MAY 23, 2019 - No. 041 In This Issue Textron Aviation Announces New Aircraft Maintenance Data Hub for Customers American Air Asks Court to Halt `Illegal Slowdown' by Mechanics JSSI Parts & Leasing Signs Supply Chain Services Agreement with Contour Aviation China Eastern asks Boeing for compensation over 737 MAX grounding Lufthansa Technik Ready to Offer Cabin Completions for the Airbus A220 Rolls-Royce Expands Business Aviation Service Network Airbus Selects Antavia AMETEK MRO to Provide Wheel and Brake Maintenance on the Beluga XL FAA Publishes Part 147 Supplemental Rule Training Providers 'Entitled' to OEM Exclusivity Blackstone-backed IBS to buy aviation software provider AD OPT Two New Service Centers Announced by Piaggio Aerospace New York man put SpaceX rockets in jeopardy by forging inspection reports, feds say. Textron Aviation Announces New Aircraft Maintenance Data Hub for Customers GENEVA (May 22, 2019) - Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced a new Aircraft Maintenance Data Hub for owners and operators of Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft at this week's European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition. The new data hub will be available in summer 2019 and will offer a more comprehensive record of all aircraft maintenance performed on Textron Aviation products by working with multiple industry tracking system providers. "It's important to our customers that they have a clear understanding and record of work done on their aircraft," said Kriya Shortt, Textron Aviation senior vice president, Global Customer Support. "This new data hub will offer customers more choices in their tracking system and a comprehensive picture of maintenance records across all their Textron Aviation products." Textron Aviation named CAMP, Flightdocs, SierraTrax and Traxxall as recommended providers of aircraft maintenance tracking for the new data hub. While previously exclusive to CAMP, customers now have the flexibility to select the recommended provider that best fits their needs. The data hub will be a new feature in the Textron Aviation Customer Portal. Customers will benefit from receiving a one-year free subscription from their choice of recommended provider for new and pre-owned aircraft purchased from Textron Aviation. About Textron Aviation Service Textron Aviation offers factory-direct service and support throughout their entire ownership experience. Through a global network staffed with more than 3,000 employees, customers have direct access to a team of expert service representatives offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, avionic upgrades, equipment installations, refurbishments and other specialized services. Textron Aviation manages a growing fleet of more than 60 mobile service units (MSU) and rapid response aircraft that can be mobilized to respond to maintenance events by contacting 1CALL, a team of AOG specialists providing prioritized service and support during unscheduled maintenance events. https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/maintenance-it/press-release/21081591/textron- aviation-textron-aviation-announces-new-aircraft-maintenance-data-hub-for-customers Back to Top American Air Asks Court to Halt `Illegal Slowdown' by Mechanics American Airlines Group Inc. asked a federal court to halt an "illegal slowdown campaign" by unionized employees, saying the action had disrupted the travel plans of 125,000 passengers in the last three months. Mechanics are taking too long to repair jetliners and refusing to work overtime in an effort to gain leverage in contract talks, American said in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas. The alleged slowdown will crimp travel for 3,400 passengers a day if it continues into the summer, the airline said. The lawsuit raises the stakes in a standoff after federal mediators suspended talks last month, saying they didn't see a way to resolve differences between the two sides. The TWU-IAM Association, which represents 30,000 employees in 12 work groups, is the only major union at American that still lacks a complete contract following the carrier's merger with US Airways in 2013. American and the union haven't been able to agree on issues including pay, health and retirement benefits and limits on outsourcing work. The National Mediation Board is overseeing negotiations between the two sides and will determine the next steps, which could include moving closer to a possible strike. The union didn't immediately comment. 'Inordinately Long' Southwest Airlines Co. had a similar dispute earlier this year. The Dallas-based carrier asked a federal court to order its mechanics and their union to stop reporting excessive maintenance issues that it said were grounding an unusually large number of aircraft. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association warned that Southwest's lawsuit could discourage workers from reporting aircraft damage. The two sides got a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration, which said March 8 that the contentious contract talks and legal fight were putting the carrier's safety at risk. The company and the union reached a contract agreement in principle about a week later. American said its mechanics "en masse" were "taking an inordinately long time to repair aircraft." The company also said employees refused overtime and maintenance trips, including weeks "with a 100% field trip refusal rate" at its Charlotte, Phoenix and Philadelphia hubs. The number of out-of-service aircraft at 7 a.m. each day rose to an average of 44 on May 13 from 36 on Feb. 4, the carrier said. The union and the company had their 17th negotiating session with federal mediators on April 25, according to the filing. Max Grounding American said mechanic productivity should be higher than normal due to the grounding of the Boeing Co. 737 Max. American has 24 of the single-aisle planes, with another 16 scheduled for delivery this year. Regulators barred the plane from flying more than two months ago, following the second deadly crash in a five-month span. "Based on the amount of maintenance that American's 737 Max fleet would require on a daily basis, the grounding of these aircraft has freed up an estimated 180 man-hours on average of mechanics' time per night to work on other aircraft," American said. "As detailed in this complaint, however, mechanic productivity has significantly decreased." The case is American Airlines Inc. v. Transport Workers Union of America, 4:19-cv-00414-A. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth). https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2019/05/21/291036.htm Back to Top JSSI Parts & Leasing Signs Supply Chain Services Agreement with Contour Aviation GENEVA, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- EBACE2019 Booth B89 -- JSSI Parts & Leasing, a division of Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), today announced it has signed a new supply chain services agreement with Contour Aviation. JSSI Parts & Leasing will provide extensive parts procurement, logistics, and billing support to Contour Aviation's diverse fleet of business jets. "We look forward to working closely with Contour Aviation to streamline the procurement and management of parts across their fleet of business jets," said Jim Sellers, president, JSSI Parts & Leasing. "Each year, we support more than 8,000 maintenance events for clients across virtually every make and model of aircraft. With over 30 years of expertise to draw on, and the global buying power of JSSI behind us, we are uniquely positioned to support the Contour fleet and bring significant time and cost savings to their business." Under the agreement, the dedicated JSSI Parts & Leasing parts procurement staff will support all part requests for Contour's business jets, from the initial request through to ensuring on-time delivery. The team receives itemized orders and provides logistics support and tracking services throughout the order process, including daily parts update reports, shipment updates and core return support. They will also evaluate invoices and purchase orders and coordinate with vendors regarding delayed core billings. Sophisticated consumption analysis and forecasts will be utilized to assist with advanced planning and accurate cost projections, with periodic program and cost performance reviews. "The JSSI Parts & Leasing team has helped us effectively manage not only parts procurement and logistics but also vendor agreements to streamline tasks, such as timely core exchanges, that ultimately impact our bottom line," stated Bob McConnell, executive vice president, Contour Aircraft Maintenance. "With the range of business aircraft that we operate, efficient parts management across our expanding fleet will allow us to deliver an even greater level of service to our clients." Contour Aviation operates a diverse fleet of business jets available for private charter. The company offers fuel and aircraft handling services at three FBO locations as well as retail aircraft maintenance and avionics at a facility adjacent to its headquarters in Smyrna, TN. JSSI Parts & Leasing stocks inventory and provides parts to support the day-to-day operational requirements for hundreds of customers, including JSSI, the leading independent provider of maintenance support and financial services to the aviation industry. Services include sourcing and acquiring inventory, assisting with customs and freight management, and arranging for loaner engines during an overhaul or repair. The company's extensive pricing knowledge and buying power drives down acquisition costs, ultimately securing significant savings for clients. To learn more about JSSI Parts & Leasing services and additional products and services from JSSI, visit booth #B89 at EBACE2019 or email sales@jssiparts.com. About JSSI Parts & Leasing JSSI Parts & Leasing provides aircraft parts, leasing and supply chain solutions. From a single bolt to a complete engine, customers gain access to a vast inventory of aircraft parts, engines and APUs and a global vendor network to source assets for anything that flies. All backed by the buying power and expertise of one of the largest purchasers of parts and maintenance services in the aviation industry. For more information, visit