January 24, 2019 - No. 007 In This Issue Erie airport requires liability insurance for mechanics Airlink of South Africa goes live with eMRO Bombardier Adds Mobile Response Truck in New England MRO Software Company, CloudVisit, Celebrates 15 Years West Star Aviation Announces Completion of New Hangar at ALN Delta Completes Construction on World's Largest Engine Test Cell MROs Look To High Schools To Alleviate Mx Tech Shortage 3D Printing May Revolutionize Maintenance for the Stealthy F-22. Jet Aviation reinforces Zurich operations to support World Economic Forum ManaAir Announces Completion of ExpressJet Airlines Acquisition Technical aviation consultancy Indaer sells MRO wing to airline MRO Insider Adds Facility Specific Maintenance Request Capability There Are Twins In The Future Of Predictive Maintenance SpaceX's new test rocket topples over thanks to strong Texas winds Erie airport requires liability insurance for mechanics Mechanics working on general aviation craft must carry $1 million in liability insurance. Mechanics will have to pay for the privilege of working on general aviation planes at Erie International Airport, according to requirements approved by the Erie Regional Airport Authority on Wednesday. Mechanics will be required to pay a $2,000 annual license fee and carry at least $1 million in liability insurance, at a cost of about $7,000 to $9,000 annually, airport officials said. The requirements are in line with federal airport regulations, airport Executive Director Derek Martin said. The airport stands to lose some $1.1 million in federal funding annually if it doesn't comply with the regulations, he said. "That's what's in jeopardy here," Martin said. The airport has been out of compliance with federal regulations and its own policies concerning people who do business at the airport for more than a decade, but the airport did not enforce the regulations, airport officials said. The FAA has become aware of the non-compliance from news media reports about the maintenance dispute with owners of planes other than commercial passenger and transport aircraft, Martin said. Small aircraft owners said the requirement effectively will put mechanics working as independent contractors at the airport out of business and will force aircraft owners to pay more for maintenance service at North Coast Air, which services planes at a facility leased from the airport. "The mechanics who work through the fence don't make that kind of income to support that (cost)," pilot Ed Tropper said. "They're eliminating my choice of who works on my plane," Greg Bamford said. Bamford owns a small plane hangared at the airport and is a Stat MedEvac helicopter pilot. "I'll be forced to go to a mechanic that's not my choice when the mechanic I have is certified by the FAA." Pilots already paying higher hangar rent and fuel costs in Erie will base their planes elsewhere rather than pay higher maintenance costs besides, Bamford said. North Coast Air pays for $20 million in liability coverage and other insurance required by the airport for its mechanics and other operations, Martin said. Other mechanics interested in working together to open another maintenance facility at the airport are welcome as long as they comply with airport policy and federal requirements, Martin said. "We have three properties available here right now," Martin said. "Somebody who has the money and wants to do it can come see me and we'll make it happen." Authority members also voted Wednesday to maintain the requirement for $1 million in liability coverage on general aviation aircraft based at the Erie airport. The airport's insurance carrier had recommended that owners carry $2 million in liability coverage, Martin said. Also Wednesday, Martin told authority members that airline passenger numbers at the airport increased 11.7 percent in 2018. Last year, 95,136 passengers boarded flights in Erie, up from 85,580 in 2017. There also were more air travelers flying to Erie last year: 94,323, compared to 84,817 in 2017. The growth is partly the result of airlines making more seats available, Martin said. "Enplanements are up due to all three of our legacy carriers operating 50-seat regional jets," Martin said. And the public responded by booking the seats, he said. "More people are looking at Erie first for their travel options. The community is finding competitive prices out of Erie and love the convenience," Martin said. Passenger numbers are expected to continue to increase in 2019 with the addition of American Airlines service to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Chicago beginning in May. Those flights will add 18,250 seats annually, Martin said. The airport now offers service to and from Detroit via Delta Air Lines, Philadelphia aboard American Airlines and Chicago O'Hare International Airport via United Airlines. Philadelphia service will end in May. https://www.goerie.com/news/20190123/erie-airport-requires-liability-insurance-for-mechanics Back to Top Airlink of South Africa goes live with eMRO