August 26, 2021 - No. 66 In This Issue : DGCA proposes testing aviation personnel for substance abuse : Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance opens new HQ at BG Airport : FEAM Adds Technology Advances to Combat Staffing Shortages : TMx Aero Adds Falcon 50, Hawker 800 to Mx Capabilities : ATP, Flightdocs Plan Further Growth with New Investment : FG, Hungarian Firm Partner on Aircraft Assembly Plant in Nigeria : Cabin case study : Astronics enters innovation collaboration with Aerotec Concept : Ford, House Committees to Push Trade School Investment in Illinois : 'Revive Design Awards' challenges professional designers and students to reimagine luxury jet interiors : SpaceX paused Starlink launches to give its internet satellites lasers DGCA proposes testing aviation personnel for substance abuse NEW DELHI : In a first of its kind, the Indian civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a draft procedure for examination of aviation personnel and crew members, for consumption of psychoactive substances, and sought comments from stakeholders over the next 30 days before implementing them as regulation. At present, aviation personnel are examined by breath analysers to check alcohol content in their bodies before commencing on flight duties. According to the draft regulation, all scheduled commercial aircraft operators and air navigation service (ANS) providers shall carryout, random drug testing for the consumption of psychoactive substances of flight crew members and air traffic controllers employed by them respectively at the facilities established by them using the services of an appropriate laboratory. "The medical personnel of the concerned organization shall associate during this process. This programme shall ensure that at least 5% of the employees of an organization, as mentioned in para 4.1 of the Civil Aviation Requirements, are covered in a year," it added. A copy of the draft regulation has been reviewed by Mint. The draft regulation also encourages airlines, air navigation service (ANS) providers, and flight training organizations (FTO) to conduct random drug testing of their employees and trainee pilots. Airlines, ANS providers, and FTOs will also need to ensure that flight crew member, air traffic control officers, aircraft maintenance engineers, certifying staff, trainee pilots, instructors and examiners are tested for detection of drug abuse, drug dependence and addiction before employment, and follow up testing of confirmed cases. All positive cases will have to be reported to DGCA headquarters within 24 hours and employees with positive cases shall be subjected to a rehabilitation process by the organization before returning to active duty. The testing process will include psychoactive substances like amphetamine, methamphtamine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, barbiturates, benzodizipine and MDMA/ecstasy, DGCA said in the draft document. "Testing will be done on urine samples collected from the randomly selected employees," DGCA said. "In case the screening test is positive, the employee shall be immediately removed from the safety sensitive duty till a confirmatory report is received," it said adding that in case a person refuses for the test on second occasion or is tested positive after first occasion of refusal for testing, his or her license shall be suspended for a period of three years and any subsequent violation shall lead to the cancellation of license. https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/dgca-proposes-to-examine-aviation-personnel-for-consumption-of-psychoactive-substances-11629898667395.html Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance opens new HQ at BG Airport LEXINGTON, Ky. — A homegrown Kentucky company is expanding in the commonwealth. Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its new consolidated headquarters operation at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, a project creating up to 47 full-time jobs over the next three years with an $800,000 investment. The new location consolidates TAM’s existing presence at Blue Grass Airport, where it has operated since 2018 when the company acquired Mustang Aviation. TAM maintains and services all inbound and departing commercial flights in Lexington, currently employing 18 people. Company leaders expect the new operation to add 10 positions over the next 12 months, with targeted employment of 65 full-time staff members within three years. Jobs created by this project include aircraft technicians, sheet metal specialists, avionics, and administrative positions. TAM recently partnered with Bluegrass Community & Technical College to capitalize on its apprenticeship program and create a local talent pipeline. The company’s new headquarters at the Blue Grass Airport is in addition to locations in Richmond and the Big Sandy Regional Airport in Martin County, which opened in 2017. TAM also maintains a facility at the Huntington Tri-State Airport in West Virginia and on-call facilities in Danville and Somerset. Founded