September 27, 2023 - No. 040

In This Issue 

: EASA warns of storage-related battery drain on all Airbus aircraft

: https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2023-09-26/Lufthansa-would-need-half-of-Germany-s-electricity-to-go-green-1nouSWLvyTK/index.html

:_Boeing Granted Exemption for 737 MAX 7 Certification Despite Stall-Management System Non-Compliance

: FAA Notice Adds Details To AOG Technics Parts-Sale Scheme

: Series of USMC Osprey unplanned landings in Japan raises questions

: Israel’s IAI Eyes New 777 Cargo Conversion Facility in Arizona

: Spirit AeroSystems and Vietnam VAECO Sign New Agreement for MRO Services

: VoltAero Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Makes Landmark Flight Fueled by Wine Waste

: Vietnamese MRO Prospects Brighten 

: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-09-26/aar-aircraft-mechanic-shortage-reaches-critical-point

: EAA Comments On FAA Order On ‘Destroyed And Scrapped’ Aircraft

 


EASA warns of storage-related battery drain on all Airbus aircraft
BY RYTIS BERESNEVICIUS
2023-09-05

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) addressing a storage-related battery problem on all Airbus aircraft.
The proposed AD, which is still open to comments from stakeholders, was issued following an investigation by Airbus and the unnamed manufacturer of the Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery. The two companies determined that “repetitive disconnection and reconnection of batteries during aeroplane parking or storage” carried out according to the aircraft’s maintenance manual, could result in the loss “of the capacity of those batteries”.

“This condition, if not corrected, could lead to reduced battery endurance performance, possibly resulting in failure to supply the minimum essential electrical power during abnormal or emergency conditions,” EASA stated in the proposed AD.

The potential unsafe condition was first addressed by Airbus issuing respective Alert Operators Transmissions (AOT) for A320, A330 and A340, and A380 aircraft “to provide maintenance instructions to restore an aeroplane to an airworthy condition and to preserve battery capacity during an aeroplane parking or storage period”.
The AOT resulted in EASA publishing an AD in December 2020, which required operators of A320, A330 and A340, and A380 family aircraft to replace affected Ni-Cd batteries.

However, now both Airbus and the battery manufacturer have determined that “the on-wing preservation procedures originally” in the AOT, as well as recommendations outlined in Airbus Operators Information Transmission (OIT) for A350 and A300/A310 family aircraft “did not ensure the expected preservation of the battery capacity”.

As a result, the proposed AD will supersede the December 2020 directive, extending the applicability to the A350 and A300/A310 aircraft families and will require the replacement of the affected batteries on all Airbus aircraft.
Replacing Airbus aircraft batteries
For operators to comply with the latest directive, EASA outlined time limits for different Airbus aircraft families.

For the Airbus A320 aircraft family, including the A318ceo, A319ceo and A319neo, A320ceo and A320neo, and A321ceo and A321neo, the batteries must be replaced before they reach six months of being on-wing during storage before the aircraft can be released back into service.

The same six-month timetable applies to all Airbus A330 (A330ceo and A330neo) and A340, as well as Airbus A300/A310 family aircraft.

For the Airbus A350 and A380 aircraft families, the batteries have an on-wing battery storage time limit of 12 months.

However, the battery part numbers (P/N) differ, as defined by EASA’s AD.
Stakeholders are invited to comment on the changes until October 2, 2023, with EASA planing for the directive to come into effect 14 days after that date, per the standard procedure.


 


 

 


Lufthansa would need 'half of Germany's electricity' to go green
CGTN

Lufthansa's boss says the airline would need to consume half of Germany's electricity to run its entire fleet on green fuel. /Leonhard Simon/Reuters

Air transport giant Lufthansa would need to consume half of Germany's electricity production to run its entire fleet on green fuel, its boss has said, illustrating the complicated challenge of reducing emissions in the aviation industry.

Lufthansa, which has the largest airline fleet in Europe, "would need around half of Germany's electricity to convert it into synthetic fuel," estimated Carsten Spohr, the group's CEO, at a national aviation conference in Germany's Hamburg.

But both economics minister Robert Habeck and Federal Network Agency, which regulates Germany's electricity "won't give me that amount of energy," he added.

Synthetic fuels or e-fuels, which combine hydrogen - produced from decarbonized sources such as renewable energies - and CO2 captured from the air or from industrial fumes, are one way of decarbonizing the aviation sector.