MIAMI, Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Johannesburg, South Africa based Airlink is a company that prides itself on its modernization strategy. Airlink recently completed its implementation of the TRAX eMRO cloud software solution. eMRO caters to every aspect of aircraft maintenance management. It is deployed via any web browser and allows users to stay connected from any work location. With true offline capability, eMRO automatically synchronizes when connected. Airlink is a feeder network airline aimed at linking the smaller towns, regional centers and hubs throughout the country. It is in a strategic alliance with South African Airways and South African Express Airways and serves 38 destinations in 9 countries on the African continent. The fleet of 59 aircraft includes Embraer ERJs, Avro RJ85s, and Cessnas. Recently, Airlink became the first South African airline to acquire Embraer E-Jets (E-170s and E-190s). Airlink will next move into Phase 2 of its modernization plans and employ the TRAX eMobility web- based and iOS apps. The combination of eMRO and eMobility software products will allow the Airlink team to be truly mobile in its maintenance operation. TRAX congratulates Airlink team on their accomplishment. About TRAX TRAX provides comprehensive software solutions designed to cater to all aspect of aircraft maintenance management. With over 170 customers, TRAX is the best-of-breed global provider of aviation maintenance mobile and cloud products in the market today. TRAX products support digital signatures, paperless Workpacks and manuals, RFID-capability for logistics, Biometric security, offline capability for mobile apps, web-based applications and the ability for users to work anywhere with easy access to real-time information. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airlink-of-south-africa-goes-live-with-emro- 300782032.html Back to Top Bombardier Adds Mobile Response Truck in New England Bombardier Business Aircraft has positioned a mobile response team (MRT) truck in New England, enhancing its aircraft maintenance reach and response times in the U.S. region. The strategically located MRT truck will enhance the delivery of parts and technical support to business jet hubs such as Boston and Bedford, Massachusetts, it said. Bombardier operates 30 MRT trucks in the U.S. and Europe, with each one augmenting the efforts of Bombardier's mobile response team. The trucks are equipped with technicians and tools to provide scheduled line maintenance, as well as unscheduled maintenance and AOG support. In addition, there are seven Bombardier-authorized line maintenance stations in Europe, a dedicated MRT Learjet 45 in Chicago, and maintenance control centers in Linz, Austria, and Wichita. The maintenance control centers, which were added last year, work in conjunction with Bombardier's customer response center, which operates around the clock to streamline customer requests and optimize maintenance support, Bombardier said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-01-23/bombardier-adds-mobile- response-truck-new-england Back to Top MRO Software Company, CloudVisit, Celebrates 15 Years COLD SPRING, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifteen years ago, CloudVisit provided website and software development for doctors and hospitals, eventually expanding into telemedicine. Now, the company has grown to provide remote inspection project achievement software. CloudVisit offers MRO software solutions for numerous industries and provides aviation software, energy software, construction software, transportation software, maritime software, and telecommunication software. CloudVisit has grown in size and reach-and now its leading software has the potential to change inspections and the maintenance, repair and overhaul processes around the world. Remote Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Solutions For Many Industries After developing telemedicine and telepsychiatry software, CloudVisit expanded into telecommunications. From there, CEO and Founder Daniel Gilbert concluded that many industries were grappling with similar problems: a scarcity of experts, a need to increase safety, and the constant pressure to cut costs while producing a competitive service with outstanding quality. Gilbert soon understood that CloudVisit's software could relieve these problems across multiple industries, and developed industry-specific software to do just that. This new generation of software is known as project achievement software. Using CloudVisit's project achievement software, doctors and inspectors can work remotely. This reduces travel, as well as compensation for on site workers waiting for an inspector to arrive. The maintenance and inspection processes are recorded through video and audio recordings, captured images, and chats, and everything is stored in the cloud. Cloud storage ensures a record of safety while increasing quality assurance. "Industries think that their problems are unique, but really there are many similarities. And