Tag: Airframe (Page 2 of 2)

Embraer Signs Heavy Maintenance Agreement with Horizon Air

September 10, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Nashville, Tennessee, USA, September 10, 2019 – Embraer announced today that Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, has selected Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) in Nashville, Tennessee, as the exclusive heavy maintenance provider for the company’s fleet of 30 Embraer E175 aircraft.

The multi-year agreement includes airframe maintenance, modifications and repair services provided by Embraer’s portfolio of solutions TechCare. Fittingly, the deal was signed at the Regional Airline Association’s 44th Annual Convention that took place in EAMS’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are delighted to further expand our relationship with Horizon Air, and we are honored that our valued customer has selected EAMS as their home for Embraer heavy maintenance,” said Phil Bathurst, Managing Director, Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services.

“We introduced our first E175s in 2017. Now, with 30 E-Jets in operation, we are ready to expand our great partnership with Embraer, as they conveniently accommodate our heavy maintenance needs in Nashville, Tennessee,” said George Knobloch, Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering at Horizon Air.

About Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS)

With convenient locations in Nashville, TN and Macon, GA, EAMS is the world’s center of excellence for Embraer ERJ and E-Jet heavy maintenance and component repair. EAMS has performed maintenance on over 4,000 aircraft since 2008, of which more than 2,500 were heavy maintenance checks. The two facilities offer 15 hangar bays with more than 600 highly skilled technicians and have more than 3,500 components part numbers on their repair capabilities. EAMS is a Certified Repair Station under the following regulatory authorities: USA (FAA), Europe (EASA), Australia (CASA), Mexico (DGAC), Ecuador (DGAC), El Salvador (AAC), and Colombia (UAEAC).

Piaggio Aerospace awarded aircraft maintenance Contract

August 25, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The Italian manufacturer will provide ENAV – the Italian air navigation service provider – with the maintenance of the four P.180s used for flight inspection activities at national airports.

Piaggio Aerospace has been awarded a contract for the maintenance of the P.180s owned by ENAV, the company that manages civil air traffic in Italy. The agreement, with an estimated duration of approximately 7 years, is worth 12.6 million euro and will guarantee integrated logistic support for ENAV’s fleet of four P.180 Avanti II.

“The agreement signed represents a further step forward in the turn-around process of Piaggio Aerospace”, commented Vincenzo Nicastro, Extraordinary Commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace. “While strengthening the backlog of the Genoa factory-owned service centre, it also confirms the unique expertise of the company in the airframe MRO domain, consolidated throughout decades of activities”.

The ENAV P.180s perform an average of 1,800 flight hours per year. Thanks to their special equipment, they carry out regular measurements and calibration of airport navaids (Radar, VOR, DME, VDF, ILS etc.) in order to guarantee their continuous operational accuracy, essential for the safety of air navigation.

A similarly equipped P.180 will be showcased at MAKS ’19, the international air show that will be held at Zhukovsky International Airport (Moscow) from August 27 to September 1. A delegation of Piaggio Aerospace will also be present at the air show.

MDHI Features MD 530F at APSCON 2019

July 15, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) announces its participation in the 2019 Airborne Public Safety Aviation Convention (APSCON), July 17-19, 2019 at the CHI Health Center, Omaha, NE. The MDHI display will feature a company-owned MD 530F configured with the type-certified Block 1 all-glass cockpit, newly designed side mounts, and critical vision mission equipment from Trakka Systems. The MD 530F on display is one of two MDHI research and development assets dedicated to ensuring technological and performance improvements for the iconic 369FF airframe.