in 1988 as Thoroughbred Helicopters, TAM has grown to include maintenance of aircraft from small Cessna planes to corporate jets, and helicopters from the helicycle to an AS365 N3 Airbus medium utility helicopter. TAM provides avionics installation, repair and inspections, aircraft painting, interiors, airframe repair, and other services for government aircraft and law enforcement agencies, as well as corporate and privately owned aircraft. In 2017, TAM secured two five-year contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to upgrade and maintain two Airbus H120 utility helicopters, along with contracts with numerous other federal, state, and local government agencies in Kentucky and surrounding states. For more information on Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance, visit TBAMKY.com. https://www.lanereport.com/145814/2021/08/thoroughbred-aviation-maintenance-cuts-ribbon-on-headquarters-at-bg-airport/ FEAM Adds Technology Advances to Combat Staffing Shortages FEAM is a leading MRO with a diversified portfolio including line maintenance, base maintenance, on-wing AOG support, technical services and technical training. As an airline MRO, FEAM Maintenance & Engineering continually develops a unique portfolio of emerging technology, know-how and capabilities reflected in its development of a wide range of service offerings to its customers. Most recently, FEAM incorporated several new technologies to improve airline operating performance and overcome the current challenges of the industry including a widespread shortage of maintenance technicians. Many of these technological advances are scalable, but these large-scale changes require global understanding, technical and engineering capability, exceptional change agent management for developing new technology, and associated new practices and cultural reorganization within aircraft OEMs, operators and MROs. Chris Stanley, director of technical services, said, “The aviation industry is on a very fast pace to modernize fleets, and technological advances are leading to major changes in how modern aircrafts are maintained and repaired. This innovation is resulting in a large-scale paradigm shift in flight and maintenance operations, and FEAM continues to revolutionize MRO and share value-adding, emerging technology to support our customer base.” Notable technological advancements within FEAM’s operation include: Advanced Charlie Works Training in partnership with Boeing – FEAM completed advanced Charlie Works training on over 20 advanced proactive maintenance and troubleshooting tools and best practices respective to critical ATAs. These advanced tools and techniques are updated respectively in the AMMs & Fault Isolation Manuals (FIMs) practices of fleets such as the Boeing B737/B757/B767 and newer production models. Integration of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 with Virtual Tech Assist – FEAM is investing and deploying AR smart glasses to work directly with its customer base under a Virtual Tech Assist program. A remote expert can use a laptop, desktop or smart device connected to FEAM’s technical staff on-wing using the HoloLens 2 to share real-time views. Tech data is delivered by experts, and augmented reality allows the user to paste and pin highlighted schematics, wiring diagrams and illustrated parts in place. This technology is also providing a solution to the widespread industry shortage of maintenance technicians. FEAM Teams up with GASTOPS to offer ChipCHECK – FEAM has teamed up with GASTOPS to offer ChipCHECK, a portable debris analyzer for immediate “GO/NO GO'' decision support within minutes. The ChipCHECK maintenance tool employs innovative alloy identification spectroscopy technology to analyze chip detector debris and enables FEAM Line Maintenance with reliable at-line field deployable support to automatically determine the alloy classification and size of each individual particle. This information empowers the onsite team to make the appropriate maintenance decision immediately, eliminating the need to remove the equipment from service prematurely or hold the equipment while waiting several days for laboratory results. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21235744/feam-maintenance-engineering-feam-adds-technology-advances-to-combat-staffing-shortage TMx Aero Adds Falcon 50, Hawker 800 to Mx Capabilities TMx Aero, a Fort Pierce, Florida-based business jet MRO, has added the Dassault Falcon 50 and Hawker 800 to its repair station capabilities, bringing its total to 24 regional and business jet and turboprop types. This list also includes the Bombardier Challenger 600-series and Global 5000/6000 and Gulfstream G550/V/V-SP and G450/IV/IV-SP. According to TMx, there are more than 300 Falcon 50s and 400 Hawker 800s in the active fleet. “Today, we are able to service customers flying these two aircraft types, adding them to our ever-growing capabilities list,” said TMx CEO Travis Stein. A few years ago, TMx began a transition from being a regional airline to being a business aviation MRO and an FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada repair station. “We have a robust rotables department, allowing us to expedite AOG issues, as well as regularly scheduled maintenance, keeping aircraft in the air while also keeping within the client’s budget," Stein added. TMx's additional capabilities come following a redesign of the company’s website and brand, Stein added. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-08-25/tmx-aero-adds-falcon-50-hawker-800-mx-capabilities ATP, Flightdocs Plan Further Growth with New Investment A little more than a year after acquiring Flightdocs, aviation software and information service provider ATP said it has received a “significant growth investment” from private equity firm Accel-KKR (AKKR), hastening ATP’s growth including through mergers and acquisitions. Accel-KKR partnered with ATP owner and investor ParkerGale on the Flightdocs acquisition last June. “Since AKKR’s initial investment in the company, we have seen up-close the sizable opportunities for ATP together with Flightdocs, and for the aviation software industry at large,” said AKKR managing director Dean Jacobson. “Our new investment today represents a strong continued vote of confidence in ATP, and in the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the aviation software industry at large.” ATP completed the integration of its products with Flightdocs’s maintenance-tracking platform last fall, enabling Flightdocs users to link to the ATP Aviation Hub that comprises more than 1,700 technical publications from 90 original equipment manufacturers, as well as FAA and EASA regulatory documents. “In our 50 years, we have a singular mission to make aviation safer and more reliable through innovative maintenance and diagnostic solutions,” said ATP CEO Rick Noble. “Now with the additional investment and resources from Accel-KKR, along with the continued support from ParkerGale, the company is ready to write its next chapter, which is to harness its product leadership for accelerated growth.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-08-26/atp-flightdocs-plan-further-growth-new-investment FG, Hungarian Firm Partner on Aircraft Assembly Plant in Nigeria The federal government through the Ministry of Aviation has expressed its readiness to partner the Magnus aircraft manufacturing industry in Hungary to establish an assembly plant and commence complete manufacturing of aircraft in Nigeria before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this interest when he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary. Sirika in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, Mr. James Odaudu, explained that: “If we venture we them, we may start with assembling plant and later manufacturing.” He added that the Magnus aircraft is an aeroplane good for military training, stating that: “It has an aerobatic maneuver and is made of fully composite materials; high strength and very lightweight.” According to him, “Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are also performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport.” The minister further said he was very satisfied with the features and more than willing to facilitate the production of the airplanes in Nigeria, saying: “One of the significant features of the Magnus aircraft is that it uses normal car petrol and outperforms any training aircraft of its kind.” Sirika, who was at the facility on the invitation of the company, said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer would be subjected to further analysis to verify the market and government willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics. He emphasised that the local production of aircraft in the country would facilitate the growth of Nigeria, as a regional aviation super power as it will also come with maintenance and repair facilities that will attract patronage from neighbouring countries. The minister further stated that the present administration has created an attractive environment for international investors in Nigeria, especially in the aviation sector, with the ongoing implementation of the development roadmap which places emphasis on public-private partnerships (PPP). https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/08/25/fg-hungarian-firm-partner-on-aircraft-assembly-plant-in-nigeria/ Cabin case study Launched in 2019, Cabin Management Solutions (CMS) is a small, privately held in-flight cabin management and entertainment systems company in Texas, USA. CMS works with aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies and private owners to design and develop cabin control and entertainment systems for luxury private and business jets. The company was founded to provide a cost-effective, quick-turn alternative to the long lead times and high costs associated with cabin management maintenance, upgrades, and replacements. Though CMS is relatively new, its two founders, Jeff Pike and Jeff McCormick, each have over 25 years of experience in the avionics industry. The challenge