if there is a solution then why not make it accessible to everyone?" Gilbert asked. CloudVisit's software is expanding to cover even more industries, and currently serves: * Remote Aviation Maintenance Software: Remote aircraft inspections mean quicker maintenance and repairs to maximize safety and quality assurance. * Solutions for Renewable Energy Inspections: CloudVisit remote maintenance and repair software can be used to approve inspections in the wind, solar, water, and nuclear energy as well as hydrogen fuel cells and natural gas. * Remote Construction MRO: Ensure commercial and residential building meet the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and zoning requirements. * Motor Vehicle Inspection: Project achievement software can be used to maximize quality control in motor vehicle inspections and decrease inspection time. * Telecommunication MRO Software: CloudVisit's videoconference-based platform supports collaboration to optimize workflow. * Telemedicine and Telehealth Examinations: CloudVisit's videoconference-based platform supports doctor-patient relationships in both telemedicine and telepsychiatry. * Maritime Vessel Inspections: Project achievement software empowers experts to remotely approve maritime vessel inspections. CloudVisit's Software Is Secure and Scalable To Optimize Collaboration "The key is collaboration," Gilbert explained. CloudVisit software's design enhances communication, so decisions are made rapidly and with increased accuracy. On site, technicians can quickly schedule high-definition video conferences with remotely-based experts. Video conferences, as well as images, audio and video recordings of the maintenance process, and chats can be recorded and stored in the cloud. Inspectors can annotate images by drawing or writing on them, ensuring specific information about the needed repairs is accurately conveyed. All data is stored in the cloud and easily. This multitude of data empowers experts to make faster decisions and maximizes the quality of inspection while reducing the inspection time. Of course, with all this data in the cloud, CloudVisit has the highest security measures to protect privacy and ensure security for every procedure. CloudVisit's software includes encrypted communications and more. There is also multifactor authentication and numerous user roles and security permissions. Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence "It has been a journey," Gilbert noted. When he first founded CloudVisit, Gilbert knew he had a highly scalable and versatile platform to offer, but he didn't foresee exactly how all the pieces would fall together. He didn't foresee exactly how all the pieces would fall together, and how many industries were in need of his service. "We've learned a lot, and we're excited to see what the next 15 years will bring." CloudVisit provides leading remote inspection software solutions across multiple industries. This software enables experts to inspect projects from their office and can lead to reduced travel time as well as overtime paid to on site workers waiting for the inspectors to arrive. CloudVisitproject achievement software currently serves many industries, including Construction, Aviation, Maritime, Transportation, and Telemedicine, and is expanding. Our company is backed by 15 years of success in software programming, video conferencing and telecommunications with a proven record of excellence, efficiency and security. For questions about our quality control and inspection software, or to request a no-obligation demo, call 845-809-5770. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mro-software-company-cloudvisit-celebrates-15- years-300781784.html Back to Top West Star Aviation Announces Completion of New Hangar at ALN January 22, 2019 - West Star Aviation is pleased to announce the completion of construction on a new 60,000 sq. ft. hangar at its East Alton, IL (ALN) location. The state of the art hangar is now operational and accepting customers for service. The hangar features 40,000 sq. ft. of hangar space and 20,000 sq ft. of back shop and office space which supports West Star's growing capabilities, allowing the company to fully expand upon existing aircraft maintenance programs. This additional growth will initially employ 28 technicians to support the expansion, in addition to their existing hiring efforts. "We are excited to expand our East Alton facility. With the new hangar completion, we occupy over 380,000 sq. ft. of space at the St. Louis Regional Airport," said Scott Sweeney, General Manager, West Star Aviation. "Having a new hangar provides us the added capacity to continue offering world-class service to our customers and ensure we meet requested deadlines," Sweeney continued. Voted #1 Preferred MRO for five consecutive years from 2014-2018 in Professional Pilot Magazine's annual "Preferences Regarding Aviation Services and Equipment" (PRASE) Survey, West Star Aviation specializes in the repair and maintenance of airframes, windows, and engines, as well