July 23, 2020 - No. 054 In This Issue Digital Aircraft Maintenance Solution Provider AerinX Accelerates its Market Entry with VC Investment Executive trio donates corporate aircraft to Penn College VSE Aviation Announces Distribution Agreement with Honeywell Aerospace CL605 Gets Upgrade, 48-month Check at DC Aviation High Demand for Constant Aviation AOG Services Mirrors Business Aviation Recovery Skyservice Expands MRO Service Offering by becoming an Authorized Dealer ATSB CRITICISES MAINTENANCE COMPANY OVER FATAL R22 CRASH Safety of Flight messages save lives Meridian FBOs Recognized as Safety 1st Clean Certified Falcon 900EX EASy Loses Weight While Gaining Seats With Creative Customization SpaceX and NASA target September for first operational astronaut crew launch Digital Aircraft Maintenance Solution Provider AerinX Accelerates its Market Entry with VC Investment Budapest, 21nd July 2020 - Takarék Venture Capital Fund I. managed by Dutch-Hungarian VC company DBH Investment has invested EUR 2 million into Budapest-based AerinX in a Pre-Series A round. The company develops and provides digital aircraft maintenance solutions. AerinX plans to enter international markets with its highly innovative mixed reality (MR) system for the external inspection and maintenance of aircraft and other aerial vehicles early next year. Budapest-based AerinX develops innovative hi-tech solutions assisting with external surface checks and the conduct of related maintenance of aircraft. The company's first product is a mixed reality (MR)-based aircraft inspection system that supports the work of professionals with external surface inspection of airplanes and other aircrafts, together with the related maintenance tasks. The system, which significantly accelerates workflows, is already being used in test phase since the beginning of this year by Aeroplex of Central Europe, which is one the largest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) companies in Central Europe. Takarék Venture Capital Fund I., which is a member of one of Hungary's largest financial services provider, Takarék Group, has invested EUR 2 million of venture capital into AerinX in a Pre-Series A round. With the investment, the company is going to significantly accelerate its technological research and development as well as business development activities to enter international markets. Besides Aeroplex, other major international aircraft maintenance companies are starting to use AerinX's MR system soon within the frameworks of the company's Early Adopter Program. "Takarék Venture Capital Fund sees huge potential in the smart aircraft inspection system developed by AerinX, which absolutely fits into the major digitalization processes currently affecting the aircraft industry worldwide. In our opinion, the company will be able to gain significant market share in the aircraft maintenance industry, achieving a dominant position among technologies emerging" - underlined Marcell Horváth, CEO of DBH Investment, fund management company of Takarék Venture Capital Fund. "With the venture capital investment received from Takarék Group, we hope to accelerate market entry planned for early 2021. In the coming 6-9 months we are going to continue our R&D activity to finetune and extend the functionality of our smart aircraft inspection system. We are especially glad, that over the past year we managed to grow the company valuation of AerinX significantly, which was acclaimed by Takarék Group with its investment" - Antal Bence Kiss, Co-Founder and CEO of AerinX added. X-Ventures Gamma Venture Capital Fund increased capital in AerinX in an earlier seed funding round and maintains its ownership share in the company. AerinX plans to develop further hi-tech software and hardware solutions with the aim of optimizing aircraft maintenance processes. The company also plans a Series A round of funding within the next 12-18 months involving international investors to accelerate international growth. https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/inspection-testing/visual-inspection/press-release/21147156/aerinx-digital-aircraft-maintenance-solution-provider-aerinx-accelerates-its-market-entry-with-vc-investment Back to Top Executive trio donates corporate aircraft to Penn College WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Three partners in a corporate aircraft have donated it to Pennsylvania College of Technology for instructional use in the college's aviation maintenance program. The Bombardier (formerly Canadair) CL-600 Challenger jet, valued at nearly $825,000, is being donated by Ira M. Lubert, Anthony F. Misitano and Judith M. von Seldeneck. Lubert is chairman and co-founder of Independence Capital Partners and Lubert Adler Partners LP, a family of private equity and real estate funds. He also serves on the Penn State Board of Trustees. Misitano is principal, president and chief executive officer of Post Acute Medical LLC, a system of specialty hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient clinics and surgical hospitals in 13 states with corporate offices in Enola. He has also served on the Penn State Altoona Advisory Board. Von Seldeneck, a four-decade pioneer of the executive search industry, is the founder and chair of Diversified Search, a senior-level executive talent search firm headquartered in Philadelphia. "The donation of this long-range business jet aircraft is a boon to our aviation maintenance program, its students and faculty," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "We are most grateful for