For the first time, an apprentice from the full-service provider in the business aviation has been distinguished as Germany’s best aircraft electronics technician by the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK).
Of a total of 165 final-year apprentices from all over Germany, Frank Hofmann achieved the best final examination results in his sector. His outstanding performance received special recognition at the ‘celebration of the best’ hosted by the DIHK in Berlin on December 3.
The award winners’ success was celebrated by their parents and relatives together with representatives from the training companies and vocational schools, with members of the parliament as well as with the Chamber Presidents and General Managers. The main speaker of the evening was Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, who addressed approximately 1000 guests.
Around 30 aircraft electronics technicians, of whom 6 are apprentices, are employed in Aero-Dienst’s Avionics Solutions department for the maintenance and repair of the most important avionics systems for a range of manufacturers and aircraft types. In addition to system troubleshooting, maintenance and repair, customers are increasingly requesting conversion to and retrofitting of modern avionics systems. Growing activity in air traffic means more stringent requirements regarding the efficiency of communication between the pilot and air traffic control, and this in turn has led to a greater demand for ADS-B Out and CPDLC (FANS 1/A, VHF Datalink) in regard to Cockpit Flight Services. At the same time, passengers looking for better connectivity are providing Aero-Dienst’s Cabin Connectivity & In-Flight Entertainment team with plenty to do in the context of retrofits for SATCOM, Blu-ray and Wi-Fi internet.
Aero-Dienst’s CEO Viktor Peters remarks: “We are especially pleased to have gained first place in this Germany-wide comparison of our training competence in the area of avionics.” The down-to-earth company has already produced a number of top-ranking graduates in recent years. “Hearty congratulations to Frank Hofmann, to whom we wish all the best for his future career and continued success,” adds Viktor Peters proudly.
At Aero-Dienst, the training of young aircraft electronics technicians and mechanics has played a leading role for many years. By giving young professionals a career start, the service provider also secures its own long-term success in the demanding context of maintenance and repair of business jets and air ambulances.

The German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) has taken delivery of three heavy H215 helicopters, with a fourth to follow in June 2019. These twin-engine multi-role Super Pumas will enter operation at the beginning of 2020 supporting the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME), which oversees maritime missions off of Germany’s coast.
“The H215’s speed, long-distance performance and high availability rate in harsh conditions are well suited to meet the demanding needs of our maritime team,” said Thomas Helbig, Head of the German Federal Police Air Support. “We’ve had a long and successful experience with the versatile Super Puma, and are eager to continue flying them with this new version, the H215, which comes with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit and 4-axis autopilot.”
These aircraft will complement the German Federal Police’s existing fleet of Airbus helicopters, which includes 42 H135 family helicopters, 19 Super Pumas (AS332 L1s), 19 H155s and 8 H120s.
“Our relationship with the  German Federal Police dates back more than five decades to the Alouette II and has grown to include more than 90 Airbus Helicopters today,” said Wolfgang Schoder, Airbus Helicopters’ Executive Vice President Light Helicopters and Governmental Programmes. “We’re pleased that Germany continues to place its trust in the Super Puma for its life-saving maritime and police missions.”