However, the process requires a large quantity of green electricity to be produced, which Germany does not have, the head of Lufthansa pointed out. And because it has not yet been developed on an industrial scale, this fuel is still much more expensive than fossil fuels.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament adopted a deal to set binding targets for airlines in Europe to increase their use of sustainable aviation fuels, or SAFs, which have net zero or lower CO2 emissions than the fossil fuel kerosene.

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday set out his ambitions to become a strategic production center for such sustainable jet fuel and to lure investment to build on its importance as one of aerospace group Airbus' manufacturing centers.

However, Lufthansa's Spohr said it seemed more "realistic" to produce synthetic fuel "abroad, where wind or solar energy is available in practically unlimited quantities," he added, without naming any specific countries. It will be a "long road, but it's the right one", Spohr said.

Aviation accounts for 2 to 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, synthetic fuel is likely to remain a transitional technology, according to the sector's manufacturers, who are already planning the next stage of decarbonization, involving hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is developing technologies that should make it possible to launch the first hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2035, probably for short-haul routes.


 


Boeing Granted Exemption for 737 MAX 7 Certification Despite Stall-Management System Non-Compliance

Abhishek Nayar
22 Sep 2023

In a recent development, Boeing has been granted an exemption by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows the certification of the 737 MAX 7, even though its stall-management system does not fully meet certain certification requirements. This decision has raised questions about aviation safety and the process of certifying commercial aircraft.

Background
On September 19, the FAA authorized an exemption related to lightning and radiation rules for the 737 MAX 7. However, it stipulated that in-service MAX 7s would need an updated "stall management yaw damper" (SMYD) by March 1, 2027. The SMYD is a critical hardware and software system that contributes crucial data to the aircraft's stall warning system.

Boeing intends to develop a certification-compliant SMYD as part of its certification work on the 737 MAX10, and to roll those updates into other variants, documents say. Boeing’s latest schedule calls for it to achieve the MAX 7’s certification this year, followed by the MAX 10’s next year.

Boeing's Position
Boeing defended its request for the exemption, stating that it sought approval from the FAA to certify the MAX 7 with an updated SMYD based on the unit's "well-established safety record." The company also mentioned that it had made minor software updates to the SMYD to align it with the MAX 7's shorter fuselage.

Gary Hamatani, Boeing's 737 MAX development chief project engineer, addressed the SMYD issue in a letter to the FAA in June. He noted that Boeing had made specific software updates to the SMYD, including those related to stall warning, stall identification schedules, yaw damper filter and schedule coefficients, and gain schedules. However, it was only later that the company discovered the system's non-compliance with certification rules pertaining to lightning and radiation exposure.

FAA's Assessment
During its investigation, Boeing informed the FAA that SMYD failures resulting from lightning or radiation exposure could potentially cause "rudder oscillation." This condition is considered a "catastrophic failure" by the FAA because it could lead to a "hard-over condition" that exceeds structural limit loads.

However, the FAA, in its approval dated September 19, stated that it concurred with Boeing's assessment that the risk of SMYD failure due to lightning or radiation was minimal. The agency deemed the scenario "not a practical possibility" and thus allowed the exemption for certification to proceed.

Implications and Concerns
This decision by the FAA has raised concerns within the aviation industry and among the public. Critics argue that granting an exemption for a critical system like the SMYD, even with a minimal perceived risk, sets a precedent that could compromise safety standards. The importance of ensuring aircraft are fully compliant with certification requirements cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts passenger safety.

Boeing's commitment to addressing the SMYD non-compliance through the development of a certification-compliant system for the 737 MAX 10 is seen as a positive step. However, questions linger about why these issues were not identified earlier in the certification process and whether other potential safety risks have been overlooked.

Conclusion
The FAA's decision to grant an exemption for the certification of the 737 MAX 7, despite the non-compliance of its stall-management system, has sparked a debate about aviation safety standards. While Boeing has committed to rectifying the issue, the incident highlights the need for rigorous scrutiny and adherence to safety regulations in the aircraft certification process. As Boeing continues its efforts to achieve certification for the MAX 7 and MAX 10, the aviation industry will be closely monitoring developments to ensure passenger safety remains paramount.


