This article is sponsored content prepared and distributed by KF Aerospace.

Canada is entering a new era of military aircrew training, with SkyAlyne selected by the Government of Canada as the contractor for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. KF Aerospace, a proudly Canadian company and founding partner in SkyAlyne, plays a critical role in ensuring the airworthiness of five new fleets of training aircraft for the 25+ year program.

We are seeking experienced aerospace engineers today, particularly those transitioning from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), to join us in this pivotal role as Aircraft Fleet Engineers for FAcT.

This is more than just an engineering job—it’s an opportunity to shape the future of Canada’s Air Force.

Start from the Ground Up

Imagine being at the forefront of a groundbreaking new program that is set to redefine aircrew training for Canada’s Air Force. Your expertise will help drive the development and execution of a training program that will prepare the next generation of RCAF pilots, Air Combat Systems Operators, and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators. This is a unique opportunity to have a lasting impact on military aviation in Canada and globally.

Your Work is Instrumental

The success of the FAcT Program relies heavily on the skills and dedication of its aerospace engineers. Your work will be crucial in managing airworthiness clearances and addressing fleet technical issues, directly influencing the operational readiness of one of the RCAF’s most vital programs. This role demands both technical proficiency and a strong commitment to excellence.

Work on State-of-the-Art Aircraft

One of the most exciting aspects of the FAcT Program is the chance to work on the RCAF’s new fleet of training aircraft. The Grob 120TP, Pilatus PC-21, Beechcraft/Textron King Air 260, DeHavilland Dash-8-400, and Airbus H-135 Helicopter will form the backbone of FAcT, stationed at training bases in Moose Jaw, Southport, and Winnipeg. You’ll be based in SkyAlyne’s Ottawa Joint Management Office, collaborating with the Department of National Defence and RCAF personnel to ensure program success. Whether handling risk management, configuration management, or technical problem resolution, you’ll apply your skills to some of the most advanced training aircraft in the world.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

At KF Aerospace, we recognize the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. That’s why we offer competitive compensation and benefits to ease this transition. As part of the FAcT Program, you’ll enjoy a rewarding career with flexibility and a supportive team. Based in Ottawa, this role provides the perfect balance of professional challenge and personal well-being, with comprehensive benefits including health and dental coverage, pension matching, and relocation assistance for you and your family if you’re moving to Ottawa.

Be a Part of History

Canada’s military aircrew training has a storied history of excellence, and the FAcT Program is set to continue this legacy, especially as the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrates its 100th anniversary. By joining KF Aerospace and the SkyAlyne team, you’ll play a vital role in writing the next chapter of this proud history.

If you’re a retiring CAF aerospace engineer looking for your next challenge, the FAcT Program with KF Aerospace and SkyAlyne offers a unique opportunity to continue serving your country in a meaningful and impactful way.

Join us in shaping the future of Canada’s Air Force—apply today and be part of something truly extraordinary.

For more information, visit Future Aircrew Training Careers.

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Focused on survivability, the Leonardo AW101/ CH-149 Cormorant is the most advanced, versatile, and capable multi-role helicopter available today.

The Canadian Department of National Defence awarded Leonardo (through Leonardo U.K. Ltd. in Yeovil) a C$1-billion (€690-million) contract for the AW101/CH-149 Cormorant mid-life upgrade (CMLU) project. This includes 16 aircraft in total, comprising 13 existing Cormorant search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters currently in service and the augmentation of a further three aircraft.

The AW101, Leonardo’s highly versatile helicopter, has operated in some of the most extreme environments in the world — in both military and civilian roles. The helicopter has also seen significant success, especially in SAR roles.

The CMLU project will enhance the aircraft’s systems and technologies, ensure compliance with emerging airspace requirements, extend the life expectancy of the fleet to 2042, and enable the return of Cormorant helicopters to the main operating base (MOB) in Trenton, Ontario. Thirteen aircraft will be upgraded by Leonardo’s principle Canadian subcontractor, IMP Aerospace and Defence, at its facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Leonardo will provide oversight of production transition and support for the duration of the build with its in-country team.