as major modifications, avionics installation and repair, interior refurbishment, surplus avionics sales, accessory services, paint and parts. In addition to its primary facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; and Perryville, MO, West Star Aviation also maintains satellite facilities at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Aspen, CO; Chicago Executive Airport in Chicago, IL; Centennial Airport in Denver, CO; Conroe- North Houston Regional Airport in Houston, TX; Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, MN and Scottsdale Airport in Scottsdale, AZ. The company also provides complete FBO services for transient aircraft at its newly remodeled East Alton and Grand Junction facilities. West Star Aviation is an industry leader in technical experience and expertise while providing world-class customer services in all the organization's divisions. For more information visit www.weststaraviation.com or call 800-922-2421. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12440899/west-star-aviation-announces-completion- of-new-hangar-at-aln Back to Top Delta Completes Construction on World's Largest Engine Test Cell After breaking ground nearly 18 months ago, Delta completed construction on the world's largest jet engine test cell this month. Standing 48 feet tall, with inlet and exhaust sections measuring 66 feet and 78 feet respectively, the test cell is capable of safely running a mounted, stationary engine at full power with 150,000 pounds of thrust. To compare, the airline's current test cell has a 68,000 pound thrust capacity. The test cell will provide capabilities to test a new assortment of engines that will advance Delta into the future. With its 150,000 pound thrust capacity, the cell will open the door to many new, larger engine testing capabilities, including the Trent 1000, 7000 and XWB and the PW1100 and PW1500 variants of the Geared Turbofan. The ability to test larger engines reinforces Delta's commitment to offering repair capabilities for newer engine models and helps facilitate future demand. Delta will host the official grand opening of the test cell in February. Additional next steps include the proving and data validation for the cell, the commissioning of the cell with the Trent XWB engine, Trent 1000 Electric Start System installation, the Trent 1000 commissioning, correlation and production test, with the first production test taking place in late 2019. The new state-of-the-art test cell is the first cell built by a U.S. airline in more than 20 years. In October 2015, Delta and Rolls-Royce signed a formal agreement for Delta TechOps to become an Authorized Maintenance Center for Rolls-Royce engines. Under the agreement, the airline will provide engine services for the latest generation Trent XWB, Trent 1000 and Trent 7000, in addition to the BR715, which had already been added to engine capabilities. As one of the largest aviation maintenance groups in North America, Delta TechOps's highly skilled workforce of over 10,000 technicians, engineers and other support employees provide full-service maintenance to more than 850 Delta aircraft and their engines as well as maintenance services to more than 150 other operators, cargo operators and the military and government, through the airline's Maintenance Repair and Overhaul business. Through expanded capabilities and new facilities, Delta expects to grow the top line of the MRO business by $1 billion a year in the next five years. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12440917/delta-completes-construction-on-worlds- largest-engine-test-cell Back to Top MROs Look To High Schools To Alleviate Mx Tech Shortage Brian Youngers is looking to hire an A&P for his rural Kansas company and expects it to be a challenge. Youngers, operations director for Southwind Global Aviation, an aircraft delivery and services company, thinks Southwind's rural location-42 miles north of Wichita-and an industry-wide shortage of mechanics could make filling the vacancy tough. "I do think we're going to have a hard time finding someone," Youngers told AIN. When he called in mid-January to post Southwind's job opening at schools in Kansas that train A&Ps, he was told by one that nearly all of its graduating students had already found employment. "We've got to get in there now if we even want to have a shot," Youngers said. His experience is a familiar one to MRO owners, directors, and aircraft manufacturers across the country. With a 3.9 percent U.S. unemployment rate and a strong economy, finding qualified talent is difficult for a lot of industries. But for aviation, the mechanic pool is only expected to get tighter as 30 percent of them are at or near retirement age, according to the Aviation Technician Education Council's December 2018 Pipeline Report. The report also projects the aircraft mechanic population will shrink 5 percent in the next 15 years. What's more, in its 20-year Technician Outlook published in October 2018, Boeing projected North America alone will need 189,000 