this instructional resource that will offer state-of-the-art, hands-on learning opportunities to our students for many years to come." "We are so grateful to Mr. Lubert, Mr. Misitano and Ms. von Seldeneck for their incredible generosity," said Loni N. Kline, vice president for college relations. "Their significant donation creates immediate impact for the long-term, enhanced instruction of our students." Brett A. Reasner, assistant dean of transportation technologies, said the aircraft will provide a significant instructional benefit to Penn College's aviation students. "This special aircraft will serve as a superb educational resource for students in our aviation programs within the School of Engineering Technologies," Reasner said. "The complex flight controls, hydraulics, electrical, Wi-Fi and other systems will enable hands-on learning in areas that could only be simulated in some cases. As a result of this generous donation, current and next generations of students will be better prepared for productive careers in the aviation industry." The CL-600 Challenger is an executive class, multiengine, turbofan-powered jet aircraft manufactured from 1978-83 in Canada by Canadair Ltd. With a typical passenger seating capacity of nine to 12, the CL-600 Challenger was designed and built as the company's initial entry into the growing, large-size business jet marketplace. During its six years of production, 85 CL-600 Challenger aircraft were built and delivered to customers worldwide. The CL-600 Challenger design has since evolved to larger aircraft and is the foundation of Canadair's Regional Jet (CRJ), which is now owned by Bombardier. Penn College offers a bachelor of science degree in aviation maintenance technology, an associate of applied science degree in aviation technology and a certificate in aviation maintenance technician. Aviation instruction is offered at the college's Lumley Aviation Center near the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville. To learn more, visit www.pct.edu/aviation. For more about giving to the college, visit www.pct.edu/give or call 570-320-8020 or 866-GIVE-2-PC. Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State and a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222. https://news.psu.edu/story/626548/2020/07/22/executive-trio-donates-corporate-aircraft-penn-college Back to Top VSE Aviation Announces Distribution Agreement with Honeywell Aerospace ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC), a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for land, sea and air transportation assets for government and commercial markets, today announced that its VSE Aviation subsidiary has entered into an exclusive, two-year distribution agreement with Honeywell Aerospace. Under the terms of the agreement, VSE will be the exclusive distributor of Honeywell's LASEREF IV Inertial Reference System, in addition to its next-generation JetWave satellite communications hardware in both the Americas and Asia Pacific regions. VSE expects to sell system units under both programs beginning in the third quarter 2020. The Honeywell Aerospace LASEREF IV inertial reference system is a navigation device supporting key business and general aviation platforms. LASEREF IV is an all-digital ring laser gyro-based inertial reference system providing ARINC 429 and aircraft standard communication outputs. The LASEREF IV uses the industry standard GG1320 digital gyro across a wide range of aircraft platforms for Bombardier, Hawker, Dassault, Cessna and Gulfstream. Honeywell's JetWave Satellite Communications terminals provide in-flight Ka-band global broadband service. Operating on the Inmarsat Global Express network, the JetWave system is designed to provide seamless, broadband-class data connectivity worldwide. The hardware and network are optimized for mobility, providing an outstanding passenger connectivity experience. As a distributor of JetWave equipment, VSE Aviation supplies Boeing and Airbus business jets in the Americas and Asia Pacific with antennas, antenna controllers, modems and router components hardware. "VSE has served as a trusted supplier of Honeywell systems and components for more than 20 years," stated John Cuomo, President and CEO of VSE Corporation. "This agreement represents a continuation of our long-term partnership, one that ensures that our customers have access to the leading inertial reference systems and in-flight connectivity technology available in the market. We are pleased to support the distribution of these innovative technologies to our global business and general aviation customers." ABOUT VSE CORPORATION VSE is a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services for land, sea and air transportation assets for government and commercial markets. Core services include maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, parts distribution, supply chain management and logistics, engineering support, and consulting and training services for global commercial, federal, military and defense customers. VSE also provides information technology and energy consulting services. For additional information regarding VSE's services and products, visit us at www.vsecorp.