The aircraft are largely based upon the AW101-612 standard (the equivalent of the Norwegian AW101 all-weather SAR helicopter, now in operations across Norway). The Royal Norwegian Air Force has been utilizing the aircraft across the country’s harsh coastline and up to the Arctic Circle, where temperatures reach below zero. It is noteworthy that three of eight Arctic Council members have chosen the AW101 as the vehicle to discharge their responsibilities in this most northern and hostile environment. This includes not only Canada, but Denmark and Norway.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force has undertaken rescue missions in very harsh conditions similar to those experienced in Canada by the RCAF CH-149 Cormorant crews. Furthermore, the CMLU project will include state-of-the-art avionics, a new glass cockpit, more powerful digitally-controlled engines, wireless in-cabin communications, and the latest SAR sensors, including an electro-optical/infrared device and a mobile phone detection, location and communication system — enabling less search and more rescue.

The AW101 has an impressive range and performance envelope, allowing crews to go much farther and higher than was previously possible with helicopters. Crews are now able to fly over mountainous terrain rather than circumnavigate them via coastal navigation, which means significantly improved response times.

As described above, this performance also allows the helicopter to fly above adverse weather conditions, which improves crew and passenger comfort and provides a more stable environment for missions.

The AW101’s avionics and mission suite will include a fully-integrated glass cockpit, four-axis digital avionics system, and a health and usage monitoring system, among other capabilities. This provides the crew with heightened situational awareness, mission effectiveness, and the ability to make rapid tactical assessments day or night.

Focused on survivability, the AW101’s design is driven by customer demands to operate autonomously in harsh weather and hostile locations. Extensive redundancy in avionics and critical systems, combined with the three-engine configuration and proven 30-minute run-dry transmission capability, ensures the highest standards of safety.

The AW101 provides customers with greater mission flexibility, thanks to a comprehensive range of equipment that enables the platform to be configured for swing role operations. The large sliding door and rear ramp ensure rapid personnel ingress/egress and equipment loading/unloading. The versatility of the AW101 platform permits customers to configure the helicopter for a wide range of primary and secondary roles.

Designed with sophisticated avionics and mission systems, coupled with long range and endurance, and the aircraft’s ability to use two out of three engines for cruise flights, the AW101 provides operational persistence for all missions. This mission flexibility makes the AW101 the most advanced, versatile, and capable multi-role helicopter available today.

The current SAR fleet will continue to support missions throughout the CMLU implementation period. The Cormorant helicopter and its RCAF crews have served Canadians with exemplary service over the past 20 years, and will continue to do so in the interim.

Aircraft are anticipated to be delivered from 2026 to 2029. Nearly 50 Leonardo helicopters are operational in Canada for civil, public utility, and military operations. The company’s dedicated network delivers certified support across the country. Its top-ranked customer support team provides advanced training and simulation packages, and offers comprehensive maintenance plans tailored to each customer.

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This year, Airbus in Canada has many reasons to celebrate, first and foremost because it’s marking four decades of success. 

“Our presence in Canada, beginning in 1984, is the strongest outside Europe where Airbus was founded,” explained Airbus Canada CEO Benoît Schultz. “Over the last 40 years, we have grown in size and capabilities, now more than 4,000 strong in our workforce across 10 offices and nine manufacturing and service locations. We also support about 23,000 indirect jobs through contracts of over $2 billion a year, sourcing from more than 700 Canadian companies.”

Airbus has three divisions in Canada, each managed carefully to remain highly successful. Airbus Helicopters Canada existed from the start, and is therefore also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. At its headquarters in Fort Erie, Ontario, it focuses on helicopter sales and deliveries, composite manufacturing, repair and overhaul, supplemental type certificates and options development, and support and services.

The Fort Erie facility was established under a federal program to deliver the MBB Bo 105 fleet, a model which was used extensively for many years by the Canadian Coast Guard.