new technicians by 2037 (120,000 in commercial aviation; 55,000 in business aviation; and 14,000 in civil helicopters). Worldwide, Boeing's projections said the industry will need 2.43 million new technicians in the next two decades (622,000 commercial; 89,000 business; and 43,000 helicopter). The shortage didn't happen overnight and it likely won't be quickly solved, industry officials said. It's a function of a rash of anticipated retirements, increased demand for aircraft maintenance, competition from outside the industry, and a broader lack of awareness of the need for mechanics outside of aviation, they said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-01-23/mros-look-high-schools- alleviate-mx-tech-shortage Back to Top 3D Printing May Revolutionize Maintenance for the Stealthy F-22 Jan. 18--The world's most expensive fighter jet soon may be flying with parts made from a 3D printer. Maintainers at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, last month installed for the first time a metallic 3D-printed bracket on an operational F-22, according to the Air Force and Lockheed Martin, the company that produces the $150 million aircraft. If the titanium piece holds up, the part will be installed on all F-22 aircraft during maintenance, and the use of 3D parts in the aircraft could be expanded, with the eventual goal of reducing depot time for the maintenance-prone jets, officials said. "We're looking to go a little bit further as this part proves itself out," said Robert Blind, Lockheed Martin modifications manager, as quoted in an Air Force release. Though a first for the stealthy F-22, harnessing 3D printing technology for use in a combat jet isn't new among the services, which have used additive manufacturing for everything from Humvee door handles and rifle grips to gas mask modifications. The Marine Corps last April flew an F-35B Lighting II aircraft with a part supplied by a 3D printer to replace a worn, plastic bumper on the plane's landing gear door. The part was printed, approved and installed within a few days, eliminating a longer wait for a replacement part from the States. Unlike the Marines' plastic bumper, the 3D bracket in the F-22 was made using a powder bed fusion process with a laser to build the part layer by layer from a titanium powder, the Air Force said. The printed bracket won't corrode, it said. It replaced a corrosion-prone aluminum component in the kick panel assembly of the cockpit that is replaced 80 percent of the time during maintenance. The part will be monitored while in service and inspected when the aircraft returns to Hill Air Force Base for maintenance, the release said. If validated, the part will be installed on all F-22 aircraft undergoing maintenance. The Air Force said it has at least five more metallic 3D printed parts it plans to test on the F-22. "Once we get to the more complicated parts, the result could be a 60 to 70 day reduction in flow time for aircraft to be here for maintenance," Robert Lewin, 574th Aircraft Maintenance director at Hill, said in the statement. The Air Force did not say how much time or money 3D printing could save in F-22 maintenance. But Lewin said the technology gives the maintainers the ability to acquire replacement parts on short notice without minimum order quantities, an issue that's particularly challenging in the F-22 community due to the small fleet size. Maintenance problems and the small size of F-22 squadrons have contributed to low aircraft availability rates servicewide, a government report found last year. https://www.aviationpros.com/news/12440844/3d-printing-may-revolutionize-maintenance-for- the-stealthy-f-22 Back to Top Jet Aviation reinforces Zurich operations to support World Economic Forum ZURICH, Jan. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Aviation has augmented its (Fixed Base Operator) FBO in Zurich to support the surge in VIP aircraft and world leaders attending the 49th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos from January 22 to 25, 2019. Jet Aviation is handling the majority of head-of-state aircraft and passengers during the meeting, bringing in extra personnel from its other FBO locations and tripling its on-site VIP automobile fleet to help with ground transportation. Each year, leaders in business, politics, academia and the arts flock to the mountain resort of Davos, Switzerland, to discuss matters of global concern at the World Economic Forum (WEF). With most attendees flying into Zurich for the conference, WEF is one of the largest events for Jet Aviation's FBO network. Company officials say it is the most important and challenging annual event for the company's FBO in Zurich. "We are delighted to offer this elite group of leaders a warm welcome to Switzerland and seamless transfer to Davos," says Joao Martins, senior director and GM of Jet Aviation's FBO Operations in Zurich. "Our goal is to exceed customer expectations by anticipating their needs and providing the highest quality of handling services. We begin preparing for the