jssiparts.com. About Jet Support Services, Inc. For nearly 30 years, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), has been the leading independent provider of maintenance programs to the aviation industry, covering virtually all makes and models of aircraft, engines, and APUs. JSSI provides its customers with comprehensive, flexible and affordable financial programs and tools for managing the often unpredictable costs of operating and maintaining business and commercial jets, turboprops and helicopters. As the creator of the revolutionary Tip-to-Tail® Program, JSSI is the only single source provider of this trademarked service. JSSI serves customers globally and manages maintenance services through its worldwide infrastructure of certified technical advisors. Other JSSI Services include JSSI Parts, Jet Engine Leasing, JSSI Advisory Services, and Conklin & de Decker. For more information go to jetsupport.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jssi-parts-leasing-signs-supply-110000238.html Back to Top China Eastern asks Boeing for compensation over 737 MAX grounding BEIJING (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines has formally requested compensation from Boeing Co for the grounding of its 14 737 MAX aircraft and has delayed deliveries of future planes, the company said on Tuesday. The airline's move was first reported by domestic media, including the state-run People's Daily newspaper. The reports did not say what amount of compensation the airline is seeking. "The grounding of 737 MAX aircraft since March 11, 2019 has caused relatively big losses to China Eastern. With the passing of time, related losses will further expand," the paper cited the company as saying. "At the same time, delayed deliveries of planes ordered by China Eastern also caused economic losses." An airline spokesman confirmed its comments in the People's Daily report to Reuters. China Eastern has 14 Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, including those from subsidiary Shanghai Airlines. The aircraft have been mothballed according to aircraft maintenance standards, the People's Daily said. The company had not communicated with other carriers regarding compensation, it added. A spokesman for Boeing declined to comment on China Eastern's move, saying it did not discuss conversations with its customers. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is hosting a meeting of global regulators in Dallas on Thursday to review software and training proposals from Boeing before deciding whether, and when, to end the two-month grounding. China and the European Union each have their own aerospace industries and are likely to fix their own conditions for allowing 737 MAX flights to resume, analysts say. https://kfgo.com/news/articles/2019/may/21/china-eastern-asks-boeing-for-compensation-over- 737-max-grounding/ Back to Top Lufthansa Technik Ready to Offer Cabin Completions for the Airbus A220 As the first VIP aircraft services provider in the world, Lufthansa Technik AG is ready to offer cabin completions for Airbus' smallest commercial aircraft family, the A220. The company has already developed a first VIP cabin interior concept, parts of which will be showcased for the first time on this year's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. The full concept will be unveiled during the Monaco Yacht Show in September. The spacious SkyRetreat concept will feature a totally new and unconventional design approach. As a consequence, the cabin interior envisaged by Lufthansa Technik's designers for the Airbus A220 calls for a reduction to the essential, thereby cleverly and discreetly integrating latest cabin technologies, from 4K roll-up displays and smart touch surfaces to a totally unique Observation Lounge to be revealed in the coming months. "Although the A220 represents the new entry level of both Airbus' corporate jet portfolio as well as our completions offerings, it already provides an incredible amount of space for breathtaking VIP interiors," states Wieland Timm, Senior Director Sales, VIP & Special Mission Aircraft at Lufthansa Technik. "Our SkyRetreat concept makes optimum use of this spacious cabin and its technical features will provide our customers with a whole new sense of space and a unique travel experience." Besides the VIP completion capabilities, Lufthansa Technik already supports the Airbus A220 family with a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from line maintenance and component services to engine services for its PW1500 geared turbofan engines. Lufthansa Technik: With some 35 subsidiaries and affiliates, the Lufthansa Technik Groupis one of the leading providers of technical aircraft services in the world. Certified internationally as maintenance, production and design organization, the company has a workforce of more than 25,000 employees. Lufthansa Technik's portfolio covers the entire range of services for commercial and VIP/special mission aircraft, engines, components and landing gear in the areas of digital fleet support, maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification, completion and conversion as well as the manufacture of