis. Heston began a few years ago as an aircraft leasing and trading company, but recently expanded its management team with individuals experienced in developing independent MRO companies by blending capital and engineering strategies. "Thus it was a natural strategic direction to look for global MRO opportunities that we can buy and add value to through accumulated knowhow and capital," Butautis says. "Aircraft Maintenance Services Australia, or AMSA, was a perfect fit for this purpose." Butautis notes there is a group of global MRO companies that blend labor-intensive MRO with capital- intensive asset management, including AAR, GA Telesis and ST Aerospace. Heston believes in this business model. "MRO engineering infrastructure adds value to asset operations and vice versa, asset projects help develop independent MRO service offerings." So Heston is not looking at AMSA just for its line operations. "We see AMSA as a platform to develop a full-scale, multi-service independent MRO company in Australia and the wider region," Butautis says. AMSA will be rebranded and will add component, engine and engineering solutions and possibly move into limited heavy maintenance as well. "There is an empty space for independent heavy maintenance in Australia, we see this as an opportunity." Heston will also expand AMSA's line maintenance services. Butautis believes there is a lot of inefficiency in the region's market, with many global airlines posting their own foreign staff to support line operations in Australia. "There is no reason why this cannot be done more cost- effectively, with the same or improved quality and dispatch reliability, by a local independent MRO company." The new AMSA will ruthlessly focus on quality and integrate line maintenance into a wider total care offering, so customers have one point of contact for getting the aircraft airborne on time. It will expand into consumables, wheels, brakes, components, interiors and engineering services, differentiating itself from pure line-maintenance providers. AMSA will be the only major independent MRO in its home market and well-positioned to support mid-sized to small local and regional airlines, which outsource most technical services. "For major airlines, it will offer an option for improving operational efficiency through no-nonsense quality MRO solutions," Butautis says. The Heston partner has a track record that justifies his optimism. He was CEO of FL Technics during its growth years of 2009 to 2013 and from 2014 until 2017 CEO of Magnetic MRO, which was sold to China's Hangxin in April 2018. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/building-independent-full-service- mro-australia Back to Top Blockchain In Aircraft Component Trading Industry Honeywell announced that it is launching its new and used aircraft component buying and selling online platform. Not only are online transactions extremely rare in this area, but Honeywell also does something even unusual: using blockchain technology. "Now less than 2.5% of all transactions are made online in this place," says Lisa Butters, who leads the Honeywell aerospace venture. "We are the first marketplace to enable custom seller stores and we're the first to leverage technology in blockchain to build trust between the buyer and seller." Reason for blockchain adoption Customers need a way of ensuring that parts received are genuine, the best prices are obtained and safe from scams and potential issues. They are able to track parts accurately with blockchain, ensure that images and quality documentation are accompanied and that they are available for sale and shipment immediately. It looks as if now, Honeywell has decided to try out the new platform. Concerns are legitimate According to Deloitte, aircraft maintenance is a process that uses at best cumbersome databases and at worst a hardcopy system. Used for up to 30 years a commercial aircraft may have seen four to five owners. Thus, it becomes a tough and error-prone process to track information (especially maintenance documents) and pass it to other parties. Blockchain creates an immutable record of an aircraft maintaining history, detailing and time stamping who carried out what inspections and when. This also has another side effect, which is equally important. In 2015, American Airlines was accused of maintenance fraud by the Fed Aviation Administration. Mechanics working in American Airlines reported the problem, noticing "differences in aviation maintenance in accordance with required manuals, procedures and the Federal Aviation Regulations." The chances of such deviations could be minimal (if not eliminated) if a blockchain technology was adopted. Although blockchain might solve some of the issues, its strength and weaknesses are certain. According to Aeron 's CEO, Artem Orange: There are a large range of rules in aviation that leave little room for potential breaches, so we may say that even without the blockchain technology, the whole aviation industry is very efficient and safe. He continues that "The examples of Aeron and Honeywell show, however, that there are certain applications outside of there where the blockchain is effective and provides solutions to the real