January 22, 2018 - No. 006 In This Issue Aircraft Maintenance Venture Boosting Presence in Tennessee $2.5 Million grant for expansion of Ozark's Alabama Aviation College Global Aerospace Adds New Light Aircraft Policy Benefit Inside the $350 million Emirates complex designed to fix the Airbus A380 superjumbo NBAA: Government Shutdown Impacts a Vital U.S. Industry. Airbus Zephyr Pseudo-satellite Gets New Funding Airport Academy at Hollywood Burbank Airport Aims to Launch Interest in Aviation StandardAero's Port San Antonio facility lands another major maintenance contract FAA/EASA Task Force To Announce MMEL Solution Soon SpaceX launch deferred due to US government shutdown Aircraft Maintenance Venture Boosting Presence in Tennessee CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Aircraft maintenance venture West Star Aviation has signed a deal with a key jet-maker that will bring more business to Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the deal will support the company's $20 million expansion in the Tennessee city. Company spokeswoman Debi Cunningham says West Star expects to add between 50 and 75 workers this year at its Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport facilities to handle the growth. She says West Star already employs 68 people at the airport. Cunningham says West Star has finalized a service center agreement with private business aircraft maker Embraer Executive Jets for work in Chattanooga. Airport officials say West Star is tripling its footprint at the airport by adding 80,000 square feet of hangar space. It also will have 32,000 square feet of support space. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee/articles/2018-01-20/aircraft-maintenance- venture-boosting-presence-in-tennessee Back to Top $2.5 Million grant for expansion of Ozark's Alabama Aviation College OZARK, Ala. (PR) - Governor Kay Ivey announced that Enterprise State Community College will receive $2.5 million dollars to expand the Alabama Aviation College in Ozark. The funds are part of the Alabama Capital Improvement Trust Fund which awards funds for projects that promote economic development and industrial recruitment in the state. The Alabama Aviation College offers training and coursework in one of Alabama's fastest growing career fields - aviation. Specifically, students are offered programs in aircraft maintenance and avionics technology. The grant funds announced today will be used to renovate campus infrastructure to expand the College's Advanced Composite Training Program and prepare the campus for future program expansions. "I am proud to award this $2.5 million grant to the Alabama Aviation College and provide funding for lab space for the new Advanced Composite Materials program," Governor Ivey said. "While this grant is for the aviation program, the infrastructure updates it provides will also help to ensure the Ozark campus of Enterprise State Community College is ready to meet all the workforce needs of local business and industry." Enterprise State President Matt Rodgers said the improvements are a clear sign of monumental efforts the college is making to ensure its students are prepared for a multi-faceted aviation industry. The Alabama Aviation College has experienced consistent growth over the last several years, including increasing enrollment by nearly 100 students this semester. "We appreciate Governor Ivey supporting our efforts to provide a first-class educational setting for the students in our service area. These improvements will allow us to enhance existing programs and work closely with local and state industry leaders to meet the demands of our ever-changing workforce," Rogers said. "This is only the beginning. Great days are ahead for the college and the communities we serve." By making much needed renovations and repairs to existing buildings, the campus will be a resource for not only the students who attend classes, but the greater Ozark community as well. Governor Ivey and President Rogers were joined at the press conference by several state and local officials including State Representative Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), Ozark Mayor Bob Bunting, and Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy Baker. "I'm proud that Governor Ivey recognizes the great work being done across Alabama's community colleges to train our state's workforce for high-demand, high-wage jobs," Chancellor Baker said. "The improvements at the Ozark campus will have an immediate positive impact on the students we serve and will also take large strides towards ensuring the campus is meeting the needs of business and industry in the Ozark community." The first phase of the renovation project is slated to begin this summer and all work is expected to be completed in 2019. http://www.wtvy.com/content/news/25-million-grant-for-expansion-of-ozarks-alabama-aviation- college-470171083.html Back to Top Global Aerospace Adds New Light Aircraft Policy Benefit Industry insurance provider Global Aerospace has launched an aircraft breakdown assistance program as an additional benefit for its light aircraft operators. According to the company, the new program-supported by maintenance management provider Savvy Aviation-will offer policyholders complimentary 24/7 access to a dedicated toll-free assistance