innovative cabin products. Find more info about us on: www.lufthansa-technik.com https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press- release/21081375/lufthansa-technik-lufthansa-technik-ready-to-offer-cabin-completions-for-the- airbus-a220 Back to Top Rolls-Royce Expands Business Aviation Service Network Rolls-Royce today announced that it is strengthening its business aviation services infrastructure by expanding the global network of Authorised Service Centres (ASC) for its large CorporateCare® customer base. The Authorised Service Centres form an important component of the Rolls-Royce services portfolio and add to the existing global service capabilities. The latest addition to the ASC network is Inflite The Jet Centre at London Stansted Airport, supporting the AE 3007A engines that power the Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 aircraft. Andy Robinson, SVP Services - Business Aviation, said: "As the leading supplier of business aircraft engines our customers trust us to deliver outstanding in-service support. Our collaboration with the world's most experienced maintenance providers ensures industry leading service levels for our growing global CorporateCare customer base." Rolls-Royce now has 77 Authorised Service Centres in place with key maintenance providers worldwide. The powerful service infrastructure of the ASCs is complimented by On Wing Services specialists, who are located at strategic hubs in the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia, and a number of spare parts and lease engine storage locations, all placed strategically around the world. All this means that CorporateCare customers will benefit from faster response times and reduced maintenance time with simplified, streamlined administration wherever they fly. Rolls-Royce is the leading business aviation engine supplier, powering more than 3,300 in-service business aircraft. Today, more than 2,000 aircraft are covered by CorporateCare and more than 70 per cent of new delivery Rolls-Royce powered aircraft are enrolled in the programme. Rolls-Royce recently announced that it has already signed the 100thCorporateCare® Enhanced service contract, an upgraded service package that enhances its market-leading CorporateCare service for business jet customers. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-engines/turbine-engine- maintenance/press-release/21081383/rollsroyce-corp-rollsroyce-expands-business-aviation- service-network Back to Top Airbus Selects Antavia AMETEK MRO to Provide Wheel and Brake Maintenance on the Beluga XL CAMPSAS, FRANCE - Antavia has been selected as the provider of wheels and brakes maintenance for the Airbus Beluga XL. Antavia began providing maintenance services for Airbus oversize transport aircraft, the Super Guppy, in 1992. This support continued when the five strong fleet of BelugaST entered into service. Today, Antavia is proud to announce the continuation of its tailor- made MRO and logistics solutions services to Airbus for the Beluga XL fleet as well. With more than 30 years of reliable service, Antavia is a leader in wheels and brakes repair as well as overhaul. In the last five years, more than 17,000 wheels and 2,500 brakes have been released from the company's dedicated workshops. "We are very proud to be contributing to the wheels and brakes maintenance of both the Beluga ST and XL aircrafts, two of the most voluminous cargo holds of any civil or military aircraft flying today," said Laurent Bouissou, Managing Director of Antavia. "It is a business that places the utmost importance on regularity of services and on-time performance, which are values we share." About Antavia Antavia has provided performance repair and overhaul services to aircraft operators worldwide for 30 years. Along with wheels and brakes, Antavia's capabilities include repair and overhaul services for cabin equipment, water/wastewater systems, electrical power generation, electrical rewinds, electromechanical actuators, lights, electronics, hydraulic equipment, wheels and brakes, and engine accessories. Antavia is a unit of AMETEK MRO within AMETEK's Aerospace & Defense division that provides repair and overhaul services for commercial, regional, general aviation and rotor-wing aircraft. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press- release/21081390/airbus-selects-antavia-ametek-mro-to-provide-wheel-and-brake-maintenance- on-the-beluga-xl Back to Top FAA Publishes Part 147 Supplemental Rule Last month, the agency published the long-awaited supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) for Title 14 CFR part 147, the regulation governing aviation maintenance technician schools. The proposal "supplements" the agency's 2015 notice of proposed rulemaking, which recommended removal of static curriculum requirements and allowance for a credit-hour system. ATEC and others called for more flexibility that would allow for competency-based programs and expansion of curriculum into high schools. The SNPRM makes additional proposals to address those concerns. While the community applauds the agency for offering a solution, elements in its proposal miss the mark. The