“Continuous improvements, innovation, and service to airborne law enforcement and public safety operations have been at the core of MD Helicopters’ business for more than 50 years,” said Lynn Tilton, Chief Executive Officer for MD Helicopters, Inc. “Through investment in product design and internal research, development and testing, we are able to deliver next generation capabilities that improve performance, reduce pilot workload, and ensure that reliability, affordability and optimal operational readiness remain hallmarks of the MDHI brand for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Current MDHI customers and interested operators who visit the MDHI booth at the 2019 Airborne Public Safety Aviation Convention (APSCON), will be able to learn more about the following offerings:

Certified Glass Cockpits

MDHI has type-certified for production, and as a type-design option, advanced, all-glass cockpits for the MD 530F and the MD 600N. Certification efforts are ongoing for the company’s other single-engine models. The Block 1 glass cockpit for the MD 530F single-engine helicopter features:

Howell Instruments Electronic Engine Instruments and Crew Alert System (EICAS)
Garmin G500[H] TXi Electronic Flight Instruments (EFIS) with Touchscreen GDU 700P PFD/MFD
Garmin GTN 650 Touchscreen NAV/COM/GPS
Optional L-3 ESI 500 Electronic Standby Instrument

Advanced Mission Equipment Installation

In order to accommodate installation of the widest range of mission critical vision technologies, MD Helicopters designed and is currently certifying innovative new side mounts that will allow effortless integration of critical EO/IR and searchlight equipment. The mounts are purpose-built to support law enforcement-preferred left-hand command configurations for vision solutions.

On display at the MDHI booth, #1001, are EO/IR and Searchlight solutions from TRAKKA Systems.

TrakkaBeam® TLX
TC-300 high performance multi-sensor surveillance system

Aftermarket & Customer Support Programs

The MD Helicopters Aftermarket and Customer Support teams continue to focus on innovation and responsiveness. Both the easy-to-use MyMD.aero customer portal and the Aftermarket Center of Excellence (ACE) have played integral roles in ensuring optimal operational readiness for the global fleet of MDHI-brand helicopters.

Demo Flights

MDHI has limited availability for demo flights while in Omaha. Interested organizations with current acquisition plans can request a demo flight either prior to show open (July 14 or 15), or immediately following the close of APSCON 2019 (July 19 or 20). Request should be submitted through your MDHI Business Development Director.

“We have great respect for our law enforcement operators, the job they do and the sacrifices they make each and every day, and it is for them that we remain focused on manufacturing the best helicopters with the most advanced, most affordable, most capable systems available.”

International Defense & Aerospace Group Welcomes MD 530F

July 10, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Authorized MDHI Sales Agent International Defense & Aerospace Group welcomes the first of up to 3 new, state-of-the-art MD 530F helicopters to be used for tactical and NVG flight training

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) is proud to announce the sale and delivery of a new MD 530F to International Defense & Aerospace Group, LLC (IDAG), a Pennsylvania-based authorized sales agent. The company’s first state-of-the-art MD 530F aircraft with a production all-glass cockpit, the custom-configured F-model will join an IDAG fleet of training aircraft operated by the Slovak Training Academy that also includes five (5) MD 500E-model helicopters. Its primary role will be to support the tactical and NVG flight training needs of military and paramilitary helicopter pilots from around the world.

“We are excited about the sale of this MD 530F, and the opportunity to have military and paramilitary pilots from around the world train in the MD 530F,” said Lynn Tilton, MD Helicopters, Inc. Chief Executive Officer. “MD Helicopters and International Defense & Aerospace Group are aligned in our commitment to delivering excellence in product quality, support and training, and in our belief that the MD 500E and MD 530F airframes offer the best performance in their class for training, law enforcement and military operations.”

An authorized MDHI Sales Agent for select Central and Eastern European opportunities since 2017, International Defense & Aerospace Group (IDAG) focuses on the sale and service of specialty rotorcraft solutions to military and paramilitary operators throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Global airborne law enforcement, military, and Special Forces operators worldwide also recognize IDAG for offering a comprehensive curriculum of transition and tactical flight training.

“We believe in the quality, proven performance and durability of MD Helicopters’ aircraft,” said Bob Caldwell, President and CEO of IDAG. “The MD 500-series helicopters are perfectly suited for training missions. They are incredibly robust, economical to operate, and have an unmatched safety record.”

IDAG also supports fleet operations and flight crew training for several regional national police agencies and operators.