“This facility has grown into a well-known centre of excellence for engineering and composite manufacturing and is the sole-source supplier on eight different Airbus helicopter types operating all over the world,” said Airbus Helicopters in Canada president and chief operating officer Dwayne Charette. “Over half our workforce works on products for export. The repair and overhaul team provides overhaul services and dynamic component repair to all operators of light single-engine Airbus helicopters around the world.”

Over the last five years, Airbus Helicopters in Canada has maintained a 75 percent average market share in Canada. There are currently 760 Airbus helicopters in operation across the country owned by 228 customers. About 80 percent of the Airbus Helicopters in Canada in-service fleet are used in utility/multirole missions. Indeed, the newest Airbus helicopter to Canada, the H160, has advanced features that specifically support multirole missions. It received Canadian type certification in December and has already generated strong interest across North America.

Beyond its dedication to bringing new and innovative solutions to its customers across the country, Airbus Helicopters in Canada additionally has its targets set on providing solutions for future defence programs, such as the next Tactical Aviation Capability Set (nTACS) program.

Airbus Helicopters in Canada remains committed to providing rotary-wing solutions for all mission types: emergency medical services, firefighting, law enforcement, search-and-rescue, private and business aviation, energy, and aerial work. Last year, SkyAlyne — a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace — was selected as the preferred bidder for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. As a part of that bidding process, SkyAlyne has selected the H135 as its rotary-wing platform of choice. This would be the first Airbus Helicopters product to be flown by the RCAF.

Defence and Space

As Airbus in Canada celebrates its own 40th birthday in 2024, it also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the RCAF. “This is clearly a tremendous milestone which we, as Canadians, can all be proud of,” said Jean-François Godbout, head of Airbus Defence and Space Canada. “Airbus has been a key partner to the RCAF over the last four decades. From the CC-150 Polaris to the CC-295 Kingfisher and CC-330 Husky, Airbus has successfully completed many RCAF missions in North America and worldwide.”

In July 2023, the Government of Canada announced plans to purchase four new Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and convert five used A330-200s. This new fleet will replace the aging CC-150 Polaris fleet operated by the RCAF, which performs air-to-air refuelling, personnel lift, medical evacuations and transport of government officials.

Still within military markets, but also in commercial and civil markets, Airbus in Canada continues to deliver outstanding space technology, satellite solutions and earth observation data technology. 

Major commercial milestone

Within its commercial aircraft division, Airbus Canada is proud to announce that this year also marks the use of its A220 aircraft on five continents. Australia’s national carrier, Qantas Group, has recently entered into service its first new-generation A220 plane, becoming the 20th operator around the world to do so. The company will eventually have up to 29 A220s for its QantasLink business, which services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.

Airbus Canada assumed manufacturing and support of the A220 group in 2018 at its facility in Mirabel, Quebec. It is the only aircraft production program in Canada, and the A220 is the only aircraft on Earth purpose-built for the 100- to 150-seat market. “Our A220s have connected more than 100 million people with their loved ones,” said Schultz, who also leads Airbus’s commercial division in Canada. “The A220s in service have so far flown more than a billion kilometres, and that’s just the beginning.”

Indeed, many more achievements lie ahead for all three divisions at Airbus in Canada, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

“We have a decades-long history of demonstrating excellence with a full range of capabilities and proven solutions, and this will continue into the future,” Schultz said. “We remain committed to our strong, ongoing contributions to aviation and aerospace in Canada and beyond. When Canada recognizes a need, Airbus will be there.”

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This sponsored article was created by Insight magazine, the sponsored content division of MHM Publishing, on behalf of Voyageur Aviation.

North Bay’s Voyageur Aviation has a long history of multifaceted operations, with a growing expertise in supporting government and defence programs. Along with its publicly-traded parent company, Chorus Aviation Inc., Voyageur offers a broad array of specialized technical, component, and flight solutions.