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause VSE's actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such statements. Many factors could cause actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance, including, among others, the risk factors described in our reports filed or expected to be filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement or statement of belief speaks only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200721005879/en/VSE-Aviation-Announces-Distribution-Agreement-Honeywell-Aerospace Back to Top CL605 Gets Upgrade, 48-month Check at DC Aviation DC Aviation's maintenance facility at Stuttgart Airport in Germany has completed a 48-month check and upgrade on a Bombardier Challenger 605. In addition to the comprehensive maintenance check, the project included a cabin refurbishment and updates to the Collins Aerospace Pro Line 21 avionics suite, including installation of ADS-B capabilities and implementation of a takeoff safety enhancement system. The work comes as operators in Europe face a December 7 deadline for the installation of ADS-B or development of a plan towards that upgrade. ADS-B already is required in the U.S. and the UAE. DC Aviation provides line and base maintenance services for a range of aircraft types in its 5,000-sq-m hangar at Stuttgart Airport and a 12,500-sq-m facility at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. The maintenance specialist also houses parts inventories and special tooling for certain aircraft, as well as a battery and wheel shop, testing equipment, and a maintenance logistics center. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-07-22/cl605-gets-upgrade-48-month-check-dc-aviation Back to Top High Demand for Constant Aviation AOG Services Mirrors Business Aviation Recovery CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 22, 2020-- As the business aviation industry recovers, aircraft operators are increasingly turning to Constant Aviation's AOG (aircraft on ground) mobile response team to help return idled aircraft to service. That is because aircraft parked for even a few weeks often develop system issues that need to be addressed. Mechanical malfunctions, engine troubles, electrical problems and software glitches are common on aircraft that have been idled, and they must be addressed before passengers can be accepted. While Constant Aviation's AOG technicians are strategically positioned throughout the United States to provide rapid response to most metropolitan areas, they also regularly dispatch to remote locations to assist stranded aircraft like this Embraer Legacy 650E in Cusco, Peru. (Photo: Business Wire) With its nationwide network of mobile technicians that dispatch out of 21 cities, Constant Aviation ensures a rapid response to most metropolitan areas. All tooling and equipment is contained within each Constant Aviation AOG vehicle, so the technician can service an aircraft wherever it might be sitting: at the operator's hangar, at an FBO or out on a ramp. "We've witnessed the business aviation rebound firsthand, and it has been dramatic" said Paul Witt, Constant Aviation Vice President of AOG Line Stations. "As flying has increased, our AOG division has been working at 120 percent capacity. That's a big turnaround from March, when we were working at 30 percent capacity. There have been some significant hot spots where they are spending a lot of time, like the Bay Area, the Southeast and Chicago, and we have added technicians in Teterboro and Portland to help us handle the demand we're seeing in the Northeast and on the West Coast." While these traditional business aviation destinations see the bulk of Constant Aviation's AOG work, technicians are prepared to leave their vehicles behind and fly to remote locations to get the job done. Within the past year, AOG technicians have serviced aircraft stranded as far as Peru, Alaska and the Caribbean. These missions require careful planning and problem solving to transport tooling to and from the worksite and make the repair. "Our experienced technicians love a good challenge," said Witt. "They will come together as a team to find a solution to any situation, and we've seen a lot of unique situations during the coronavirus pandemic. We are hearing from a lot of operators who parked their aircraft in March at resort areas up in the Rockies or down in the Southwest. They know they need to do more than kick the tires and fire the engines, but each aircraft has different return-to-service needs. The AOG division is just a phone call away to assess the situation and help out." Increased Embraer Capabilities Most aircraft maintenance manuals contain recommendations for items to check every two weeks during prolonged parking, along with information about return-to-service after a prolonged time out of operation. Operators should also be aware of any manufacturer service bulletins issued while the aircraft is out of service. Constant Aviation's AOG team increased its capabilities this month by becoming the first provider outside an Embraer service center to acquire the necessary tooling kits to address Embraer's recent service bulletin. Tooling can be shipped overnight anywhere in the country, where it is picked up by an AOG technician en route to an idled aircraft. "We have a longstanding relationship with Embraer and in-house experts with decades of experience on Embraer airframes, so we were able to jump on this service bulletin and quickly act," said Witt. "Embraer is paying for the kits and labor, so all the operator has to do is reach out to the AOG team to schedule a date for the installation." Looking Ahead While the business aviation recovery accelerates, so too will the increase in AOG demand. Witt sees each continuing to trend up over the next few months. "As private aviation operators attract more flyers from the commercial airlines, they are going to find themselves flying