RUAG Australia is working together with leading Australian researchers to investigate the use of laser metal deposition (LMD) production technology for faster and more cost-effective aircraft repairs. The collaborative project focuses on using LMD technology to manufacture spare parts from steel and titanium. The team includes experts from the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).
Laser metal deposition (LMD) is an additive manufacturing process akin to 3D production technology. Metal powder is fed into a laser beam which is scanned across a surface to deposit the powder material in a precise, web-like formation. “LMD is basically a very high-tech welding process where we make or rebuild metal parts layer by layer,” explains Professor Milan Brandt, RMIT, the research team lead. The bond created by LMD is exceptionally strong making the process a viable method for both manufacturing spare parts and repairing existing parts, where the repaired part is just as strong as, or in some cases even stronger than, the original. Professor Brandt confirms the concept is proven and that prospects for its successful development are positive.
The research team sees the technology being applied to existing military aircraft platforms as well as the newer systems, such as the F-35 fleet. Considering the estimated total cost of replacing damaged aircraft parts for the Australian Air Force alone is currently at more than $230 million a year, the move to locally, additively manufactured components would have a significant impact. The team is evaluating expectations that LMD technology will effect real cost savings in the areas of maintenance and spare parts purchasing, scrap metal management, and warehousing and shipping costs.
“Strategically speaking, a shift to LMD technology means less downtime for repairs and a dramatic increase in the availability and readiness of aircraft,” states Neil Matthews, Senior Manager of Advanced Technology and Engineering Solutions, RUAG Australia. He is convinced that the technology has the potential to transform the concept of warehousing and transporting for the defence industry. Implementing LMD technology means that parts could be built or repaired on site. “Instead of waiting for spare parts to arrive from a warehouse, an effective solution will now be available locally,” he comments.
“This technology could be applied in any industry where metal degradation or remanufacture of parts is an issue. The current project focuses on military aircraft and it is potentially transferable to the civil aircraft, marine, rail, mining, and oil & gas industries,” states David Chuter, CEO and
Managing Director, IMCRC. “Australian industry stands to benefit significantly from this project,” he continues.
The two-year project is the latest in a series of collaborations between RUAG Australia and RMIT.
RUAG Australia is a major industry research centre for the development and application of powder deposition technologies focusing on both SPD, sometimes referred to as cold spray, and laser assisted deposition (LAD), for defence applications. These technologies find cost-effective application in the areas of geometry restoration and corrosion protection, in particular. Further, these technologies enable the restoration of corroded / damaged metallic components / structures to acceptable levels of structural integrity and functionality. RUAG Australia maintains and operates a fixed and mobile SPD capability, as well as a fixed LAD capability, and is a DASA 145, EASA 145, CASA 145 approved organisation.

Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, presented its first E190-E2 jet in a ceremony held today in Astana. The airline will receive four additional E190-E2s next year, with the last of the five aircraft, leased by AerCap, being delivered in the final quarter of 2019. The Kazakhstan airline will start flying the new aircraft on domestic and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) routes later this month.
“All of us at Air Astana are pleased to receive our first E190-E2, and we look forward to a smooth entry into service and a simple transition for our pilots. We know Embraer’s E-Jets well, and have high expectations for their new generation aircraft in terms of economics, environmental impact, and levels of comfort and convenience for our customers,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.
Air Astana’s first E190-E2 features a “snow leopard” livery, designed and hand painted by Embraer in the ‘Profit Hunter’ style. Air Astana’s snow leopard joins the now famous Eagle, Tiger, and Shark E2s with the distinctive ‘Profit Hunter’ nose art. For Air Astana however, the paint scheme is designed to draw global attention to the threat of extinction faced by the wild cat. The snow leopard is an official symbol of Kazakhstan and is native to the country’s southern mountain ranges.
Foster continued. “Our passengers, staff, and in fact the whole of Kazakhstan will appreciate the amazing depiction of the snow leopard on our new jet. The snow leopard embodies the resilience and ambition of our nation, and we all strive to save these magnificent creatures from extinction and for posterity”.
“We are honored to deliver our most advanced commercial aircraft to our good friends at Air Astana”, said John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “For a manufacturer, there is no better reward than to see a customer’s business continuously growing with our products. Air Astana’s decision to embrace the E2 program is a further measure of trust in Embraer and in the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft.”
The delivery marks the beginning of Air Astana’s fleet renewal. Currently the airline operates fleet of E190s aircraft, the first of which was delivered in 2011.
The E190-E2 is the first of three new aircraft types that will make up the Embraer E2 family of aircraft developed to succeed the first-generation E-Jets. Compared to the first-generation E190, the E190-E2 burns 17.3% less fuel and nearly 10% less than its direct competitor. This makes it the most efficient single-aisle aircraft on the market. The E190-E2 brings more flexibility with maximum range of up to 3,293 miles (5,300 km), about 621 miles (1,000 km) more than the first-generation E190.
The E190-E2 also generates significant savings for airlines in terms of maintenance costs, with a reduction of up to 25%. It has the longest maintenance intervals with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit in typical E-Jets utilization. This means an additional 15 days of aircraft utilization over a period of ten years.
Pilots of the first-generation E-Jets require only two-and-a-half days of training without the need for a full flight simulator in order to fly the E2, which decreases the training burden and saves both time and money for the airlines. The E2 cockpit features advanced Honeywell Primus Epic 2 integrated avionics. Combined with the closed-loop fly-by-wire controls, the systems work together to improve aircraft performance, decrease pilot workload and enhance flight safety.
From the passenger’s perspective, the E2 cabin features a comfortable two-by-two layout. The absence of a middle seat enables passengers to have an enjoyable flight experience with more legroom and additional luggage storage space.