hotline staffed by experienced airframe and powerplant and inspection authorization technicians. For aircraft operators who experience difficulty while away from their primary base, Savvy will diagnose mechanical problems and help owners determine if their aircraft can be flown home. If repairs are required, they will help locate a local trustworthy maintenance provider and work with them to get the aircraft home safely and quickly. As an added feature, the technical support staff will even review the invoice and advise the customer if it appears to be fair and reasonable for the work performed. "As a worldwide industry leader, Global Aerospace is proud to join with Savvy Aviation to bring this exciting product to the light aircraft community," said Rick Underwood, Global's senior vice president and manager of its Aeroinsure division. "For the very first time, light aircraft owners can link their insurance protection with the peace of mind of breakdown assistance. This combination adds tremendous value at no additional cost for our light aircraft policyholders." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2018-01-19/global-aerospace-adds- new-light-aircraft-policy-benefit Back to Top Inside the $350 million Emirates complex designed to fix the Airbus A380 superjumbo Over the past three decades, Emirates has become a global aviation powerhouse. The Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based airline now operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. The tally includes 101 Airbus A380s, five times as many as the next largest operator of the superjumbo. And Emirates has committed to as many as 77 more of the planes. It also operates 166 Boeing 777 airliners. That means roughly 12% of all Boeing 777s produced over the past 25 years currently fly wearing Emirates livery. And the people tasked with keeping these planes operating safely and effectively is Emirates Engineering. It's the airline's maintenance arm. Emirates engineering handles everything from routine line maintenance to comprehensive checks that require the disassembly of the airplane. They also do engine maintenance, cabin modifications, and aircraft upgrade projects. Emirates even has a paint shop where it can do custom liveries and decals. It's an organization that has proved to be immensely successful and is built on a team-focused culture of "when in doubt, ask for help" and an understanding of the importance of preventative maintenance. Emirates engineering is headquartered in a complex of hangars, engineering shops, and office building at the northern edge of Dubai Airport. The $350 million facilities opened for business in 2006. Recently, Business Insider had the pleasure of a taking a tour of Emirates Engineering facility. http://www.businessinsider.com/emirates-engineering-maintenance-tour-2018-1?op=1/#its-in- the-shop-to-have-an-engine-pylon-replaced-16 Back to Top NBAA: Government Shutdown Impacts a Vital U.S. Industry Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2018 - National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today warned Washington policymakers that the government shutdown, which took effect Saturday, could have serious repercussions for a vital American industry: general aviation. "General aviation is among the nation's most regulated industries, with daily oversight and essential services provided by several federal agencies," said Bolen. "If history is any guide, this shutdown could severely impact the industry, jeopardizing jobs and causing economic harm." Bolen noted that, during the last government shutdown in 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) aircraft registry was closed, halting the purchase, sale maintenance, and in some cases, even the movement, of aircraft. The written approval of the federal government is required for all those activities. According to FAA data, more than 10,000 aircraft registrations expire each month, and cannot be renewed while the registry is closed. "If the FAA aircraft registry closes, it will immediately create an untenable situation for general aviation," said Bolen. "Equally important," Bolen said, "general aviation also depends on services and decision-making from myriad other agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection." More than 1 million Americans are employed in general aviation; it is a key component of the nation's manufacturing base, and is one of the few industries making a positive impact on America's balance of trade. It is also predominantly an industry of small and mid-size businesses. Many communities rely on general aviation for business transportation, humanitarian flights, all manner of civil services, and other needs. "General aviation is an indispensable asset, and we cannot afford to let it close for business," said Bolen. "NBAA will continue to press for a bipartisan agreement to end the shutdown, and we encourage our members to contact their representatives and do the same." Those concerned about the impact of shutdown on general aviation should visit NBAA's government shutdown information page, which has up-to-the-minute details on how the government shutdown impacts business aviation, as well as the actions NBAA is taking and a resource for NBAA members to contact Congress about the issue. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12392606/nbaa-government-shutdown-impacts-a- vital-us-industry Back to Top Airbus Zephyr Pseudo-satellite Gets New Funding Airbus Defence and Space described some new funding for its Zephyr high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) project in the UK. The Zephyr is a lightweight, solar- and battery-powered unmanned aerial system. Previous experimental versions have flown above 60,000 feet for up to 14 days. In early 2016, AIN reported that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered two of the latest version for an operational concept demonstration. Airbus has partnered with four British small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and two universities to help develop key technologies in aerostructures, energy storage, and propulsion for what it described as "the next generation of Zephyr." The Zephyr Innovation Programme (ZIP) is worth £7.61 million ($10.5 million) including £3.64 million ($5 million) from the UK government. The SMEs are Axillium Research; Formtech Composites Ltd; Productiv Ltd; and OXIS Energy Ltd. The two universities are Cranfield and Newcastle. Airbus says that the Zephyr offers unique capabilities for Earth observation, Internet connectivity, and maritime surveillance; and that the market for such HAPS is growing rapidly. But although Airbus confirmed that the first production examples are being manufactured at Farnborough, it did not describe how much progress it had made under the latest MoD contract. The first flight of a Zephyr under that contract was due in mid-2017. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-01-19/airbus-zephyr-pseudo-satellite- gets-new-funding Back to Top Airport Academy at Hollywood Burbank Airport Aims to Launch Interest in Aviation Jan. 20--Hollywood Burbank Airport launched a new educational program for Burbank Unified School District students this week to hopefully spark an interest for them to pursue aviation careers, officials said. On Wednesday, a mix of 25 students from Burbank and John Burroughs high schools attended the first class of the Airport Academy, a five-day course that teaches students how an airport functions and what it takes for it to operate smoothly. The courses, with one class held per month, will touch on the various aspects of Hollywood Burbank Airport. The students will get a chance to hear about its day-to-day operations from police, fire and airport personnel, learn about the roles of the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration and talk to pilots and flight attendants in the airline industry, said Lucy Burghdorf, spokeswoman for Hollywood Burbank. "These kids have an airport right in their backyard, and there are so many career paths you can take in aviation," Burghdorf said. "So we have this wonderful resource here, so why not share it and expose our young people to careers in aviation." During the class on Wednesday, each student introduced themselves and why they decided to sign up for the academy, which is held in conjunction with Burbank Unified's career technical education program. Many of the students said they were generally curious about how the airport operates. However, there were a handful of them who are in the process of getting their private pilot's licenses or were looking to major in aerospace engineering in college, which was a surprise for Burghdorf. "I was shocked and thrilled, and it reinforces the fact that the reason we're doing this is very beneficial to the students," Burghdorf said. "Maybe this will solidify more of their desires to pursue a career in aviation." Beth Wilke, a senior at John Burroughs, was one of those students who said they are looking to get their pilot's license, and was actually slated to take her test a few days after the inaugural academy class. Wilke, who aspires to become a commercial airline pilot, said her love of aviation was solidified when she and her family were in Belize. They were taking a small single-engine plane from the mainland to an island, and the pilot asked Wilke, who was 12 years old at the time, if she wanted to sit in the co-pilot's seat during the short flight. "I got to see the crystal blue waters underneath us, and it was the coolest experience," she said. "Ever since then, I was really interested in aviation, and it wasn't until my sophomore year that I decided that this was the field that I want to go into." Adrian Hernandez, who was also a senior at John Burroughs, said he wants to pursue a career as an aerospace engineer. Fascinated with how things work, Hernandez said he grew up playing with different erector sets and Legos. When it came time for him to decide what profession he should pursue, he narrowed his decision to something in engineering. "I then gravitated toward aerospace engineering because it's always been a mystery to me how planes, these big hunks of metal, fly through the air," Hernandez said. When asked what they hope to get out of the Airport Academy, both Wilke and Hernandez said they hope to network with the people at the airport and airlines. "The aviation industry is such a small field that you could meet people that could help you later on," Wilke said. http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12392604/airport-academy-at-hollywood-burbank-airport- aims-to-launch-interest-in-aviation