more hours to new destinations," he said. "Constant Aviation AOG technicians know the ins and outs of airfields all over the country. They are a 24/7/365 resource anytime you might not be able to fly your aircraft to one of our maintenance hubs." To get a sense for just how busy AOG technicians are, Constant Aviation has a map for that. Visit https://www.constantaviation.com/capabilities/aog-mobile-teams/ to see the location of AOG vehicles in real time. To learn more about technicians available in your region, or to schedule AOG service, call 844-261-7119 or email AOG@ConstantAviation.com. About Constant Aviation Constant Aviation specializes in airframe and engine maintenance, major repairs, avionics, interiors, and paint. In addition, it offers mobile response services through its AOG division, and accessory and composite services through its Nextant Aerospace division. With its expertise in a comprehensive spectrum of business jet airframes, Constant Aviation has raised the bar in aircraft maintenance expectations and has created a one-stop shop experience for customers' business and private jet needs. For more information, please visit www.constantaviation.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. http://baytownsun.com/coronavirus/article_e98faf07-4bac-5cb4-8639-459211c9d447.html Back to Top Skyservice Expands MRO Service Offering by becoming an Authorized Dealer & Certified Installer of Aviation Clean Air (ACA) Solutions MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 21, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada's leader in business aviation, Skyservice Business Aviation, is expanding its MRO service offerings with the addition of Aviation Clean Air's (ACA) surface and air purification and decontamination process. ACAs innovative airborne and surface purification solutions improve air quality throughout the aircraft, kills pathogens like COVID-19, removes allergens and destroys unpleasant odors without the use of harmful chemicals - all of which improve flight safety and passenger health. Skyservice now offers on demand sanitization with ACA portable devices at our Fixed Based Operations (FBO) locations across Canada; including Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. In addition, Skyservice now has the capability of doing on plane permanent installs of the ACA product and is working on a number of Supplemental Type Certificates (STC's) across a variety of Aircraft type. "Passengers and aircraft owners have heightened concerns on the potential health risks in flying. We believe that we have partnered with a company that provides the best product on the market today. The ACA ionizer allows our clients to return back to flying with the confidence that harmful viruses and bacteria have been removed from the surfaces they touch and the air they breathe", comments Emlyn David, President and CEO of Skyservice. The ACA air purification and sanitization process has been tested by Innovative BioAnalysis, the ACA ionizer was effective at rendering harmless the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The lab test showed that 99.4% of the virus particles were inactivated within 30 minutes. Quick installation for clean air across all types of aircraft ACA's airborne ionization product takes approximately 2-5 days to install and costs range based on the number of units needed per size of aircraft. The components are easy to install and have minimal maintenance requirements making it popular for aircraft of all sizes. Skyservice is currently working on a number of Supplemental Type Certificates (STC's) on a wide range of aircraft including the Global 5000, 6000 and classic, Challenger 300/350, Hawker 800 and Falcon 7x. "We are thrilled to be partnering with one of the largest MRO service providers in Canada", stated Howard Hackney, ACA Managing Member. "Our patented Needle Point Bi-polar Ionization (NPBI™) process integrates easily within existing aircraft environment control systems and provide a natural purification process without producing harmful ozone or chemicals - a certified and proven natural cleaning process that works with the environment - not against it". More information on ACA air purification solutions is available at www.aviationcleanair.com/products.html . For inquiries on the ACA air purification, contact Skyservice at ba_maintsales@skyservice.com. About Skyservice Skyservice is Canada's leader in business aviation dedicated to safety and service excellence. With over 30 years of experience, Skyservice leads the Canadian business aviation industry with the best in-class facilities in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Muskoka. Our skilled Maintenance teams, outstanding Fixed Base Operation facilities, first-class Aircraft Management, Charter Services, Aircraft Sales and Acquisition provide our customers with an experience that is truly above and beyond. To learn more, visit www.skyservice.