SNPRM layers in a complicated web of requirements and approvals for competency- based programs and satellite locations, many of which duplicate accreditation mandates. In its comments to the SNPRM, the council will reiterate its plea for FAA deference in all matters concerning the quality of education, an element that falls squarely in the Dept. of Education's purview. It will ask that the agency focus its oversight on items specific to a certificated A&P program, such as facility, equipment, and material requirements, unique instructor qualifications, and assessment based on student performance of the mechanic test. It is ATEC's position that accredited higher institutions of learning not be subject to duplicative-and sometimes contradictory-government requirements. The Dept. of Ed and its accrediting bodies are the education experts, and work in partnership with our schools to ensure educational outcomes are achieved. The council's comments to the SNPRM will be grounded in that theme, and offer alternative language that gives our schools more flexibility, and puts less burden on our stewards of aviation safety. ATEC's docket submission will be available to the community in advance of the comment period deadline, so that stakeholders can align with the council's stance in their own comments, if they so choose. For a full analysis, read an article that ran in the latest edition of Aviation Week's Inside MRO, Proposed Regulation Raises Questions About FAA's Role In Education. To brief the community on the particulars, and assist schools and companies with their own comments (due June 17), the council is holding an online webinar on May 30. The online event is free to government employees and ATEC members. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/schools-colleges/press- release/21081710/aviation-technician-education-council-faa-publishes-part-147-supplemental-rule Back to Top Training Providers 'Entitled' to OEM Exclusivity Among government budget planners, "entitlement" can be a dirty word, but to business aviation training providers it is a welcomed concept. Especially when they are selected by an OEM to be the "entitlement provider" for a new aircraft type. FlightSafety International (Booth F79), one of the two dominant training providers, for example, is the designated entitlement provider for Dassault Aviation Falcon 8X pilot training. That means for the first three years when the 8X is delivered to a new customer, their only option for pilot training is FlightSafety's program at Paris Le Bourget. After the initial three years, which expires in October, competitors-specifically CAE-can begin offering 8X training. CAE is expected to deploy an 8X full- flight simulator this fall, and FlightSafety might counter with a second device. Conversely, Montréal-based CAE (Booth J89) will be the entitlement training provider for the new Falcon 6X, planned to enter service in 2022. CAE was selected for the 5X program, which was canceled near the end of 2017 and succeeded by the new 6X twinjet design. CAE was also the Falcon 7X entitlement training provider when that trijet entered service in 2007. "We try to have a good balance between them, an equal relationship, and not promote one against the other," said Dassault v-p of operational support Frédéric Leboeuf. When there is eventually competition on an aircraft platform, Leboeuf emphasized that the training offered by both providers should be quite similar, based on the rigorous Falcon Training Policy Manual. "If an operator pairs a pilot trained by CAE with a pilot trained by FlightSafety," he said, "they should fly together in full safety." Dassault and other OEMs regularly audit the training providers- some audits are scheduled, some random. "We do not interfere in their internal process, but we check the process and how they are managing it," noted Leboeuf. "It's really a partnership." "Gulfstream pilots and maintenance technicians cycle through FlightSafety training year-over-year and provide feedback," said Gulfstream customer support president Derek Zimmerman. "Our engineering teams also regularly review each system for accuracy and thoroughness by attending the training periodically and conducting desktop reviews of training material. Key pilots involved in the aircraft development are also involved with maintaining the currency and accuracy of the training." FlightSafety has been providing training for Gulfstream aircraft for more than 50 years, beginning with the conversion of a generic sim into a Gulfstream I trainer. For the new G500, explained newly announced FlightSafety president and CEO David Davenport, the New York City-headquartered training provider delivered a flight simulator two years before the introduction of the aircraft. "Additionally, FlightSafety supported the Gulfstream Conceptual Advanced Simulation Environment (CASE) Lab, which is used for human factors evaluations, fly-by-wire control law development and integration of the active control sidesticks (ACS)," Davenport said. The lab is equipped with FlightSafety's Vital 1100 visual system, real ACSs, touchscreen controllers, and throttle quadrant. Zimmerman said Gulfstream