CMS is often asked to replace or repair ageing cabin systems in luxury jets. Many projects involve discontinued parts and components originally produced by now-defunct manufacturers. The majority of these projects require CMS to create low-volume, high-value parts from scratch. Specific items can range from overhead reading lights, thermostats, panel switches, USB chargers, in-seat entertainment screens, and everything in-between. Many of these completed parts will be visible to the naked eye, so retaining and maintaining their upscale aesthetics is almost as important as ensuring functionality. One-off projects can be time- and labour-intensive to manufacture. They are also fairly complex as they often involve fitting new designs into pre-existing layouts. It’s not unusual for customer requests to change mid-production. As such, the CMS team frequently needs to be prepared for last-minute, on-the-fly modifications. Most importantly, all aircraft materials and parts must be thoroughly tested and traceable to qualify for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval. “Markforged printers have helped us get to the point where we can compete with the big companies in this industry,” says Jeff Pike, Vice President of Engineering Cabin Management Solutions. The CMS team designed and 3D printed hundreds of parts for a single aircraft. CMS has been electroplating custom decretive bezels made from Markforged Onyx FR with continuous carbon fibre. All parts and materials used on any aircraft must be FAA compliant and approved before they can be installed. The solution Soon after CMS opened its doors in 2019, the team purchased two Markforged industrial X7 3D printers. They immediately saw the value of 3D printing when compared with conventional manufacturing and materials. Additive manufacturing made it possible for CMS to keep the majority of its operation in-house rather than outsourcing production, as so often happens when using traditional methods. This has been hugely beneficial to the company in terms of the number of jobs it takes on and the speed at which it is able to complete them. CMS prints all of its parts on the two Markforged X7 printers using Onyx FR, a certified UL 94 V-0 rated flame-retardant nylon filled with chopped carbon fibre. With this, CMS delivers custom parts, such as in-flight entertainment retrofits, that are high-strength, low-weight and flame-retardant. To meet the specific demands of its luxury-oriented customers, the team then adds an extra level of customisation via overlays that mimic upscale cabin surfaces including gold electroplating, wood veneer, and more. This ensures the end product is FAA compliant while going above and beyond customer aesthetics and expectations. On one jet in particular, the CMS team printed at least 100 different parts using the X7. This included roughly 29 light switch panels, a cabin climate controller, latches, release buttons, USB-C and drop-in USB-A chargers, adjustable touch screen brackets, and more. The majority of those printed parts were then electroplated with gold-plated bezels to match the pre-existing interior design of the cabin. This resulted in more durable parts that looked and felt as upscale as the originals. “In the aerospace industry, quality and on-the-fly adaptability are crucial to success. Markforged more than delivers on both fronts,” says Pike The future CMS has big plans for the future, especially with Markforged’s recent release of two new materials: Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fibre FR-A. Both materials come with full material traceability and are undergoing qualification on the Markforged X7 printer via a programme conducted by the National Centre for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP), one of two bodies authorised by the FAA to qualify materials for flight. Once this process is complete, CMS will be able to increase its overall production speed, which will result in adding even more jobs to its already expanding pipeline. https://www.engineerlive.com/content/cabin-case-study Astronics enters innovation collaboration with Aerotec Concept USA-based Aerospace technologies provider, Astronics Corporation, has signed a cooperation agreement with Aerotec Concept, a production, design and maintenance organisation based in Toulouse, France. The agreement is intended to open up new opportunities for both companies to market a wider range of new technologies, applications and/or modifications requiring EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) certifications. A particular advantage for Astronics is that it will gain the means to expand its design, development, analysis, substantiation, certification, kitting and manufacturing capabilities further into the European aerospace market. Astronics and Aerotec have collaborated in the past, including qualification of The Edge, Astronics’ fully scalable Cabin Network IFE Platform, and the certification of large radome installations and power systems for portable electronic devices. “Given the success we’ve