problems." Blockchain and aviation The aviation industry has enormous potential for blockchain disruption because of the number of problems. Blockchain's technology is the ideal reliable and decentralized solution for all parties to connect and coordinate. In fact, an Accenture report predicts that by 2021, blockchain will be used by more than 85% of airspace and defense companies. On 16 July Accenture announced that it would use blockchain technology to provide partnering suppliers, manufacturers and operators with a single shared overview of the supply chain. On the following day, Boeing announced a partnership with SparkCognition to "use artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies in order to track air traffic in the flights and allocate routes and corridours in order to ensure secure and secure transport." In the past, Air New Zealand has worked together with Winding Tree to improve booking and baggage tracking services through blockchain and Lufthansa partnered with SAP's gigantic software for flight reservation, loyalty and supply chains. The use of blockchain does of course substantially reduce costs, because the intermediaries which sometimes charge up to 25% are removed. Banks are also excluded, reducing not only the related costs but also speeding up the procedure and providing instant payments and commissions. Finally, blockchain can be used for safety and identity, where it not only offers a unified way of verifying passenger identity, but also a very secure system that enables users to monitor, to what extent and who has access to their data. Aeron has an interesting case - not for passengers but for drivers. This feature is applied. Pilot flight time on the blockchain is tracked in Aeron's application logs and the system aim to track global aircraft and flight school data which could otherwise be forged easily. This is a valid concern in view of the fatal incidents in which pilots flew without a license. 2019 trends The downtimes of Blockchain in 2018 are still ongoing, but slowly yet surely. "The aircraft are one of the most regulated areas of human activities," said Artem Orange. "It may be difficult for blockchains to enter the aviation industry, but it is a field which can radically disrupt the common leader - for both passengers and pilots as well as for corporations. Introduced new technologies require lengthy review and approval cycles." https://www.cointrust.com/market-news/blockchain-in-aircraft-component-trading-industry Back to Top MRO Insider Launches Customer Rewards Program MRO Insider has launched a customer loyalty program-Mx Rewards-that allows participants to accumulate points for different transactions via the company's web-based business aircraft maintenance request tool. Points are awarded for activities such as registering an account or aircraft, submitting a maintenance request for quote (RFQ), accepting a quote, and completing a facility review at the completion of maintenance. The company is offering rewards such as cash back that can be utilized for future maintenance events, MRO Insider-logoed items, excursions in cities across the U.S., tickets to sporting events, cruises, and charity donation. "We are excited to offer our latest program, Mx Rewards," said MRO Insider co-founder and v-p of sales. "We conducted a survey of owner/operators and Part 135 management companies and compiled a list of rewards that interested our users. From there we created our program with our users' interests in mind, adding charity donations and cash back on their booked maintenance events as a direct result of our survey." MRO Insider does not charge business aircraft owners/operators to register, submit RFQs, or accept quotes. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-01-09/mro-insider-launches- customer-rewards-program Back to Top Eagle Services Asia Inducts First Pratt & Whitney GTF Engine SINGAPORE, Jan. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney's Singapore engine center, Eagle Services Asia (ESA), a member in the global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities that service Pratt & Whitney's GTF engines, has inducted its first PW1100G-JM engine for overhaul. Eagle Services Asia is a joint venture between SIA Engineering Company and Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). "The Singapore engine center is now fully enabled to overhaul several engine models simultaneously, including the PW1100G-JM geared turbofan engine. ESA has invested nearly US$85 million to upgrade and modernize the facility to perform GTF MRO, which includes training employees and acquiring new tooling, advanced capabilities and machinery," said Brendon McWilliam, senior director, Aftermarket Operations - Asia-Pacific, Pratt & Whitney. "ESA's new GTF and GP7200 engine capabilities join its established support of the existing PW4000 engine fleet. Modifications to the facility will improve productivity, reduce set up time and boost efficiency across operations. Current PW4000 engine customers will also benefit from these efficiencies." The facility is uniquely modernized and re-purposed to handle multiple, simultaneous engine overhaul lines for Pratt & Whitney and Engine