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/skyservice-expands-mro-offering-becoming-143000312.html Back to Top ATSB CRITICISES MAINTENANCE COMPANY OVER FATAL R22 CRASH The ATSB has criticised a Queensland firm for its overhaul of an R22 Beta II that subsequently crashed and killed its pilot. An investigation ruled that Cloncurry Air Maintenance "had not recorded and tracked all maintenance activities" during the earlier 2,200-hour overhaul of the helicopter and had adopted work practices that "increased the risk of memory-related errors and omission". It also blamed a high workload for reducing the chief engineer's "capacity to oversight maintenance activities". Brent Acton died in August 2017 when his helicopter crashed shortly after take-off, seven kilometres north-north-west of Cloncurry Airport. The ATSB believes a key bolt separated because a self-locking nut was missing. Crucially, the trip was the first commercial flight since the maintenance work was carried out. ATSB director transport safety Dr Stuart Godley said, "Different scenarios were examined for the cause of the bolt separation; however, as it was not possible for the helicopter to operate for any length of time without a nut attached to the bolt, it was likely that the nut was not reinstalled or inadequately torqued during the helicopter's recent 2,200-hour overhaul." On the morning of 2 August 2017, the pilot of a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registered VH HGU and operated by Cloncurry Mustering Company, departed Cloncurry Airport, Queensland, on a ferry flight in preparation for an aerial mustering operation. About three minutes after take-off, Acton experienced a loss of control and the helicopter broke-up in-flight. The R22 then hit the ground. The ATSB found the maintenance organisation "adopted a number of work practices that increased the risk of memory-related errors and omissions, including using abbreviated inspection checklists, not recording all flight control disturbances, and not progressively certifying for every inspection item as the work was completed". "This investigation highlights the limitations of verbal communication as a method of explaining and understanding problems and their unreliability as a means for capturing essential tasks over an extended time period," Dr Godley said. "Maintenance organisations are urged to consider the human factors elements associated with their practices, capture them in their documented quality control procedures, and ensure they are complied with." The investigation noted that in the weeks prior to the accident the maintenance company was experiencing a period of very high workload that likely exceeded the workforce's capability and reduced the chief engineer's capacity to oversight maintenance activities. In addition, in the years leading up to the accident, staff changes reduced the maintenance provider's levels of qualifications and experience. The investigation also found the maintenance organisation had limited internal independent oversight and increased reliance on audits for the evaluation of its quality performance. "Audits are essential for independently verifying the effectiveness of an organisation's processes and procedures. This accident reinforces the importance of auditors inspecting the evidence collected during an audit to ascertain whether the requirements are being met, specifically conformance with the relevant standards," Dr Godley said. "Audits may also be used to identify potential underlying human factors issues, which may be raised as an observation or opportunity for improvement to inform the auditee of best industry practices." The ATSB said Cloncurry Air Maintenance has since improved its practices, which has included progressive certification for tasks, adopting the helicopter manufacturer's checklists for their inspections, removing all untracked MS-series self-locking nuts from stores, and completing inspections of the flight controls on all the Cloncurry Mustering Company helicopters with nil defects reported. In March 2019, the ATSB issued a safety advisory notice advising all maintenance staff working on Robinson helicopters to ensure that before re-using a self-locking nut, the correct part number is fitted, and that the D210-series corrosion-resistant nuts are used for reassembly of critical fasteners in accordance with the Robinson Helicopter Company instructions for continued airworthiness. Australian Aviation has approached Cloncurry Air Maintenance for comment. Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell paid tribute to Acton shortly after his death. "I am sure I can speak for the Cloncurry community, grazing and aviation industries when I say Brent is going to be greatly missed," he said. "His family will be supported in whatever ways are needed." https://australianaviation.com.au/2020/07/atsb-criticises-maintenance-company-over-fatal-r22-crash/ Back to Top Safety of Flight messages save lives When aircraft artisans at Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas, recently identified a non-conforming honeycomb seal in a Black Hawk engine, it set in motion a series of events designed to keep the Army's Black Hawk and Apache fleets safe from a potentially devastating mechanical failure. Initial efforts to isolate the faulty component led U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command aviation safety specialists to work with the Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) to conduct a hazard assessment of the situation. "Because of the potential for in-flight engine failure, members from AMCOM, AvMC and Program Executive Office-Aviation worked together to generate a Safety of Flight (SOF) message for the entire Army Aviation enterprise," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Cavaco, AMCOM's Aviation Branch Maintenance Officer. Safety of Flight messages are high-priority notifications pertaining to any defect or hazardous condition of an Army-fielded system that can cause personal injury, death, or damage to the system. SOF messages can restrict specific performance capabilities, operational limits, or require immediate maintenance actions for a variety