prestigious WEF event months in advance." To ensure sufficient personnel were on hand for the influx of air traffic and customers during WEF, the Zurich FBO brought in team members from Jet Aviation Business Jets and other FBO locations in Basel and Geneva, Switzerland; Berlin, Germany; Singapore; Teterboro (NJ), USA; Dubai, UAE; and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jet Aviation's FBO in Zurich became an IS-BAH-registered company in December 2016, receiving IS-BAH Stage II certification in December 2018. Jet Aviation Zurich offers FBO handling and fueling services, and is the only location at the Zurich airport providing Avgas. Located just 15 minutes from the heart of Zurich's financial district, the facility is a convenient entry point for those attending the many international events held in Switzerland. As the market leader and FBO of choice, hundreds of leaders in government and business pass through Jet Aviation Zurich every year on their way to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Jet Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. More than 4,800 employees cater to client needs from close to 50 facilities throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and the Caribbean. The company provides maintenance, completions and refurbishment, engineering, FBO and fuel services, along with aircraft management, charter services and personnel services. Jet Aviation's European and U.S. aircraft management and charter divisions jointly operate a fleet of some 300 aircraft. Please visit www.jetaviation.com and follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/jetaviation. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jet-aviation-reinforces-zurich-operations-to-support- world-economic-forum-300782851.html Back to Top ManaAir Announces Completion of ExpressJet Airlines Acquisition ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ManaAir LLC, a company jointly-owned by KAir Enterprises and United Airlines, today announced the completion of the purchase of ExpressJet Airlines from SkyWest, Inc. ExpressJet is a leading U.S. regional passenger airline that flies as United Express throughout North America, with a fleet of 125 aircraft. It recently inaugurated its multi-year growth plan through an initial award of 25 Embraer E175 aircraft to be flown under the United Express brand. ManaAir, LLC, is controlled by KAir Enterprises with minority ownership by United Airlines, a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UAL). Taurus CFG acted as financial advisor and Eversheds Sutherland LLP as legal advisor to KAir in the transaction. Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal advisor to United Airlines in the transaction. About ManaAir and ExpressJet Airlines ManaAir, LLC, is a company founded by experienced aviation professionals to invest in and manage high-potential aviation opportunities. Its minority investors include United Airlines. For further information, contact mail@manaair-llc.com. ExpressJet Airlines operates as United Express, on behalf of United Airlines, to serve more than 100 airports across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The airline operates an all-jet fleet of 125 aircraft and flies more than 3,300 weekly flights. It operates crew and maintenance bases in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Houston, Texas; and Newark, New Jersey; and maintenance bases in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia. ExpressJet employs 3,000 aviation professionals. For further information, contact 404-856-1199, corpcomm@expressjet.com. https://www.aviationpros.com/news/12440922/manaair-announces-completion-of-expressjet- airlines-acquisition Back to Top Technical aviation consultancy Indaer sells MRO wing to airline Indaer, a consultancy and services company for the aviation industry, has rebranded as 'Indaer Aviation Technical Services' following the sale of its MRO business in Colombia to a local unnamed airline. Founded in 2002, Indaer provides a range of technical consultancy services to airlines that operate commercial aircraft from Airbus, ATR, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer and Pilatus. The company's circa 100 engineers, technicians and systems analysts provide technical and advisory services in the areas of aircraft and engine asset management and regulations, aircraft records services, maintenance planning and oversight, in-service engineering, and field support & technical training. From its base in Medellín, Colombia, Indaer serves airlines, lessors and OEM suppliers across Latin America, and globally. In a press statement, Juan Osorio, CEO of Indaer, revealed that the company has divested its maintenance, repair & operations (MRO) arm to a "local airline", without disclosing the specific airline. According to the latest data released by Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority, there are currently 26 airlines that possess an Air Operator Certificate (providing them the right to exploit commercial