Alliance engine models - the PW4000 family, PW1100G-JM, and GP7200 engines, respectively. ESA also re-configured its engine test capability to accommodate the new GTF engine model. Engine Alliance LLC is a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney and General Electric. In 2019, ESA will gradually introduce a new ground-based flow system, which will enable visual line of sight on the GTF engine overhaul line. In the new system, engine modules will move from one station to another, improving the visibility of operations through the line from disassembly to assembly and test, in contrast to the old engine repair work bay. Already proven in the automotive industry, the system improves productivity while maximizing the use of existing space. At full capacity, the flow lines can accommodate up to six GTF engines at a time. "This is an exciting period of expansion and growth for us," said Ying-Kiong Yip, managing director, ESA. "In addition to broadening our capabilities on next generation aircraft engines, this expansion enables us to invest in our engineers and technicians by training them to handle advanced materials and automation." The GTF MRO network spans three continents, comprised of engine centers operated by the industry's leading MRO companies, including Pratt & Whitney, MTU Aero Engines (MTU), Japanese Aero Engines Corporation (JAEC), Lufthansa Technik (LHT) and Delta TechOps. The GTF MRO network is part of Pratt & Whitney's EngineWise service portfolio, which provides engine operators with a variety of aftermarket services to maximize engine performance and fleet availability. Visit www.EngineWise.com/contact for an interactive map of GTF MRO network providers. https://www.aviationpros.com/news/12440078/eagle-services-asia-inducts-first-pratt-whitney- gtftm-engine Back to Top Duncan Inaugurates New Utah Mx Facility Duncan Aviation has accepted the first aircraft into the new maintenance hangar at its Provo, Utah facility. The first phase of what will by the end of 2020 be a $70 million, 275,000-sq-ft facility, this first hangar was completed last week, with the issuance of the necessary permits in time to welcome the first occupant, a Bombardier Global XRS. That aircraft is now undergoing a 120-month airframe inspection along with a 10-year landing gear overhaul. A 53,000-sq-ft paint facility is slated for completion in the first quarter, followed by a second 40,000-sq-ft maintenance and completions hangar by the end of the summer. "We have been working hard to prepare and plan for our new maintenance and modifications center in Provo, and we are thrilled to have the first maintenance hangar ready and open for work," noted Chad Doehring, the facility's vice president of operations. He added that customers who bring their aircraft to the Provo MRO will receive the same level of customer service and knowledge they would at the company's other locations. "Our goal was to carefully plan our staffing to expand the overall feeling, culture, and experience to our growing base in Provo," Doehring said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-01-09/duncan-inaugurates-new- utah-mx-facility Back to Top SpaceX's Starship Prototype Could Make First Test Flight in Just Weeks SpaceX is on the verge of launching a prototype of the spacecraft that could one day carry humans to the moon and Mars. Over the weekend, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared on Twitter on Saturday morning (Jan 5) that the flight-test version of the Starship vehicle could be ready to embark on its first excursion in just a few weeks. This initial trip will be the rocket's first "hopper test," a short test run. Later tests, expected to take place in 2020, will be performed at higher altitudes and at higher velocities. Musk followed up this announcement with a tweet containing an illustration of the Starship vehicle, which is still under assembly. As pictured, the craft looks decidedly retro, a throwback to 20th- century space-race-era ships. Musk added in the tweet that the operational, final vehicle would have windows and other traditional features that are not included in the illustration. To the Moon and Mars SpaceX is developing Starship alongside their Super Heavy rocket to ferry humans to and from the moon, Mars, and even potentially other locations in the solar system. The rocket and vehicle together were previously called the BFR, but Musk recently changed the name. According to Musk, the company is aiming for the vehicle to carry its first crew to Mars as early as the 2020s. The vehicle holds as many as 100 passengers, and Musk intends for Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and a variety of artists to ride around the moon. This would make the crew the first private citizens to ever fly beyond low Earth orbit. Both SpaceX's Starship vehicle and the Super Heavy rocket will use the company's Raptor engine, which is still in development. Musk tweeted last week that the engines on the Starship hopper prototype "are a blend of Raptor development & operational parts." http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/01/08/spacexs-starship-prototype-make-first- test-flight-just-weeks/#.XDcmhWhKjnE Curt Lewis