Configuration

Powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine, IDAG’s right-hand command MD 530F is the first type-certified 369FF aircraft to be produced with the company’s all-glass cockpit, and also features NVIS cockpit lighting, extended landed gear, and a 21-gallon Fargo auxiliary fuel tank.

“The MD 530F is one of our most versatile airframes,” Tilton concludes. “It is a proven performer with military and paramilitary operators worldwide, and delivers the overall performance, reliability and mission flexibility required by our growing global base of operators. We congratulate IDAG on this acquisition decision and look forward to the continued growth of their MD Helicopters fleet.”

VIDEO & IMAGE ASSETS: Click here to view a short video featuring this new, multi-mission, multi-role MD 530F. High-resolution images can be requested via MD Helicopters

Littoral Combat Ship Indianapolis Completes Acceptance Trials

June 27, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

MARINETTE, Wis., June 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 17, the future USS Indianapolis, completed Acceptance Trials in Lake Michigan. This is the ship’s final significant milestone before the ship is delivered to the U.S. Navy. LCS 17 is the ninth Freedom-variant LCS designed and built by the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team and is slated for delivery to the Navy this year.

“LCS 17 is joining the second-largest class of ships in the U.S. Navy fleet, and we are proud to get the newest Littoral Combat Ship one step closer to delivery,” said Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, Small Combatants and Ship Systems. “This ship is lethal and flexible, and we are confident that she will capably serve critical U.S. Navy missions today and in future.”

Unique among combat ships, LCS is designed to complete close-to-shore missions and is a growing and relevant part of the Navy’s fleet.

It is flexible — with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, LCS can be modified to integrate capabilities including over-the-horizon missiles, advanced electronic warfare systems and decoys.
It is fast — capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.
It is lethal — standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.
It is automated — with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship.

The trials included a full-power run, maneuverability testing, and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship’s combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery and machinery control and automation.

“I am extremely proud of our LCS team including our shipbuilders at Fincantieri Marinette Marine,” said Jan Allman, Fincantieri Marinette Marine president and CEO. “These are complex vessels, and it takes a strong team effort to design, build and test these American warships.”

Click here to view video highlights: https://vimeo.com/343954322
Click here to view B-roll: https://vimeo.com/343958904
Click here to view photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143371902@N04/albums/72157709222602453/with/48116590697/

For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lcs.

Cirrus Aircraft Announces New Chief Executive Officer

June 5, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Duluth, Minn. and Knoxville, Tenn. (4 June 2019) – Cirrus Aircraft announced today that Zean Nielsen has been selected to succeed Co-founder Dale Klapmeier as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nielsen has held senior leadership roles at a range of global world-class organizations, including Tesla Motors, James Hardie and Bang & Olufsen.

“Cirrus Aircraft has a remarkably bright future ahead,” noted Dale Klapmeier, Co-founder and National Aviation Hall of Fame member. “We are fortunate to have someone of Zean’s caliber and experience to lead us into the next era of growth. I am looking forward to moving into a Senior Advisory role and continuing to work with our exceptional team on reinventing the future of personal transportation.”

“I am honored and humbled to join this team of experienced general aviation leaders and a world-class workforce as we continue to bring game-changing products and services to market,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “Our mission is to deliver an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to our customers – and that is exactly what we will continue to do for many years to come.”

Zean most recently served as the Executive Vice President of North American Sales at James Hardie, a leading industrial building materials company. Prior to his role at James Hardie, Nielsen ran all aspects of Tesla Motors worldwide sales operations efforts as the Vice President of Global Sales Operations. Zean began his career at Bang & Olufsen, the luxury electronics maker, where over a 17 year career he ascended to more senior roles before he ultimately became the President of Bang & Olufsen North and South America, prior to joining Tesla Motors.

Nielsen assumed the CEO role at Cirrus Aircraft on 3 June 2019.

About Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision JetTM, the world’s first single-engine Personal JetTM, as well as the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined performance, comfort and safety in aviation with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 10.5 million hours and 172 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has four locations in the United States, located in Duluth, Minnesota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Knoxville, Tennessee and McKinney, Texas.