aviation), including Avianca, the country's largest carrier and second largest in Latin America, number two player VivaColombia, low-cost carrier EasyFly and government-owned Satena. "We are very happy to sell our MRO division to this airline and to see it become a model of efficiency and technical capabilities, while we focus on the consulting and engineering business with our new corporate structure at Indaer," commented Osorio. Indaer's MRO business specialises in maintenance services for airlines, lessors and OEM suppliers, as well as helping industry players meet regulatory requirements and obtain certifications such as FAA/EASA Part 145. The arm has a particular strong track record with ATR aircraft (a French - Italian aircraft manufacturer) - Indaer covers all of the ATR's maintenance activities from A checks to 36.000 CY checks, and has hangar bays for the ATR 42 and ATR 72 models. The MRO wing is certified by four international CAAs: FAA, UAEAC (Colombia), DGAC (Ecuador), and 2-Reg (Channel Island). The sale sees the Colombian company continue as a consulting and technical services firm, with the brand transitioning to 'Indaer Aviation Technical Services'. Osorio: "We will continue to provide consulting, engineering and technical services to leasing companies and operators around the globe." Agreed with the owner is that the brand 'Indaer' will remain the property of the company's original founders. The move comes at a time when the MRO market for commercial aircraft is seeing solid growth. According to an analysis by Oliver Wyman, the number of commercial planes in the skies will increase by 4% annually up to 2028, when a total of more than 32,000 plans will be operational, with narrow-body jets set to record the fastest growth. As a result, MRO spending is projected to rise as well, to around $115 billion in 2028. Latin America's MRO market is currently valued at roughly $4 billion - in the coming decade, the industry will grow to $6 billion. https://www.consultancy.lat/news/944/technical-aviation-consultancy-indaer-sells-mro-wing-to- airline Back to Top MRO Insider Adds Facility Specific Maintenance Request Capability Tecumseh, MI - January 22, 2019 MRO Insider has announced the growing website now allows aircraft owner/operators to submit aircraft maintenance requests to specific facilities on demand. Prior to this release, users sent requirements out to the MRO Insider network and all facilities matching the needs of the user were notified that a request for quote (RFQ) had been submitted. With the upgraded platform, aircraft owner operators can either choose the MRO Insider facility they would like a quote from, or they can use the previous format by choosing to obtain quotes from multiple providers. Andy Nixon, Co-founder/vp of sales, explains, "We released this new update to assist the MRO Insider network in expanding their reach on the website. Currently, facilities only receive requests that match their capabilities. After additional focus on our customer needs, we realized there may be users looking for quotes from facilities that they believe may work on their aircraft but currently do not. By creating this direct request feature, the facility can provide a higher level of customer service by acknowledging and responding to a straight forward request that they previously may not have been aware of." MRO Insider is a web-based tool for obtaining and submitting maintenance quote requests for corporate aircraft, including rotorcraft. After completing a cost-free registration, owner/operators select their aircraft, choose one of eleven services, specify an input date, and send documents such as equipment lists or status sheets with their request. Upon submission, facilities subscribed to the MRO Insider network are notified of an RFQ (request for quote) and can log in to obtain the information needed to submit their quote. The company reported the website will also use this feature to allow maintenance facilities to post open maintenance slots within their e-Newsletter which is sent to thousands of aircraft owners and operators. Any interested facility can pay a flat fee to have their opening listed and dispersed within the e-mail. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12440903/mro-insider-adds-facility-specific- maintenance-request-capability Back to Top There Are Twins In The Future Of Predictive Maintenance A recent IFS study of top commercial aviation pain points found operational availability to be the greatest challenge, cited by 60% of respondents. "No matter how quickly operators can turn around a plane between flights, the disruption of having an aircraft on the ground has drastic ramifications, with parts and time potentially costing millions of dollars," notes Mark Martin, IFS director of aerospace defense. The solution lies in analyzing reliability data, and IFS has predicted that digital twins will play a bigger role in this task for commercial aviation. "In 2019, we will see MROs take advantage of digital twin information gained from original