As part of its widebody fleet renewal, the Lebanese carrier Middle East Airlines – Air Liban (MEA) has decided to purchase four new and two option Airbus A330-900neo powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines due to deliver in 2021.
Today Rolls-Royce signed a contract with MEA to provide support for the Trent 7000 engines powering its new Airbus A330-900neo fleet. The contract covers long-term engine maintenance services, throughout the operation of the engine with MEA, the purchase of spare engines and supply of parts.
The contract was signed during the Lebanon-UK Business and Investment Forum in London by MEA Chairman – Director General Mohamad El-Hout and Rolls-Royce Chairman Ian Davis and witnessed by the Prime Minister of Lebanon, His Excellency Mr Saad Hariri and the Rt. Honourable Alistair Burt, UK Minister of State for International Development and Minister of State for the Middle East.
Rolls-Royce will deliver the latest engine in its Trent range, the Trent 7000, along with its flagship TotalCare® support service. The Trent 7000 is part of a Trent family that has now accumulated more than 125 million engine flying hours.
Mr El-Hout said: “We are committed to ensuring our airline is at the leading-edge in terms of using technology to provide excellent customer service and performance. Our new aircraft, and their latest-generation Trent 7000 engines, will deliver on that goal.  Rolls-Royce TotalCare is expected to offer optimisation to our maintenance costs through long term engine maintenance services. This deal symbolises the close bonds and relationship between the UK and Lebanon and we are pleased to be signing this historic deal here in London at the Lebanon-UK Business Investment forum under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri.”
Ian Davis said: “We are honoured to sign this contract with a valued, forward-thinking, customer that continues to develop the capability of its fleet. It marks another milestone in a strong relationship we have built up together for more than 50 years, and we look forward to supporting MEA operations to maximise aircraft availability.”
The relationship between Rolls-Royce and MEA dates back more than 50 years, when the airline operated Dart-powered Viscount aircraft. MEA currently operates five Airbus A330 aircraft that are powered by Trent 700 engines, which will be progressively replaced by these latest aircraft.
The 68-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 delivers a step change in performance and economics compared to the Trent 700. Benefitting from a bypass ratio double that of its predecessor, the Trent 7000 will improve specific fuel consumption by 10%, and will significantly reduce noise.