and FlightSafety partnered on human factors testing for the touchscreens in the new Symmetry Flight Deck, which entered service on the G500 last fall and will be featured on the G600 as well. CAE's most extensive OEM relationship has been with Quebec neighbor Bombardier, beginning in the 1990s with the establishment of a training center adjacent to CAE's headquarters. After CAE acquired Simuflite (launched in 1984 by Singer-Link to challenge the FlightSafety business aviation training monopoly), they expanded the Dallas site with a six-simulator Bombardier wing. Both Bombardier training centers were acquired by CAE last year. CAE also has a joint venture relationship with Embraer for pilot and ground crew training on the Phenom 100 and 300. "To be a successful OEM authorized training provider [ATP]," said Nick Leontidis, CAE group president of civil aviation training solutions, "it is necessary to fulfill key requirements, including timely delivery of training programs that meet the high standards and expectations of our OEM partners. We typically support and participate in customer conferences, advisory boards, and aircraft sales campaigns." CAE also periodically evaluates its simulator instructors, observed by an FAA program manager, and provide their OEM partners with operational metrics measuring "all aspects of the client experience," Leontidis added. To address the new FAA requirement for upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), Davenport said FlightSafety and Gulfstream used an aerodynamic model based upon flight test data. "It accurately models an expanded flight envelope from aerodynamic stall to speeds well beyond Vmo/Mmo [maximum operating limit speed/Mach]. The control forces in the simulator are not simply an extrapolation. They are the same as those experienced by test pilots during type certification of the aircraft." UPRT simulator scenarios were developed from real-world fatal accidents. For a time, it appeared that Textron Aviation's Tru Simulation + Training would provide a third business aviation training market competitor, albeit focused on Textron aircraft. However, last month FlightSafety and Tru formed a JV -FlightSafety Textron Aviation Training -to offer training for Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker aircraft types with 89 simulators, mostly contributed by FlightSafety. If the initial entitlement training provider performs well during their period of exclusivity, they clearly have a built-in customer relationship advantage to continue the relationship with the operator for many years. If the operator is not fully satisfied, either in terms of training quality or cost, then let the competition begin. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-05-23/training-providers- entitled-oem-exclusivity Back to Top Blackstone-backed IBS to buy aviation software provider AD OPT IBS Software has agreed to acquire AD OPT, a Montréal-based provider of airline crew planning optimization software solutions. Terms weren't released for the deal, which IBS described as a "multi-million dollar acquisition." The seller is Kronos Inc, which acquired AD OPT in 2004. Kronos, a U.S. workforce management software and services company, is owned by Hellman & Friedman. IBS, an Indian software company focused on the travel, hospitality, logistics and oil and gas sectors, said the purchase will make it a top technology provider to the aviation industry. IBS is backed by U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group, which acquired a minority stake in 2015 for US$170 million. IBS Software to Acquire Canadian Aviation Software Major The deal will make IBS Software one of the foremost technology providers in the global aviation industry MONTREAL, May 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Travel technology specialist IBS Software (IBS) has entered into a definitive agreement with Massachusetts-based Kronos Incorporated to acquire AD OPT, a market leader in aviation software that provides crew management solutions to some of the biggest names in the global airline industry. AD OPT (www.ad-opt.com), founded in 1987 in Montreal by a group of mathematicians and operations research experts, was acquired in 2004 by Kronos, a multi-national workforce management software and services company employing nearly 6,000 professionals worldwide. The cutting-edge crew planning and optimization platform of AD OPT currently powers some of the top airlines in the world including Air Canada, EasyJet, Emirates, FedEx, Garuda, Lion Air, and Qantas. The multi-million dollar acquisition is an integral part of IBS' growth strategy to become the leading technology provider to the airline industry worldwide. Prior to this, IBS has made six strategic acquisitions - three in the USA, two in Europe, one in India - in its 21-year history. IBS is a specialist in aviation software, supporting flight operations of large airlines including British Airways, KLM and Emirates. This landmark acquisition will help IBS leverage AD OPT's deep domain expertise to provide the most advanced, end-to-end, integrated digital solution for the highly complex task of flight and crew