had to date on multiple projects completed in partnership with Aerotec, we are pleased to formalise our future collaboration through a mutually beneficial cooperative agreement,” stated Mike Kuehn, president of Astronics CSC. “Aerotec’s expertise in testing, engineering and certification, along with our integrated connectivity and data solutions, make this an exciting partnership, and we look forward to supporting the European market as it continues to recover from the impact of Covid-19.” Johan Clochet, CEO of Aerotec added, “Astronics’ innovative cabin connectivity products and solutions are a great complement to our highly skilled abilities in aeronautics design, certification, manufacturing and maintenance. We believe that together we are in a great position to serve both EASA and FAA customers.” https://www.aircraftinteriorsinternational.com/news/industry-news/astronics-enters-innovation-collaboration-with-aerotec-concept.html Ford, House Committees to Push Trade School Investment in Illinois As part of efforts to emphasize the need to reinvest in trade schools, State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, led a joint hearing of the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee and House Higher Education Committee on Monday, virtually and in-person at the Bilandic Building in Chicago. Ford believes that traditional educational system leaves too many people behind and locks them out of the mainstream economy. Therefore, his goal is to connect students to new opportunities that give people hope and can end the ongoing violence in Chicago. “Just in the last week, I was able to tour an aviation trade school in Chicago – the Aviation Institute of Maintenance – that trains mechanics for United, American, Southwest, and also meet with an Illinois trade school – Escoffier School of Culinary Arts – which is headquartered in Schaumburg and trains chefs and culinary professionals,” Ford said. “Trade schools should be a foundational part of our education system, opening doors for young adults to pursue well-paying careers in demand.” Ford notes that Illinois had a long tradition of effective vocational schools, including Chicago’s Washburne Trade School, which served to train thousands of skilled workers through a public-private partnership with public educators, building contractors and trade unions. Monday’s hearing will discuss the possibility of how Illinois can reinstitute trade schools and reengage young adults to consider a trade career. http://www.lawndalenews.com/2021/08/ford-house-committees-to-push-trade-school-investment-in-illinois/ 'Revive Design Awards' challenges professional designers and students to reimagine luxury jet interiors Dubai, United Arab, Emirates: Camber Aviation Management, a leading global provider of corporate jet cabin completion management and advisory services, in cooperation with Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has announced the date for the grand finale of their first ever luxury aircrafts interior awards, highlighting state-of-the-art design and functionality to the world’s finest pre-owned private jets. The Revive Design Awards will spark new interest, revealing what is possible when fresh ideas and energy are brought to private jet cabin design. Innovative designer solutions will challenge the very concept of what is “NEW and FRESH”. This competition is a unique opportunity to gather experienced and up-and-coming designers to express their ideas and creativity on a truly inspiring project. Camber Aviation Management and Boeing Business Jets will host the Revive Design Awards gala in Dubai on 13 November, the final day of the Dubai Design Week. The awards will provide an inspiring event to help kickoff private aviation’s participation in the next day’s Dubai Air Show. Camber Aviation Management and BBJ have teamed up with the most promising professional designers and design schools in the world for a unique challenge: to take a previous generation interior and revive it into a stunning new private jet cabin worthy of the most selective private jet owners. Each design concept will be presented live, for the first time, to the invited guests in Dubai and to the audience watching on social media around the world. A jury composed of respected experts from the industry will select the best design in two categories; one from professional designers, and one from design schools. The audience, both “live” and through social media will select their favourites – as will the experienced panel of judges. The winner for “Best cabin design” for each of the two categories will be awarded at the gala event in Dubai. This award aspires to become an annual event relevant both for the business aviation industry and contemporary industrial design. Following this announcement, Camber’s CEO, Tom Chatfield, stated: “We are incredibly excited to partner with BBJ to present the first annual Revive Design Awards. This will be one of the first major aviation events in almost two years. We are gathering competitors, jury members, organisers, and