Well color us orange and green this winter!  What the heck are you talking about?  Christmas colors are red and green.  While that may be true, we are talking about “Aircraft Deicing and Anti-icing.”  Here at Yingling Aviation, we are the only independent company that offers this essential service to the Airlines and General Aviation.
As winter arrives, the airport fleet of de-icing trucks drives around the plane spraying de-icing fluid on the wings before the take-off. Do you know how the de-icing liquid on the plane actually works? The main goal of de-icing is to ensure that the aircraft’s critical surface is free from frost, ice, snow, and all the frozen contaminants after the procedure. The aircraft critical surface areas include the wings, the tail, the nose, where radar equipment sits, the horizontal stabilizers and the vertical stabilizer. When the aircraft is completely free of contamination the take-off and landing will be safe.
The ice and the snow on the aircraft fuselage not only add extra weight but also disturb the flow of air, which reduces lift. Moreover, frozen contaminants can also disrupt the movement of the wing flaps and ailerons.
There are four types of de-icing fluids but we use Type I and Type IV at KICT.
Type I fluid is combined with water and provides only short-term protection because it quickly flows off the aircraft surfaces after use. It is sprayed on hot, 130–180 °F, and at high pressure to remove snow, ice, and frost.  It is also dyed orange to aid in identification and application.
Type IV has a higher viscosity and is not mixed with water.  It is also put on to the surface cold. This fluid protects the critical surfaces of the aircraft from the accumulation of frozen precipitation while the plane is waiting to take off. Type IV must be applied onto a clean surface, not contaminated by snow, ice, or other contaminants.
Why de-icing fluid is of different colors? These different colors help to distinguish them more easily. Also, they make it possible to see which parts of the surface have been covered with the fluids.
So if you wondered a little about the deicing process while sitting in an airplane waiting to take off, this gives you a little insight to the deicing process.  One of the many interesting and important services Yingling Aviation offers. Call us on Unicom frequency 129.925 so we can paint you our aviation Christmas colors.

Leonardo announced today that the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is set to introduce a fifth AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter into its fleet. The aircraft is expected to be delivered from Leonardo’s Philadelphia facility in Spring 2019 and will be used to perform a range of missions primarily including fire suppression, emergency medical service (EMS) and search and rescue (SAR).
The Los Angeles Fire Department protects more than four million people in America’s second largest city. It is responsible for 400+ square-miles, 106 stations, and over 3,200 firefighters. LAFD Air Operations’ mission includes fire suppression, air ambulance transport, hoist rescues, reconnaissance and mapping. Their helicopter fleet is housed at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY).
The existing fleet of four LAFD-owned multirole AW139s have a combined 7,000+ flight hours since the first helicopter entered service in 2008, helping respond to over 700 incidents annually. AW139s have proved their workhorse reliability and have demonstrated a crucial piece of equipment for suppressing wildfires throughout Southern California. Features customized for the LAFD AW139 include, among others, search light, rescue hoist, advanced water tank for fire suppression, wire-cutter and modular cabin interior.

Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is bringing enhanced flight deck capabilities to new production Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX turboprop platforms. The features include new standard and optional equipment as part of Garmin’s G1000 NXi next-generation integrated flight deck, which provides pilots with greater control and connectivity in the cockpit.
“The Cessna Caravan platform is renowned for its outstanding performance, payload and dispatch reliability,” said Rob Scholl, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Elevating the capabilities of the aircraft with advanced avionics ensures our customers have access to the latest technology needed to succeed as pilots and operators.”
Options new to the Caravan series include Garmin’s Enhanced Automatic Flight Control System (E-AFCS) with automated features designed to help pilots retain an optimal envelope. The added features include Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), Underspeed Protection (USP), Emergency Descent Mode (EDM), Coupled Go-Around and an auto-level function.
Other options include Garmin’s GSR 56 Iridium Satellite Data Transceiver Link, which provides near worldwide access to downlink weather services as well as satellite voice communication and text message capabilities.
Flight Stream 510 – now a standard feature in the Caravan cockpit – permits two-way flight plan transfers, and allows pilots to stream traffic, weather and GPS information from the flight deck to select portable and mobile devices where local regulations permit.
New standard equipment also includes dual audio panels with 3D audio capabilities that spatially distribute audio sources and simulate how the human ear naturally hears and processes directional sources. This feature allows flight crews to focus their attention on a preferred audio source and enhances situational awareness by reducing confusion or delayed response time that can occur when hearing multiple audio sources simultaneously.
The features will be available on all 2019 Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX turboprops.