Back to Top StandardAero's Port San Antonio facility lands another major maintenance contract StandardAero's facility at Port San Antonio has won its second major contract in less than two months. The Arizona-based aerospace company will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the Rolls-RoyceRB211-535E4 jet engine, it announced late Thursday afternoon. Under the maintenance, repair and overhaul contract, Rolls-Royce designated StandardAero's Port San Antonio facility as its end-of-life maintenance service partner for that engine. Rolls-Royce is expected to keep its RB211-535E4 engines, used to power Boeing 757 airplanes, in service through 2040. The value of the contract was not disclosed. The RB211-535E4 is the highest-thrust engine that StandardAero performs maintenance, repair and overhaul work on, President of Airlines and Fleets Peter Turner said in a statement. "Winning this large, long-term commercial contract is a true demonstration of our strong customer relationships, trusted service partnerships and proven abilities to successfully stand up engine MRO programs," Turner said. For Rolls-Royce, the contract represents the car and jet engine maker's evolving service network, Senior Vice President Tom Palmer said in a statement. StandardAero's Port San Antonio facility spans 500,000 square feet and employs hundreds of people. In December, the San Antonio facility landed a $380 million military contract to service Rolls- Royce's T-56 engines, which are propeller-based and used on C-130 transport planes. Weighing more than 20 tons, the Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 is a jet engine; the Boeing 757 airplane is used by commercial airlines and cargo companies. The back-to-back announcements by StandardAero underscore market confidence in the company's San Antonio facility and its workforce, Port San Antonio CEO Roland Mower said in a statement. "As global commercial aviation is expected to double within the next few years, there is literally a world of opportunities for StandardAero and other key players in our community to purse projects like the one announced today," Mower said. "These efforts will keep global fleets up and running. And they will continue to be an important pillar of San Antonio's economic strength and growth in the years ahead." https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/01/19/standardaeros-port-san-antonio- facility-lands.html Back to Top FAA/EASA Task Force To Announce MMEL Solution Soon Flight planning company Flight Service Bureau expects the joint FAA/EASA workgroup to soon provide a solution to the master minimum equipment list (MMEL) versus minimum equipment list (MEL) "debacle." Last year, ramp checks on some U.S. aircraft in France exposed the fact that EASA and the FAA have different interpretations of the ICAO standards for deferring aircraft discrepancies. In the U.S., operators with FAA authorization can use an MMEL, but in Europe an MEL specific to each aircraft or fleet must be used. In November 2016, EASA began requiring all aircraft transiting European airspace to have an approved MEL for each individual aircraft. According to Flight Service Bureau, EASA will not accept an MEL that just references the MMEL. "This has been a pain for U.S. operators, as to get an individual MEL approved under the Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the FAA takes time," the flight planner said. "But by not doing so, they run the risk of failing a ramp check in a European country." Flight Service Bureau said the FAA will soon issue a notice requiring international operators to obtain new D195 LOAs, and EASA will give a 12-month grace period to allow time for these LOAs to be issued. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-01-19/faa/easa-task-force- announce-mmel-solution-soon Back to Top SpaceX launch deferred due to US government shutdown "Due to the shutdown removing key members of the civilian workforce, the 45th Space Wing will not be able to support commercial static fires taking place on KSC," Florida Today reported. The Air Force's 45th Space Wing further said that launch operations at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are on hold until the shutdown is resolved. The US government shutdown has left upcoming launches from NASA and space transport services company SpaceX in limbo. According to a report in Inverse, a recent FAQ from NASA says that all non-essential employees should stay at home during a government shutdown unless they receive alternative guidance. "The space walk by NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Scott Tingle, scheduled for Tuesday, will go on as planned, but if the shutdown continues into next week, they may not be broadcast because NASA TV is likely not considered mission essential," the report added. NASA's spacewalk flight director Zeb Scoville told the media last week that both ISS crew members as well as ground support staff, from engineers to mission control, will continue in the job. If the shutdown continues, it may also affect the launch of a SpaceX communications satellite which is scheduled for January 30 launch from Cape Canaveral. http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/f8332b57-ca99-46df-ade4-b7f89e0b250d.aspx Curt Lewis