 


FAA Notice Adds Details To AOG Technics Parts-Sale Scheme
Sean Broderick 
September 21, 2023

An FAA suspected unapproved parts (SUPs) notice issued Sept. 21 flagging GE Aerospace CF6 inlet guide vane shroud bushings provides more details on how broker AOG Technics forged paperwork to pass undocumented parts off as airworthy.

The notice identifies the bushings as the first CF6 parts found with paperwork forged by AOG Technics. It also suggests AOG Technics tried to pass them off as new parts.

TAP Maintenance & Engineering brought the parts to GE Aerospace’s attention in late July, and the company filed a SUPs report the following day, a summary of a court filing linked to a lawsuit against AOG Technics revealed. 

More CF6 parts distributed by AOG Technics with forged documents have turned up among an inventory of thousands of parts the broker apparently bought and sold with paperwork confirmed as fake. Most of the parts are for CFM56s, but the number of CF6 parts is in the “hundreds,” the filing summary said.

The FAA notice provides more details on what helped tip off MRO shops and regulators that AOG Technics’ documentation was not generated by the manufacturers, but rather forged.

On the falsified FAA 8130-3 airworthiness approval documents, or tags, sent with the CF6 parts, lists the part as a “bushing.” But GE’s common terminology for the form is “bushing shrd (IGV),” the FAA notice said.

Language is also missing from the form’s “user/installer responsibilities” block. “GE does not remove boilerplate language from the FAA Form 8130-3,” the notice said.

The FAA also flagged boxes not grayed out on the CF6 forms that should be grayed out “for new articles.”

CFM and co-owners GE Aerospace and Safran have been working with regulators since mid-June to unravel a tangled web of illegal parts sales by London-based AOG Technics. About 90 cases of forged documents have been confirmed. They were shipped along with thousands of parts; one airworthiness approval tag can cover many of the same parts.

Parts traced to AOG Technics have been found in about 90 engines so far. Some were pulled from service to have the parts replaced, while others were undergoing scheduled maintenance.

London’s High Court on Sept. 20 gave AOG Technics 14 days to produce documentation on the broker’s purchases and sales of CFM56 and CF6 parts. The ruling came in response to a suit filed by CFM, GE, and Safran. A summary of the companies’ argument revealed that thousands of parts have been linked to falsified records by airlines and maintenance shops in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America, and South America.


 


Series of USMC Osprey unplanned landings in Japan raises questions
Clement Charpentreau

Alan Wilson / Wikimedia Commons

On the afternoon of September 21, 2023, a US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft made an unexpected landing at Amami Airport (ASJ) in Amami Oshima, Japan.  

While the reason for the unscheduled landing has not been disclosed, authorities have stated that there were no injuries reported, and there was no disruption of commercial flight operations as a result. 

According to the Kagoshima Prefecture Port and Airport Division, the Osprey touched down at Amami Airport at approximately 3:46 p.m. local time. No prior notification had been submitted, catching both airport personnel and local authorities off guard, as reported by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK.  

No injuries were reported in connection with the unexpected landing, and normal commercial flight operations at Amami Airport resumed promptly. However, the incident has raised concerns among residents, especially as this is by no means the first time an Osprey has made headlines in the region this month. 

Indeed, Japan has witnessed a whole series of Osprey unplanned landings, with a total of three such incidents within a week. On September 14, 2023, two USMC Ospreys made a precautionary landing at Amami Airport and New Ishigaki due to a warning light being displayed during flight. There was a similar occurrence at Oita Airport (OIT) two days later.

Is the Osprey still affected by a clutch issue? 
The Osprey, officially known as the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, is a unique military aircraft that combines the capabilities of a helicopter and an airplane. It features tiltrotor technology, allowing its rotors to tilt vertically for takeoff and landing and horizontally for forward flight. The Osprey performs a wide range of missions, including troop transport, cargo delivery, search and rescue, and special operations.

In addition to various branches of the US military, the Osprey is also utilized by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. 

The latest incident adds to existing concerns about the safety of Osprey aircraft, particularly given the recent history of mechanical issues.  

On June 8, 2023, an MV-22 Osprey crashed while conducting training at Range-2512 IVO of Holtville, California. All five US service members on board lost their lives in the incident. The investigation revealed that the accident was a result of the pilots losing control due to an unintentional clutch disengagement, followed by a sudden, dual hard clutch engagement (HCE). This unexpected mechanical failure has prompted urgent action to replace relevant components before they reach a predetermined flight-hour threshold. 