After several months of renovation, Duncan Aviation is pleased to announce the reopening of its newly remodeled Design Center at its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility, with nearly 900 additional square feet of space and new features to enhance the customer experience.
The large showroom floor is lined with custom cabinetry and expanded display space to showcase material options and a wide range of aircraft-specific products. It is an open, interactive space where customers are invited to work with designers to select materials and finishes for their interior refurbishment and exterior paint completions.  An integral part of the new space is a conference room separated by glass walls and large sliding doors that can be utilized for either private consultations or opened to be part of the showroom during larger presentations.
The Design Center renovation put major importance on lighting. Large picture windows and skylights are prominent throughout. “We wanted to emphasize the ideal lighting conditions,” says Senior Designer Mary Lee. “The type of lighting is vital when selecting materials. Simulating the combination of natural daylight and LED lighting that is in an aircraft within the showroom allows customers to view materials in the perfect setting.”
Adjacent to the Customer Showroom, the design team occupies updated office space and a reconfigured materials library that features additional work space and fabric sampling.
The Duncan Aviation Design Team in Lincoln has five Designers, one Multimedia Illustrator, and one Design Engineer. The company also has full design capabilities at its Battle Creek, Michigan, location with a team of four Designers and a Multimedia Specialist. Duncan Aviation is also in the process of hiring design staff for aircraft interior services it will soon be offering at its Provo, Utah, facility, which is currently under construction.

Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line Fusion® avionics upgrade for Pro Line 4-equipped Bombardier Challenger 604* series aircraft has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Working closely with Bombardier as the original aircraft manufacturer and Nextant Aerospace as the installation design certification lead, this sole all-in-one solution complies with pending mandates while modernizing the flight experience for pilots. The upgrade is available exclusively throughout Bombardier’s extensive network of service centers and Nextant Aerospace.
The Pro Line Fusion upgrade enhances the operational capabilities of the Challenger 604 aircraft to a similar level as that of the Challenger 605 and Challenger 650 jets equipped with Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced, while providing Challenger 604 operators with a solution to meet future regulatory requirements. Among these enhancements, the upgrade replaces the factory-installed CRT displays with three 14.1-inch widescreen LCD displays with configurable windows. Features designed to improve situational awareness and reduce pilot workload for Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft owners include:
•Market-leading synthetic vision as a standard feature
•Geo-referenced electronic navigation charts that display own-ship aircraft position
•Optional FANS 1/A technology providing more preferred, wind efficient transatlantic routing
•A fully loaded package of baseline equipment for operation in modernizing global airspace – beyond ADS-B mandate compliance, offering SBAS-capable GNSS, localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches, radius-to-fix (RF) legs and more
The Challenger 604 Pro Line Fusion retrofit solution, which is already available for several Beechcraft King Air and Cessna Citation CJ aircraft, is part of our ongoing effort to provide owners with modern technology, enhanced situational awareness and compliance with airspace mandates,” said Christophe Blanc, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Collins Aerospace. “The Challenger 604 business jet is a highly-valued, long-haul aircraft that will be able to continue flying well into the future with this upgrade.”

Elliott Aviation, the aviation industry’s leading Garmin retrofitter, has announced their industry-leading 14th Garmin G5000 Citation Excel/XLS Garmin G5000 retrofit preorder signed agreements.
As the first company to install a Garmin G5000 retrofit, which was in a 2006 Hawker 400XP, Elliott Aviation has installed over 15 Garmin G5000 systems in Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP aircraft. In addition to G5000 experience, they have installed over 325 Garmin G1000 systems in King Airs, more than all other dealers in the world, combined.
The Citation Excel and XLS Garmin G5000 retrofit program is a full retrofit that replaces all existing Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics, including the autopilot and flight director system. The Citation Excel and XLS G5000 retrofit significantly reduces avionics cost of ownership and offers weight savings, ADS-B out, WAAS/LPV, an integrated engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS), and dual channel digital flight control system. The G5000 system has many options that include synthetic vision, turbulence detection, SurfaceWatchTM, underspeed protection and ChartviewTM. Additional options like CPDLC Link 2000 services, FANS 1/A, Lighting and Hail Prediction will be added as future options.
“Leading the industry in Citation Excel and XLS Garmin G5000 installations is a big achievement,” said Conrad Theisen, Director of Avionics Sales for Elliott Aviation. “We look forward to using our unmatched experience of installing hundreds of G1000 and G5000 systems to use for our Citation Excel and XLS customers.”
The Garmin G5000 system for the Citation Excel and XLS is expected to be certified and available to install in 2019. You can find out more about the G5000 program here.