of reasons that could include material defect conditions. Depending on the severity of the defect, the entire fleet or a portion of the fleet could be grounded. "When the non-conforming seal fails, other internal engine components overheat and will eventually fail, potentially resulting in a catastrophic event," said CCDC AvMC senior engineer Keith Jones. In the event that a safety message is issued requiring the grounding of aircraft, the already heavy maintenance workload increases due to the urgency of the situation. The process of crafting the safety message is important and involves collaboration between subject matter experts to ensure the maintainers receive a clear message. Those developing safety messages must also consider the additional maintenance burden is minimized in the field and the corrective action the maintainers take is effective in getting the fleet back to a high state of safety and readiness. "The SOF message process averted at least one mishap this summer," said Kevin Pulliam, Tech Chief, T700/T55 Product Office, Aviation Turbine Engines Project Office. Whether you write the SOF message or read the SOF message, these are some of the most important words you may touch in your career." In this case, a non-conforming seal assembly was identified and a message requiring immediate action was sent out to Army Aviation units. The SOF required the removal and disassembly of the suspect engines for visual inspection and repair (if needed) before the aircraft could be returned to flying status. Because of this SOF, a number of suspect parts were found. According to Cavaco, although numerous engines had to be inspected, it was worth the effort to find the suspect seals. By going through the clearly defined SOF message process in accordance with AR 750-6, Army Equipment Safety and Maintenance Notification, the hard work and effort expended across the Black Hawk and Apache maintenance crews to quickly comply with this SOF message averted what could have been a catastrophic event had an engine failed in flight. "The emergency SOF message is a critical force protection measure to forestall a potential catastrophe. The SOF process is essential for continued airworthiness of Army aircraft." said CCDC AvMC's Director for Airworthiness, Keith Darrow. Editor's note: Whether a message is issued for information that may assist in system operation, a required special maintenance action to enable aircraft performance, or for an immediate intervention that could potentially save lives, the importance of communicating and executing through this process is clear. Feedback on how to improve the process is welcome. All comments related to improving the safety message process can be directed to the AMCOM Safety point of contact on any recently issued safety or maintenance message. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/374436/safety-flight-messages-save-lives Back to Top Meridian FBOs Recognized as Safety 1st Clean Certified Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that it has received Safety 1st Clean registration from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) for both its Teterboro (TEB) and Hayward (HWD) FBO facilities. The recognition demonstrates Meridian's commitment to following best practices and guidelines from both the NATA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) around cleaning, disinfecting and hygiene, as well as ongoing education and training. In addition, conformance to the Safety 1st Clean standard requires that the organization have a Hazard Communication Plan in place, which Meridian already does as part of its IS-BAH accreditation. "NATA developed the Safety 1st Clean standard to provide general guidance on facility cleaning, disinfecting and facility operations in response to the pandemic," said Carlos Rodriguez, HWD General Manager. "While we were already aggressively following best practices and guidelines, as well as our own strict procedures, it is important that we demonstrate our conformance and commitment to the highest possible standards to our customers, employees and the public at large. Earning the Safety 1st Clean standard lets customers know they can expect the best and safest protocols when they come to Meridian." A complete list of Safety 1st Clean FBOs is on the NATA website. Meridian has been a participant in NATA's overall Safety 1st program for over 20 years. While the Safety 1st program actually certifies individuals at the locations, as part of the Safety 1st Qualified location program, FBOs and ground handlers that consistently maintain their employee's training status are recognized as Safety 1st certified. Meridian is proud to be consistently rated Safety 1st. Meridian TEB and HWD are also International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) accredited for adherence to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices in the preparation of handling business aircraft. The standard was designed to promote the use of industry best practices blended through a progressive Safety Management System (SMS) for FBOs and Business Aircraft Handling Agencies. Both FBOs currently hold IS-BAH Stage 1 certification. Achieving industry recognition offers added benefits beyond demonstrating Meridian's commitment to excellence and safety, notes Victor Rodriguez, TEB Line Service & FBO Safety Training Coordinator/Interim Line Service Manager, who spearheaded TEB's registration efforts for both IS-BAH and Safety 1st Clean. "These standards help us with the overall framework to benchmark our efforts and