management. The coming together of the assets, expertise and capabilities of IBS and AD OPT will bring to the market a state-of-the-art, holistic software for crew planning, pairing, rostering, optimizing, tracking and managing the entire operations of large and complex network carriers. The acquisition of AD OPT will add more than 20 airline customers to IBS, significantly widen IBS' footprint in North America, boost IBS' go-to-market capabilities and enhance IBS' addressable market. The move will also deepen IBS' managerial bandwidth by bringing into its fold AD OPT's team of highly skilled subject matter experts, some with more than 25 years of airline operations experience. AD OPT is a widely recognized name for over 30 years in the global aviation industry for digital innovation, and its progressive crew optimization technology helps airlines assign cockpit and cabin crew to the flights in the most optimal manner to achieve operational efficiency, maintain full regulatory compliance, reduce operational costs and at the same time improve quality of life of the crew. In 2015, AD OPT was awarded the prestigious CORS Omond Solandt award in recognition of 'substantial contribution to operational research in Canada'. Post the acquisition, IBS will take over the office of AD OPT in Montreal and evolve it into a modern Centre of Excellence dedicated to crew optimization technology. An aggressive R&D investment strategy is envisaged to make the solution a market leader in fleet and crew management, helping clients innovate at speed and execute at scale. "IBS represents a well-established and logical acquirer of AD OPT - a game-changing combination which will bring meaningful expertise and complementary benefits to employees and customers of both organizations. AD OPT employees will be joining a thriving company dedicated to the travel industry. Customers will also benefit from IBS' and AD OPT's shared commitment and passion for innovation. Even though we plan to transition the AD OPT division to IBS, Kronos will continue to provide airlines with world-class solutions for workforce management and human capital management," said Bob Hughes, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Kronos. "Acquisition of world-class travel technology companies has been a deliberate strategy of IBS to fulfill its commitment to the aviation industry. AD OPT offers a sophisticated suite of airline crew planning and optimization products, a sizeable customer base and a highly experienced team of professionals. The coming together of IBS and AD OPT is, therefore, extremely relevant for the industry as it enables us to create the most advanced digital platform, delivering a holistic solution for flight operations and crew management. We will continue to pursue our inorganic growth strategy to expand our solutions landscape and deliver outstanding value to our customers," said VK Mathews, Executive Chairman, IBS Group. About IBS Software: IBS is a 3,000+ employee, multi-national, vertical SaaS software company, providing new-gen solutions that manage mission critical operations of some of the best airlines, busiest airports, leading cruise lines, top oil & gas companies and renowned travel distributors & hotel groups in the world. IBS also offers consulting and domain-led software services in these business verticals. IBS is a Blackstone invested company and operates from 9 offices across the world serving 170+ customers. To the aviation industry, IBS offers IT systems for passenger services (including Loyalty and staff travel), cargo operations, flight and crew operations, airport operations and aircraft maintenance engineering, making it the enterprise that offers the widest range of technology products to the aviation industry. https://www.pehub.com/canada/2019/05/blackstone-backed-ibs-to-buy-aviation-software- provider-ad-opt/# Back to Top Two New Service Centers Announced by Piaggio Aerospace Italian aircraft OEM Piaggio Aerospace (Booth SD307) is truly spreading its wings this week at EBACE 2019, announcing that it has signed two agreements for new authorized service centers: Paris Le Bourget-based DV Tecknik and Asia Aero Engineering (AAE) Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur. With these additions, Piaggio now has five strategically located authorized service centers for its customers in Europe, which also includes Genoa, Italy; Mönchengladbach, Germany; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Lugano, Switzerland. DV Tecknik is wholly owned by Oyonnair Group, which specializes in medical transport, operating a fleet of three Cessna Citation Mustangs and nine Piaggio Avanti IIs. "We've operated Piaggios for five years and nearly 10,000 fleet hours," said Daniel Vovk, founder and CEO of DV Technik and Oyonnair. "We have developed in-house capabilities to mainly serve the Piaggio Aerospace captive fleet and to offer AOG recovery assistance and off-site services." Asia Aero Engineering currently provides maintenance for the helicopters operated by its sister company, Aircraft Power Lines, which provides services for government and private needs. "We operate a P.180 Avanti EVO for VIP and medevac purposes around southeast Asia, and now we can consolidate our knowledge of the aircraft and offer maintenance assistance to the whole Asian fleet," said Mohd Shazwan Shaharuddin, CEO of Asia Aero Engineering. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-05-21/two-new-service-centers- announced-piaggio-aerospace Back to Top New York man put SpaceX rockets in jeopardy by forging inspection reports, feds say ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A New York man forged inspection reports for critical products that were used by a major aerospace business, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. James Smalley, 41, of Penn Yan is charged by criminal complaint with falsifying inspection reports for space parts. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. While working as a quality assurance engineer at PMI Industries in Gates, New York, Smalley allegedly forged the signature of an inspector on reports for products that were sold to California- based SpaceX. "James Smalley took the act of forgery to a new level," FBI Special Agent Gary Loeffert, who is in charge of the agency's western New York district, said in a statement. "A potentially catastrophic level with the potential to not only cost millions of dollars, but also jeopardize years of irreplicable work." PMI makes critical parts used to build space flight vehicles by SpaceX and Department of Defense contractors, authorities said in a release. PMI made structural rocket parts, according to the criminal complaint. That includes the nosecone fairing, which is a "fracture critical part," and if this part were to malfunction, "it could result in catastrophic failure of the mission," the complaint said. The investigation revealed that Smalley allegedly falsified 38 source inspection reports for parts purchased by SpaceX for the manufacturing of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy series of space vehicles. And at least 76 individual parts had falsified inspection reports, were never inspected, and then were shipped to SpaceX, prosecutors said. Smalley started working at PMI on March 6, 2017. One of his bosses said Smalley was hired to oversee quality operations and instructed to be a document control manager, the person responsible for overseeing audits. This was required by all parts manufactured for SpaceX, the complaint said. SpaceX's subcontractor "physically examined the products and certified all processes were properly conducted," the complaint continued. He worked specifically on contracts for SpaceX, which has produced the Falcon launch vehicle series and the Dragon spacecraft line. Both deliver payloads into orbit for NASA, the Air Force, other government agencies and some private companies. SQA Services, a SpaceX subcontractor, "provides multiple quality assurance functions within the aerospace and defense manufacturing industries," a release said. In January 2018, an internal audit by SQA, which was ordered by SpaceX, found a number of instances of falsified source inspection reports and non-destructive testing certifications from PMI for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy flight critical parts, the criminal complaint alleges. Representatives from SpaceX then told PMI of the issues. Smalley told investigators he forged the signatures of at least three SQA employees, the complaint said. He also used their quality stamps without permission. Smalley admitted he didn't sign the signatures himself or use their quality stamps. Instead, he used his company-issued laptop to "copy and paste the signatures and stamps onto the falsified source inspection reports," the complaint said. Then on Feb. 16, 2018, the NASA Launch Services Program alerted NASA's Office of Inspector General about the forged reports from PMI. Some of the reports were linked to space launch vehicle components that were to be used for an upcoming mission, which launched from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 18, 2018. Seven NASA space flight missions, two Air Force space missions, and one National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space flight mission were identified as impacted by parts purchased by SpaceX from PMI. SpaceX then ended its partnership with PMI and PMI subsequently closed. That resulted in 35 people losing their jobs, the complaint said. When one of his bosses asked him why he allegedly did this, Smalley said that "he wanted to ship more product for the company," the complaint said. "The success of America's reinvigorated space program depends not just on American ingenuity but on American integrity as well," U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy said in a release. "Such fraudulent conduct jeopardizes no only the success of the program but the lives of the brave men and women who rely on the integrity of not just the space vehicles themselves but all those who help to design and build them." Smalley is scheduled to make an initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Rochester. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/22/spacex-nasa-james-smalley-forged- inspection-reports-rocket-parts/1199009001/ Curt Lewis