On 1st January 2019, Martin Friis-Petersen (45) will take on the role of Senior Vice President MRO Programs at MTU Aero Engines, heading up the sales and marketing organization for MTU Maintenance. He takes over from Leo Koppers (60), who is retiring after 16 years with MTU.
“We are extremely grateful to Leo Koppers for his great skill and personal dedication. In the time he has been with MTU, he has been the go-to expert for MRO, well-known and respected among key industry players and highly regarded by customers and colleagues alike,” says Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer, MTU Aero Engines. During Koppers tenure, MTU Maintenance’s yearly sales volume has tripled and many key campaigns have been won. “Leo has been a remarkable leader and, as a talented salesman bringing in around 25 million in deals, a tremendous asset to the company. Together with his team he set major cornerstones for the future growth of our MRO business. We wish Leo the very best for his retirement years.”
Koppers successor, Martin Friis-Petersen, has been the Managing Director of MTU Maintenance Lease Services B.V. since 2014. Friis-Petersen joined MTU in 1999 and has held various leadership roles throughout the company, including as Chief Financial Officer of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and SVP MRO Operations at MTU Maintenance Hannover. “We are delighted that Martin Friis-Petersen will be following in the footsteps of Leo as SVP MRO Programs. He has demonstrated a strong ability to build and grow business, create innovative solutions in anticipation of market needs, and put customers in the center of all he does. Through this experience and a total of over 20 years in the aviation industry, we are confident he will help MTU’s MRO division realize the next stage of growth,” Schreyögg adds.
Friis-Petersen’s successor at MTU Maintenance Lease Services B.V. will be Andrea Lübke, currently Vice President of Purchasing at MTU Maintenance, who will also take on the new role from 1st January.
MTU Maintenance is the largest independent MRO provider worldwide and specialized in creating customized solutions for aero engines. In 2017, MTU Maintenance secured over 3.7 billion US dollars in contract wins and signed around 270 new contracts. The company operates a global network with facilities in the Americas, Asia and Europe. Around 4,500 employees from over 60 nationalities provide customers with a wide range of service solutions encompasses all aspects of engine MRO, asset management and leasing. With over 30 engines in its portfolio, MTU Maintenance has performed more than 19,000 shop visits in nearly 40 years.

Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines Ltd. (MHIAEL) recently achieved a significant production milestone on the Pratt & Whitney GTF PW1200G engine, powering the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), Japan’s first jet aircraft developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (Mitsubishi Aircraft). The first PW1200G engine assembly was completed at MHIAEL facility in Komaki, Japan, and successfully passed Pratt & Whitney’s production acceptance test. The first engine produced at the facility is designated to be used in the MRJ flight test program. These are important accomplishments on the road to PW1200G production readiness.
Pratt & Whitney and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines Ltd. celebrate the first PW1200G engine assembly completed at MHIAEL facility in Komaki, Japan.
“Thanks to extensive and close cooperation with Pratt & Whitney, MHIAEL is developing a facility in Komaki to perform final assembly of the PW1200G engine powering the MRJ,” says Katsuyuki Shimauchi, President & CEO, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines, Ltd. “We’re gearing up intensely as we prepare for production by building the capacities and expertise we need to perform this critical work. Our facility is in the process of obtaining approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to produce these engines.”
The MHIAEL facility, located in Komaki, Japan, will be one of two production assembly and test sites for the PW1200G engine. The engine is also assembled and tested at Pratt & Whitney’s Mirabel Aerospace Center in Canada.  MHIAEL was established in 2014.
“The assembly and test of the first PW1200G engine at MHIAEL in Komaki is a key milestone for the PW1200G program,” said Graham Webb, Vice President, Pratt & Whitney commercial engine programs. “We greatly appreciate our long-standing partnership and high level of collaboration with the MHI Group. Congratulations to the MHIAEL and Pratt & Whitney teams that ensured this achievement was successfully accomplished.”
The MRJ is Mitsubishi Aircraft’s next generation regional jet, powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The MRJ aircraft is currently flight testing and Mitsubishi Aircraft anticipates the first delivery in mid-2020. The GTF engine’s geared fan architecture enables double digit reductions in fuel consumption, noise footprint and regulated emissions. Pratt & Whitney is investing more than $2.5 billion in 21st century manufacturing and aftermarket technology to transform its U.S. and global footprint.