measure overall performance," he states. "It ensures we are following the guidelines, meeting and exceeding requirements and maintaining the highest standards." Customers with maintenance or detailing needs can expect the same level of safety and cleanliness at the Meridian Jet Center in Teterboro. The full-service maintenance facility is an FAA Part 145 and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified repair station, as well as an authorized Honeywell Service Center. Meridian's in-house detailing team currently provides multiple layers of disinfecting and cleaning services to protect travelers as well as our own personnel. In addition to decontaminating the aircraft with our ionization unit, they also clean the entire aircraft interior by wiping down and disinfecting all areas, followed by a long-lasting anti-microbial barrier treatment. Meridian is proud to strictly adhere to comprehensive protocols as well as those outlined by the Safety 1st Clean standard. https://www.aviationpros.com/fbos-tenants/press-release/21147084/meridian-meridian-fbos-recognized-as-safety-1st-clean-certified Back to Top Falcon 900EX EASy Loses Weight While Gaining Seats With Creative Customization LINCOLN, NEB - Duncan Aviation faced a challenge to significantly reduce the overall weight of a customer's Falcon 900EX EASy aircraft while increasing passenger capacity. During a pre-buy inspection at Duncan Aviation's MRO facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, a customer requested his 14-seat Falcon 900EX EASy be reconfigured to sit 17 comfortably. He also wanted the aircraft's overall weight to drop so future round-trip flights could be completed with no fuel stops. The final design, created by Duncan Aviation Aircraft Designer Ken Reita, required an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) and the expert help of several others to complete. Reita and Senior Duncan Aviation Completions Sales Rep Suzanne Hawes met daily with team members from Engineering, Airframe, Interior, and Customer Service to discuss ideas and compare notes. "We regularly updated detailed spreadsheets with the weight of every single item, including coffee containers and life rafts, on that aircraft. We even took out the carpet and weighed it!" says Hawes. "We pored over that interior, coming up with savings, ounce by ounce." The team switched out the seat and divan frames for lighter alternatives, removed a pocket door, installed thinner carpet, and replaced the stone countertops in the galley cabinet with sleek, lightweight laminate. They also saved 50 pounds by swapping out the insulation in the headliner. The team ultimately fit 17 seats comfortably in the cabin and shaved 374 pounds from the aircraft's weight! In addition to the pre-buy and complicated reconfiguration, Duncan Aviation performed an airframe 2-C inspection, EASy II avionics upgrade, and complete paint. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21147001/duncan-aviation-falcon-900ex-easy-loses-weight-while-gaining-seats-with-creative-customization Back to Top SpaceX and NASA target September for first operational astronaut crew launch SpaceX and NASA are aiming to launch the first official operational mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon human-rated spacecraft sometime in September, the agency revealed via a media update this week. The launch had been tracking towards an August date, but the updated timeframe indicates "late September," allowing time for the completion of the current Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission which will see astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley return to Earth using the SpaceX spacecraft potentially as early as August 1. The Demo-2 mission, while it carried actual astronauts to the International Space Station, is actually the final step in the test and development phase of human-rating Crew Dragon and Falcon 9, meaning that they'll then be qualified for regular service transporting astronauts in the eyes of NASA. Crew-1 is the first operational mission, meaning the first considered a standard part of SpaceX's contract to provide regular astronaut transportation. Crew-1 is set to carry three NASA astronauts, including Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, to the ISS, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi. The launch will take place from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and will deliver the astronauts to the Space Station for a full-length stay, during which time they'll work with their international peers on various experiments and research for both NASA and partners. There are of course some dependencies here that are required for Crew-1 to take place by the end of September, including the successful return of Hurley and Behnken from the ISS. That part of the Demo-2 mission needs to go smoothly in order to complete SpaceX's certification process, and will require retrospective study by NASA to confirm smoother operation, which takes some time. Behnken and Hurley have just completed another key test for the Crew Dragon while docked at the ISS, called a "habitability assessment," involving opening and closing the docking hatch, making sure they can operate the waste system as intended, and moving cargo back into Crew Dragon from the Station. All of this is checking off requirements on the long list of items NASA requires for its certification. https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/23/spacex-and-nasa-target-september-for-first-operational-astronaut-crew-launch/ Curt Lewis