equipment manufacturers to capture much of this valuable reliability data," Martin predicts. The trend has already started. Martin says GE has built digital twin components for some of it engines. Furthermore, "GE also helped develop the world's first digital twin for an airplane's landing gear. Sensors placed on typical failure points on the asset, such as hydraulic pressure and brake temperature, provide real-time data and help predict early malfunctions or diagnose the remaining lifecycle of the landing gear." Another example of digital twinning is Siemens, which has implemented digital twin capabilities for components such as its electric propulsion units for manned and unmanned vehicles. In commercial aviation, Lufthansa Technik also sees twinning as the future or performance monitoring and predictive maintenance to improve reliability. "Digital Twin refers to a digital replica of physical assets, processes and systems," explains Alexander Simon-Sichart, LHT's head of technology innovation and research. "A digital twin continuously learns and updates itself from various sources to represent the current condition of the real-life counterpart. Information sources for the digital twin consist of data from the real-life counterpart, knowledge from human experts, data from similar or previous parts, and so forth. The technique can be expensive, so will probably be applied first to major systems and components. But as experience is gained, digital twins could cover a wider range of aircraft components. https://www.mro-network.com/technology/there-are-twins-future-predictive-maintenance Back to Top SpaceX's new test rocket topples over thanks to strong Texas winds A prototype of SpaceX's next big rocket fell over and sustained damage in south Texas, thanks to high winds in the area. Images from SpaceX's facility in Boca Chica, Texas show part of the vehicle sideways on the ground and slightly crumpled. The damage from the mishap will take a few weeks to repair, according to CEO Elon Musk. Since the holidays, SpaceX engineers in south Texas have been building a prototype of the company's new Starship rocket. Formerly known as the BFR, the Starship is the next-generation vehicle that SpaceX is developing to transport cargo and people to orbit, as well as to the Moon, Mars, and maybe even beyond. The full system actually consists of two big components: a large rocket booster, named Super Heavy, which will launch a crew-carrying spacecraft - the Starship - into space. The Starship prototype has been coming together relatively quickly in Boca Chica, which is also the location of SpaceX's future private launch site. On January 5th, Musk said that SpaceX was aiming to do the first test flights with the vehicle in four weeks, though eight weeks was probably more likely due to "unforeseen issues." Well, one of those issues turned out to be wind. In a tweet, Musk said that gusts moving at 50 miles per hour broke the Starship's mooring blocks, used to secure the vehicle to the ground. This caused the Starship's fairing, the top half of the spacecraft, to fall over. Musk noted, however, that the actual propellant tanks needed for the prototype are fine. The prototype that fell over isn't an exact replica of what the finished Starship will look like. The test vehicle is slightly shorter than the final Starship design, and it will also have just three engines, while the final plans call for seven. Once the damage is repaired and the prototype is complete, the company wants to perform short "hop" tests with the vehicle. These tests entail igniting the vehicle's engines and sending the rocket to low altitudes between 1,640 and 16,400 feet, before landing it upright back on Earth. The flights should be similar to the hop tests that SpaceX did with its Grasshopper prototype, meant to test out the technology needed for the Falcon 9's landing system. At the beginning of the vehicle's construction, Musk revealed that various changes had been made to the Starship's design. For the last few years, Musk has claimed that the giant rocket would be constructed out of carbon-fiber composites. Now the bulk of the vehicle will be made out of stainless steel alloy instead, a material that Musk argues can withstand super high temperatures and still remain strong. Additionally, the vehicle's Raptor engines have gone through a supposedly radical redesign. SpaceX is also making a few changes regarding where it makes the Starship rockets. The company noted that it will shift some of its Starship prototype production to Boca Chica, Texas, rather than the Port of Los Angeles as originally planned. However, development and some manufacturing of Starship and the Raptor engines will still be done out of SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Musk said the company chose to build the prototypes locally in Texas because they were too big to move across the country easily. https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/23/18194398/spacex-starship-prototype-wind-damage-boca- chica-texas Curt Lewis