guests together at a truly memorable location, to unveil some of what promises to be the most innovative contemporary cabin design solutions seen. This event will excite our industry and give current and future BBJ owners a glimpse into the art of the possible in the world’s most exclusive business jet. This award is only the beginning”. “Boeing Business Jets is delighted to participate in the Revive Awards project,” said Alexis Fecteau, the Global Director of Marketing at Boeing Business Jets and Director of Sales for Boeing’s largest region centered in the Middle East. “At BBJ, we constantly seek to support the new ideas and new talent that keep our business aviation industry at the forefront of innovation. With the Revive initiative, design students and up-and-coming designers can bring these new “out-of-the-box” ideas to life and share a fresh vision of what the most advanced interior business jet environments should look like for 2021 and beyond.” About Camber Aviation Management: Camber Aviation Management is a leader in creating custom-designed, unique world-class corporate and private aircraft. We deliver exceptional quality, style, and service to our exclusive clientele. Each member of our team has been involved with corporate aircraft for a minimum of fifteen years and is a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer and/or holds an advanced aviation degree. Together, we have over 135 years of aviation experience that we apply to turn our client’s vision into their own corporate jet. About Boeing Business Jets: Boeing Business Jets builds the finest business jets ever made. Preferred by more heads of state than any other jet, BBJ’s are truly a step above any other. By bringing the best of commercial aviation to the realm of private air travel, Boeing Business Jets provides a range of airplanes that span the globe, many of which can fly between any two destinations, nonstop, anywhere. Each private jet is built, then uniquely customized for each individual private VIP, business, or government client, with careful attention to the smallest details. Based upon our robust commercial-based platforms, our jets provide the most luxurious, personalized, reliable, and cost-effective jets available; truly a smart business decision. Backed by Boeing’s worldwide flight and maintenance support network, we also ensure our exclusive flyers travel where they want, when they want, in unparalleled comfort and style. https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/press-releases/story/Revive_Design_Awards_challenges_professional_designers_and_students_to_reimagine_luxury_jet_interiors-ZAWYA20210825071203/ SpaceX paused Starlink launches to give its internet satellites lasers COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — SpaceX hasn't launched any Starlink internet satellites since June. It turns out it's because the company has been adding "lasers" to the spacecraft. Since it last launched a batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit on June 30, SpaceX has been quiet about what's next for the constellation. With Starlink launches happening frequently in the first half of 2021, this pause raised questions. On Tuesday (Aug. 24), at the 36th annual Space Symposium here, SpaceX President and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell explained the break. "We're flying a number of laser terminals right now in space," Shotwell said, adding that SpaceX is now working to integrate lasers into all of its Starlink satellites. "That's why we have been struggling for six or eight weeks — we wanted the next set to have laser terminals on them," Shotwell said. These laser terminals, or laser crosslinks, were added to a batch of Starlink satellites back in January 2021. These links allow satellites to transfer information to one another and communicate in other ways as well. With this technology, SpaceX hopes that ground stations on Earth won't be necessary with every batch of satellites as part of the constellation. Making this change could allow satellite internet coverage to reach areas where ground stations cannot be built, Shotwell explained. The recent launch lull won't last much longer, however. SpaceX aims to start lofting Starlink satellites again in approximately three weeks, Shotwell said at the conference. SpaceX continues to grow its Starlink constellation, which the company hopes will be able to provide internet service to people around the globe, even in remote areas that do not currently have reliable internet. There are currently over 1,600 Starlink satellites in orbit, and that number will continue to grow; SpaceX has filed paperwork for up to 42,000 satellites for the constellation. But the company is actively thinking about ways to prevent collisions and to minimize risks in orbit, Shotwell said. "The worst thing in the world is to have a collision," Shotwell said on Tuesday, adding that Starlink employs autonomous collision avoidance technology. https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellites-lasers-launch Curt Lewis