Another fatal V-22 Osprey crash occurred during an exercise in Northern Australia on August 27, 2023. The investigation into this is still ongoing. 

Following the diversion of a V-22 Osprey to Amami on September 16, 2023, the USMC said that the recent series of mishaps did not appear to derive from the clutch issue. 

“Currently, there are no indications that these events resulted from an MV-22 hard clutch engagement (HCE) malfunction,” Major Rob Martins, a spokesperson for the Okinawa-based 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, told Military.com in an emailed statement. 
“In each of these events, the aircraft sensors and monitoring systems performed as designed.” 

On September 18, 2023, the USMC directed all its aviation units to conduct a two-day stand-down in flight operations following three Class-A aviation mishaps involving Marine aircraft over the past six weeks, namely the V-22 crash in Australia, the F/A-18D Hornet crash during a training flight in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on August 24, 2023, and a USMC F-35B fighter jet crash in South Carolina after the pilot was forced to eject from the aircraft on September 17, 2023.  


 


Israel’s IAI Eyes New 777 Cargo Conversion Facility in Arizona
IAI has been actively progressing with its 'Big Twin' conversion initiative for this aircraft, officially naming the freighter variant as the 777-300ERSF.
 BY AMAN KUMAR 
 September 22, 2023 in Aerospace, News, USA Aviation News

ISRAEL- The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is poised to launch a Boeing 777 (-300ER Type) cargo conversion line in Arizona, USA, starting next year.

IAI has secured a 15-year partnership agreement with Ascent Aviation Services, designating Ascent’s Marana facilities to conduct the necessary modifications on the twinjet aircraft type.
IAI Eyes 777 Cargo Conversion in Arizona
The conversion project will encompass establishing two dedicated 777-300ER conversion lines, for which Ascent will construct two spacious widebody hangars. Pre-construction activities for the hangars are already in progress.

IAI has been actively progressing with its ‘Big Twin’ conversion initiative for this aircraft, officially naming the freighter variant as the 777-300ERSF.

The company has outlined its strategy to establish multiple modification facilities for this aircraft type. In a significant milestone, the inaugural 777-300ERSF conducted its inaugural flight from Tel Aviv in March of this year.

IAI anticipates obtaining certification for the freighter variant from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Israeli civil aviation regulatory authorities this year. The certification process is currently in its concluding phases.

The 777-300ERSF, equipped with General Electric GE90 engines, will have the capability to transport payloads weighing up to 100 metric tons.”
Photo:- By Ministério das Comunicações – Brasil – https://www.flickr.com/photos/188989308@N06/51940855375/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116104534
Executive Insights
Boaz Levy, the CEO of IAI, emphasizes that the partnership with Ascent demonstrates the company’s trust in Ascent’s capacity to adhere to the prescribed schedule and conduct the initial conversion in the upcoming year.

Levy notes that this collaboration serves as a robust and direct extension of the numerous prosperous cooperative arrangements that have been established between IAI and various US companies.

“IAI asserts that establishing remote passenger-to-freighter conversion sites across the globe is necessary in anticipation of the rising demand for long-haul-capable widebody freighter aircraft.”

David Querio, the CEO of Ascent, anticipates that the partnership with IAI will generate enduring prosperity for the aviation community in the Tucson region.

He highlights that Ascent, a specialist in commercial aircraft maintenance, will enhance its capacity to accommodate up to three widebody aircraft as a result of this collaboration. Querio underscores that this agreement will contribute to stability and create “hundreds” of highly skilled job opportunities in the area.

He adds, “This expansion of our service portfolio aligns with our ongoing mission to become the preferred world-class Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider for our clients.”

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.


 


Spirit AeroSystems and Vietnam VAECO Sign New Agreement for MRO Services

The agreement was unveiled during the MRO Asia-Pacific Exhibition in Singapore. VAECO, based at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, serves as the MRO arm of the Vietnamese flag carrier.

BY AMAN KUMAR 
September 27, 2023 in Aerospace, Aviation News, International Aviation News, News

WICHITA– Spirit AeroSystems has officially announced the signing of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) service agreement with Vietnam Airlines Engineering Limited Company (VAECO), a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines (VN).