Flying Colours, the North American maintenance, repair, overhaul and completions business has broken ground as work starts on building its largest hangar to date. Industrial construction company Vicano Construction Ltd braved the cool Ontario weather to formally begin the fourth phase of expansion plans at the Canada-headquartered business aviation company this month.

On completion in mid-2019 the new building will house a a climate controlled, dedicated paint-shop, a spacious hangar large enough to hold up to A220-size aircraft, as well as offices, customer meeting rooms, interiors workshops and a board room. The investment of approximately CAD$25 million will add a further 100, 000 square feet to the Peterborough footprint.
“Our business has grown significantly over the last twelve months and we were running out of space to accommodate all our clients’ requests. Once the building is complete we will be using it to provide additional capacity for completions, refurbishment and heavy maintenance work scopes on large jet airframes,” said John Gillespie about the expansion.  At the company’s Chesterfield, St. Louis facility a fifth hangar, a leased building, is undergoing preparations to open for business in January 2019 adding a further 40, 000 square feet to the KSUS facility.
More than 100 team members are currently being recruited across both sites to bolster the increased demand as the search for maintenance, interiors and paint expertise leads the recruitment drive.

Yingling Aviation announced significant expansion to its current facilities at Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.  Construction on a new 23,000 square foot facility for aircraft avionics and maintenance has begun.  In addition, the company is adding another 50,000 square foot of newly leased space consisting of a paint hangar, prep hangar, service, aircraft interiors, and office space. The paint hangar can accommodate up to a Hawker 800 mid-size jet.  The additional expansion also includes parking and ramp area.
“We have completed an agreement to lease the facilities on the east runway (1R/19L) at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport located immediately north of our current facilities,” said Lynn Nichols, CEO of the company. “Obviously this is logistically a great fit for our operations.”  The  facilities were recently occupied by Hawker Beechcraft Services and vacated when Textron Aviation combined them with the Textron Aviation Service Center across the east runway last year.
“The opportunity for Yingling to offer aircraft paint services has long been on our list of new services to provide, so having these facilities, particularly next door, is a perfect situation for us.  Adding paint will complement our interior, avionics and aircraft maintenance services.  Generally speaking when customers have their aircraft painted, they often want avionics upgrades, interior refurbishment and timely maintenance items done at the same time.  Adding these paint capabilities positions Yingling Aviation in the marketplace as a full-service MRO,” Nichols continued.
“The newly-added 50,000 square foot facility will undergo a major facelift and renovation inside and outside over the next year.  This will also result in Yingling adding more new jobs.  We’re continuing to add A & P mechanics and avionics technicians and now we’ll be hiring aircraft painters, as well.  We already have several customers lined up for aircraft paint work, so we will be off and running as soon as the facilities are ready.  We’re planning on a mid-January, 2019 start date for paint services to begin,” Nichols explained.
Wichita Airport Authority’s Brad Christopher said, “The recent availability of additional hangar space contiguous with the Yingling Aviation complex was a natural and obvious fit to support their growth as both a full-service MRO and FBO.  The Airport Authority is proud to support and partner with one of its most important and valuable tenant stakeholders.  This is a tremendous economic opportunity for Yingling Aviation, Eisenhower National Airport, and the Wichita community, and it is our privilege to be a part of it.”