AAV News in Brief 11 February 2021

India’s Flybig opts for LAMINARR software: Flybig, India’s newest airline, has selected LAMINAAR Aviation Infotech’s ARMS V2.5 unified platform for network planning, crew management, flight operations, flight dispatch, maintenance and engineering (M&E) and safety management. In addition, Flybig has also opted for the ARMS mobility suite to enable digitalisation and promote paperless operations. With offices, design and development labs in Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore and Denver, LAMINAAR’s 75-plus global clients include top Indian airlines such as: Air India, GoAir, Vistara, SpiceJet among large scheduled operators and start-ups such as Star Air. The company’s global clients include heavyweights: Air Asia, Iberia, Silk Air of the Singapore Airlines group and Jin Air, the low-cost subsidiary of Korean Airlines. Among the many large non-scheduled operators, Qatar based Gulf Helicopters has been LAMINAAR’s client for nearly a decade. Currently with two ATR 72-500s, the airline plans to add more ATR 72s as well as Dornier 228s. Flybig is an Indore, Madhya Pradesh based Indian airline. It was set up for pan-India regional operations with a vision to improve connectivity in the sector, aligned with the UDAN RCS, the regional connectivity scheme of the government of India. PWI gets FAA approval for King Air upgrade: PWI announced that the FAA has given STC approval to the PWI B200/250 King Air window LED upgrade. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this certification and so have B200/250 owners,” says Robi Lorik, president and CEO of PWI. “I’m happy to say that we have the parts ready to ship right now. Just send us the orders.” The FAA has already STC’d a similar LED upgrade for use in the King Air 90, King Air 100 and King Air 200 model aircraft, the B200/250 now completes the LED upgrade family of FAA STC’d lighting for all King Air models. PWI’s LED upgrade will not create a buzzing noise which plagues current lighting systems, giving an overall quieter flight to all passengers. The upgrade also provides 100,000 hours of life as well as a 33 percent weight savings, compared to fluorescent. The PWI upgrade also requires 50 percent less measured operating current, and eliminates the high voltage associated with fluorescent lighting. LED’s also require less ongoing maintenance. CPaT signs deal with Star Peru: CPaT Global announced it has been awarded a new contract by Star Perú for initial and recurrent training. Star Perú will be using CPaT’s Aircraft Systems Courses, Interactive Diagrams, and Aviation Specialty Courses (General Subjects) to train their pilots. “CPaT looks forward to this partnership with Star Perú to provide distance learning solutions for their aviation training needs,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, CPaT’s vice president of sales. “We are honored to support Star Perú’s goal of providing premium training for their pilots.” Star Perú is a Peruvian airline based in Lima, Perú. The carrier mostly flies domestic routes in Perú from its base in Lima, as well as Santiago, Chile. AJW Technique named Montreal’s top employer: AJW Technique, the hub for AJW Group’s global component repair and overhaul capabilities has been named Montreal’s Top Employer. First published in 2006, the annual competition, organised by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, recognises the employers that lead their industries in offering an exceptional workplace experience. AJW Technique was evaluated on eight criteria, ranging from Physical Workplace, Employee Communications, Performance Management and Training & Skills Development. Employers are compared to other organisations in their field to determine which offer the most progressive and productive environment. AJW Technique is grateful to its employees for their commitment, dedication and loyalty. They excel in all areas, especially in teamwork and togetherness. This is what makes a strong business and a fulfilling environment, especially during unprecedented times. In the past year alone, the AJW Technique team has developed over 30 new capabilities, alongside many flexible promotions and solutions to improve customer profitability and response during COVID. They have focused hard on bettering the business, with workflow optimisation initiatives, manpower efficiency, dynamic parts support in partnership with key suppliers and operators alike. FEAM to unveil new facility in Miami: FEAM has announced that their new aircraft hangar facility at Miami International Airport build-out and upgrade project is near completion. The Miami-based company provides maintenance and engineering services to a variety of domestic and international air carriers flying transport planes throughout the country. The US$2 million project is an expansion of the Miami hangar that will provide FEAM with the opportunity to serve the growing demand of freighter business and also increase the capacity of existing services. The Hangar at Miami International Airport will be FEAM’s second aircraft hangar in the United States. The latest Miami International Airport project also includes the signing of a 40-year re-certification for the hangar, which is a representation of the company’s commitment to serving the Miami aviation community. As one of the busiest cargo airports in the country, Miami has increased cargo-only flights by more than 14 percent. IATA offers free training to former cabin crew: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is offering an online training course to help laid-off airline cabin crew members re-enter the job market. This course will be offered free of charge for those who register between 9 and 23 February. A survey of 800 cabin crew who have lost their jobs in the crisis found that 78 percent wanted help to identify skills that can enable them to transfer into other roles. The three-hour Cabin Crew – Leveraging Professional Skills course was developed with input from former crew members to meet this need by enabling crew to enhance, promote and recognise professional skills that can be leveraged in other jobs. Additionally, crew will learn practical tips for preparing for the job application process and will have an opportunity to learn from the experience of colleagues that have already transitioned to other roles outside the industry. Quiet Technology Aerospace provides corrosion repair: Quiet Technology Aerospace (QTA) has earned FAA/EASA approval for an inexpensive repair solution to a corrosion problem plaguing operators of several mid-size jets using Honeywell HTF7000 engines. The problem is a significant and recurring corrosion on the thrust reverser (TR) doors. Until now there was no option for repairing the affected doors. An operator’s only corrosion-relief option was installing new OEM thrust reverser doors at considerable cost. Aircraft operating the HTF 7000 engines include: Challenger 300/350, Gulfstream G280, Embraer Legacy 450/500 (now Praetor 500/600) and the Citation Longitude. QTA is approved to apply their corrosion repair solution even if the TR doors are deemed to be beyond economical repair (BER). QTA’s thrust reverser door Life Extension Program does just that. It extends the life of the TR doors until such time as a permanent solution is finalized, approved and available. Quiet Technology Aerospace has a permanent solution under review now and is confident an approved TR door Permanent Solution will be available by mid to late 2021. The repaired TR doors are light weight. Repairs can be made within two weeks. The QTA Life Extension repair provides maximum protection per the existing OEM corrosion Service Bulletin. TOPCAST signs distributor agreement with SMR Technologies: TOPCAST announced a new distributor agreement with SMR Technologies for the Ice Shield. The partnership will reinforce the product portfolio for providing more safe, durable and reliable de-icing products. Demand for de-icing products is showing strong growth. Ice Shield rubber de-ice boots support over 85 percent of the contemporary general aviation aircraft. All available aircraft parts are strenuously tested in extreme conditions and certified by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Ice Shield PSA custom-designed wing de-icers can be quickly and easy to install. Located in Fenwick, West Virginia, Ice Shield has over 20 years’ experience specialising in high quality de-icing for general, commuter and military aviation. Today Ice Shield is available for over 75 aircraft models cover pneumatic wing boot de-icers, propeller electro-thermal boot de-icers, wire harnesses, engine Inlet de-icers, leading edge assemblies for TBM, and self- innovated De-ice hardware and De-ice accessories. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]