The agreement was unveiled during the MRO Asia-Pacific Exhibition in Singapore. VAECO, based at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, serves as the MRO arm of the Vietnamese flag carrier.

Spirit AeroSystem And VACEO service providers in Vietnam
Established back in 2009, Vietnam Airlines Engineering Limited Company (VAECO) stands as Vietnam’s most extensive and highly experienced aircraft maintenance service provider, boasting a workforce of 2,500 employees.

Furthermore, The company is headquartered in Hanoi and operates two additional branches in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, extending its services to all airports across Vietnam.

Presently, VAECO operates a total of six hangars, each equipped with state-of-the-art docking systems, aircraft parking facilities, spare part warehouses, and ground support equipment, facilitating concurrent maintenance activities for multiple aircraft.

With its aim to become a leading Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, VAECO’s expanded capabilities and operational excellence position it to cater to discerning global customers. The recent partnership with Spirit AeroSystems will catalyze VAECO to realize its long-term growth aspirations.

Spirit AeroSystems Aftermarket Solutions has witnessed remarkable growth, exceeding 20% in recent years. The collaboration with VAECO expands Spirit Aftermarket’s network to encompass 11 wholly-owned, joint venture, or authorized repair centers worldwide, spanning the United States of America, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Jordan, India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
Executive Insights
Kailash Krishnaswamy, Senior Vice President of Spirit Aftermarket Services, highlighted that this strategic partnership enables Spirit Aftermarket Solutions to offer localized engineering assistance to VAECO.

He stated, “We anticipate ongoing challenges in the supply of materials for Airframe MRO. Spirit will leverage its top-tier engineering support through this strategic collaboration to mitigate at least some of these challenges.”

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.


 


VoltAero Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Makes Landmark Flight Fueled by Wine Waste
The company flew its proprietary hybrid-electric powertrain on a demonstrator powered by biofuel produced from vineyard waste.
By Jack Daleo
September 22, 2023

VoltAero’s Cassio S testbed is loaded with sustainable fuel from TotalEnergies before embarking its milestone flight. [Courtesy: VoltAero]

According to researchers at the University of California-Davis Department of Food Science and Technology, the equivalent of 3 in 10 grapes initially collected for winemaking end up going to waste. Most aviation companies would see that statistic and think nothing of it.

Royan, France-based VoltAero isn’t most aviation companies. The firm on Thursday announced it completed what it claims is an industry first. This week, it flew a hybrid-electric aircraft powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from partner TotalEnergies Aviation—fuel derived from bioethanol produced from the waste created by French vineyards.

The flight took off from VoltAero’s development facility in Royan, using the company’s Cassio S testbed airplane—a modified Cessna 337 Skymaster—equipped with a proprietary hybrid-electric powertrain. It ran on TotalEnergies’ Excellium Racing 100 fuel, which since 2022 has been used in automobile competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance sports car race.

Compared to the fossil fuel equivalent, VoltAero said the vineyard-derived fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 65 percent over its entire lifecycle and that it will “significantly lower” operating costs. It’s certified as a 100 percent sustainable product according to a mass balance system applied by a voluntary, European Union-approved certification body.

“Based on initial results, we calculated a truly impressive CO2 reduction of approximately 80 percent while operating the Cassio powertrain in its electric-hybrid mode and with the internal combustion engine fueled by TotalEnergies’ Excellium Racing 100,” said Jean Botti, CEO and chief technology officer of VoltAero. “It underscores the opportunity for production Cassio aircraft to represent a major step closer to aviation’s decarbonization goals by replacing standard Avgas 100 high-octane fuel for aviation piston engines.”

The company added that its goal was to validate its powertrain with SAF, “thereby derisking airworthiness certification” for Cassio aircraft in development. It’s been testing hybrid-electric aircraft for years, starting in 2020 with the Cassio 1 testbed, which made two crossings of the English Channel the following year.

“This demonstration flight is part of our commitment to support players in the aviation sector for their decarbonization objectives,” said Joël Navaron, president of TotalEnergies. “More broadly, it demonstrates our desire to continue our research and development efforts to offer an alternative to aviation gasoline containing lead, thereby meeting the challenges of general aviation’s decarbonization.”

VoltAero was originally part of Airbus’s E-Fan project, which ran from 2014 to 2017. Botti previously served as CTO of Airbus and led the program’s research. But he asserted in a 2020 Q&A that on Cassio designs “there’s nothing carried over from the E-Fan apart from the knowledge gained from the years of working on E-Fan.”

Designed with a modular fuselage that can be reconfigured for a variety of use cases, VoltAero’s Cassio models are expected to be flown by regional commercial operations, air taxi and air charter companies, and private owners. They’ll also be used for utility services such as cargo or postal delivery and medical evacuations.

How It’s Made
The company’s first production aircraft is the Cassio 330. It will be flown by a single pilot with space for four or five passengers and rely on 330 kilowatts of hybrid-electric propulsion power. VoltAero pulled back the curtain on the first Cassio 330 prototype at the Paris Air Show in June, and the firm expects to fly it for the first time this year.

At the tail end of Cassio 330 flight testing, the company will roll out a second prototype, which is expected to take off in the second quarter of 2024. The upcoming model will feature an avionics suite from Avidyne, including its Quantum 14-inch displays for single-pilot operations and advanced connectivity.

The 330 will eventually be joined by the Cassio 480, a six-seat version with 480 kilowatts of propulsion power. Further out is the Cassio 600, an even larger design for 10 to 12 passengers with—you guessed it—600 kilowatts of power. Both designs will be larger than the 330 and feature retractable landing gear.

All three models are expected to be built around an aluminum airframe, with a forward fixed canard and aft-set wings with twin booms to support the aircraft’s high-set horizontal tail. They’ll use electric motors in the aft fuselage-mounted hybrid propulsion unit to deliver fully electric power during taxi, takeoff, landing, and primary flight—so long as that distance is less than 93 sm (81 nm).

The Cassio family’s propulsion power unit is made by combining a 4-cylinder Kawasaki Motors thermal engine and a Safran ENGINeUS smart electric motor, with peak power ratings of 165 kilowatts and 180 kilowatts, respectively. It combines 300-kilowatt internal combustion engine power with a trio of 60-kilowatt electric motors for a total output of 480 kilowatts. French company Akira Technologies will lead the integration and validation of the unit.

Like other hybrid designs, the propulsion system’s hybrid feature will use the internal combustion engine as a range extender. The module will recharge the aircraft’s batteries during flight, and it can serve as a backup in case of an issue on the electric propulsion side. 

In full hybrid mode, Cassio 330 is expected to reduce emissions by 20 percent versus comparable aircraft. That jumps to 100 percent in full electric mode. Notably, the power requirement for ground charging VoltAero’s initial design is only 380 volts, which the company said is available at most airports.

Cassio 330 will have a flight duration of three and a half hours (which could rise to five with the range extender), a range of 800 sm (695 nm) and a cruise speed of 200 knots. It’ll be able to take off and land with less than 1,800 feet of runway. And with its 2.5 metric ton maximum takeoff weight, the aircraft is classified as a CS-23 normal-category airplane under European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations.

The first Cassio 330 models will be assembled at VoltAero’s “purpose built” facility at Rochefort Charente-Maritime Airport (LFDN) in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

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Vietnamese MRO Prospects Brighten
Henry Canaday 
September 07, 2023

Since ST Engineering entered its joint venture with Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO) for component MRO in 2019, it has continuously added capabilities in hydrostatic testing, slide reservoirs, skin air valves and electromechanical valves. In the next few years, it plans to add new capabilities in heat exchangers, oxygen cylinders, regulators, aero-structures, nacelles and brake repair for Boeing 787s.

“We expect our staff strength to grow 40-50% during this period,” a spokesperson adds.

The expansion of the ST Engineering-Vietnam Airlines joint venture will likely be only one element in the continued expansion of the country’s MRO infrastructure. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has forecast passenger traffic will grow 7.5-8.5% annually from 2021-30, and this pace is consistent with the expectations of Alton Aviation Consultancy, according to Director Joshua Ng.

Domestic MRO is likely to grow faster than traffic, as VAECO and others want to bring a larger share of MRO in-country. For example, given Vietjet Air’s growing fleet size, there could be strong arguments for this carrier to insource more maintenance support in-country for its own maintenance, Ng points out.

Ng sees growth coming from a combination of established MRO companies and MRO units of existing airlines. VAECO has a significant share of the market today, and ST Engineering’s continued additions of further component capabilities should reinforce VAECO’s position.

Vietnam’s major independent MRO is Southern Airport Aircraft Maintenance (SAAM), a joint venture between Southern Airports Corporation and SIA Engineering. Both companies declined to outline their growth plans.

Vietnamese aviation has mostly operated Airbus aircraft, but that is changing. Vietnam Airlines still operates mostly Airbus types, as does Bamboo Airways. However, Pacific Airlines’ fleet is split pretty evenly between Airbus and Boeing. Although Vietjet currently has an all-Airbus fleet, it has ordered 200 Boeing aircraft, half of which will be operated by a Thai subsidiary.

The other big upcoming change is the construction of Long Thanh International Airport, about 25 mi. northeast of Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport. To provide MRO services and $120 million worth of hangars at the planned mega-airport, the Vietnam Ministry of Transport has received indications of interest from five providers, including VAECO, SAAM, and the maintenance arms of Vietjet, Bamboo Airways and Vietstar Airlines.

With the fifth fastest-growing global aviation market, which the International Air Transport Association expects will hit 150 million passengers by 2035, Vietnam’s demand is no problem for MRO investors. Ng says the only real challenges the country’s aviation industry faces are the globally familiar ones: supply chain and workforce.


 

AAR: Aircraft Mechanic Shortage Reaches Critical Point
AAR urges employers to show more willingness to cooperate with colleges and schools to support training

AAR urges employers to “break down silos” and collaborate with high schools, colleges, nonprofits, and elected officials to expand early access to aviation maintenance curriculum and training. 

By GREGORY POLEK • Senior Editor
September 26, 2023

A report released on Monday by maintenance group AAR warns that the aircraft mechanic shortage has reached a critical point and urges employers to “break down silos” and collaborate with high schools, colleges, nonprofit groups, and elected officials to expand early access to aviation maintenance curriculum and training.

Discussing ways to close the so-called "mid-skills gap," the report includes case studies and addresses opportunities to attract talent under the updated FAA Part 147. The regulation removes a seat time requirement that measures competency based on hours and paves the way for more collaboration and additional training locations.

Chicago-headquartered AAR partnered with nonprofit Choose Aerospace to release a general aviation curriculum based upon the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards into high schools and colleges. The report recommends the agency further update regulations to allow AMT candidates who complete a general aviation curriculum in high school to take the FAA general exam, one of the written tests needed to become certified. It also calls on lawmakers to pass immigration policies that allow aviation companies to recruit talent from abroad to meet demand.

“We have the facilities to grow. We just need the talent,” said Ryan Goertzen, AAR’s v-p of workforce development. “Companies that invest in training must look to solve the issue not only for themselves but for the industry.”

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-09-26/aar-aircraft-mechanic-shortage-reaches-critical-point

 


EAA Comments On FAA Order On ‘Destroyed And Scrapped’ Aircraft
By Mark Phelps 
Published: August 22, 2023
Updated: August 23, 2023

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) filed comments this week on a new FAA advisory circular (AC). The so-called “Destroyed and Scrapped Aircraft” AC makes “heavy reference” to the like-named FAA Order 8900.19, which the association said was issued in 2018 without the opportunity for public comment. According to the EAA, the new AC determines that aircraft deemed destroyed or scrapped cannot be rebuilt.

According to Order 8900.19, a “destroyed” aircraft is defined as having no repairable “primary structures” and a “scrapped” aircraft “has been discarded and disposed of in a manner that it cannot be repaired to an airworthy condition.” EAA wrote that reasonable interpretation of the rule would permit all but the most severely damaged aircraft to receive appropriate repairs and return to service.
However, EAA wrote, “As with any FAA policy, EAA aims to ensure consistent, reasonable application in the field. While we are not aware of significant problems in the use of this policy in the past five years, EAA’s comments to the AC urge the greatest flexibility possible, including the expanded use of designees in determining a damaged or disposed aircraft’s status and developing a plan for return to service.”

EAA said that wider use of designees with extensive practical experience would reduce the workload of already overburdened FAA field offices. “This change would not remove the [Flight Standards District Office] or [Aircraft Certification Branch] from being eligible to review repair data; rather, it would provide an additional option to the builder/repairer to utilize, if desired.”


 


Curt Lewis