Founded in 1968, the company currently employs over 400 people, with its headquarters in North Bay, Ontario. Its 200,000-square-foot (18,580-square-meter) facility comprises five hangars, specialty aviation shops, a design engineering centre, training facilities, and a 24/7 worldwide dispatch and maintenance planning centre. Voyageur also has other Canadian bases in Hamilton, Moncton and Trenton, as well as forward operating bases in Africa and the Middle East, which support unique aviation missions on behalf of intergovernmental organizations.

The post Voyageur Aviation: Canada’s Special Mission Expert appeared first on Skies Mag.

This sponsored article was created by Insight magazine, the sponsored content division of MHM Publishing, on behalf of Arcfield Canada Corp.

Arcfield Canada Corp., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, has been a trusted partner to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for more than three decades. 

The company’s impressive pedigree in providing fighter support includes more than 35 years of delivering critical services, such as full fleet supply chain and logistics management, comprehensive avionics maintenance repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U), and innovative engineering solutions.

These core capabilities, coupled with Arcfield’s four technical airworthiness accreditations, ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certifications, and compliance to Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards, ensure Canada receives the most reliable outcomes.

Over the years, Arcfield has been a trusted partner and supplier of choice to all Boeing F/A-18 users, and counts among its valued customers the armed forces of Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. Arcfield is already fully integrated in the CAF system supporting the vital missions of the RCAF.

^{Strategic partnership}

As a critical link in the sustainment of fighter operations, Arcfield is proud to enter an exclusive partnership with OneLogistics, a valued European partner in supporting Canada’s incoming Lockheed Martin F-35 fleet.

OneLogistics was established in the Netherlands in 2009 with a single vision: To create a company that is able to deliver optimization solutions by integrating warehousing, transport, customs, and compliance management into a control tower solution, adding the best value to the F-35 program readiness, affordability, scalability, and agility.

For five years now, OneLogistics has been providing sustainment supply chain management services for all the F-35s, both based and deployed in the European region. During that period, OneLogistics has gained in-depth knowledge of the F-35 Global Support Solution (GSS). This allowed it to develop best-in-class sustainment supply chain solutions and become one of the most effective product support providers (PSP) of the F-35 program.

 ^{A proven model for F-35 sustainment}

The partnership between Arcfield and OneLogistics will deliver a proven sustainment solution for the Canadian F-35s, based on the successful model that’s been in operation in Europe since 2019.

When the first F-35 aircraft enters service in Canada, adherence to the F-35 GSS will require Canada to adopt significant changes in its in-service support philosophy and construct compared to what exists today for the Boeing CF-18. That’s why Arcfield has partnered with OneLogistics, the operator of the F-35 European Regional Warehouse and the largest supply chain manager for the F-35 outside the U.S.

Arcfield will implement a tailored version of the successful OneLogistics model to deliver an immediate, reliable, and low-risk logistics readiness solution for the RCAF.

^{Operational and economic benefits to Canada}

Arcfield’s vision aims to address the Government of Canada’s economic goals and the RCAF operational outcomes for the sustainment and logistics of the Canadian F-35 program. Arcfield can provide Canada with a turnkey solution to meet its supply chain management and logistics objectives, and contributes to the overall effectiveness of the GSS for the F-35 in Canada.

Supply chain management and logistics is a core competency of Arcfield. The company can provide state-of-the-art warehousing facilities and fully integrated logistics solutions tailored to the unique requirements of Canadian F-35 operations. 

With the use of the successful OneLogistics model and leveraging Arcfield’s core capability, Arcfield can provide an all-encompassing Canadian supply chain management and logistics solution. Arcfield can collaborate with the RCAF to identify strategic logistic support locations for a Canadian regional warehouse and the pre-positioned deployment support packages designed to optimize mission support across Canada’s vast geography.

Arcfield will deliver a beneficial value proposition that will employ Canadians across several regions, specifically in the Prairies and Quebec.

^{The Arcfield advantage}

Arcfield currently provides comprehensive nose to tail supply chain management and logistics support for Canada’s fleet of CF-18 fighter aircraft. The company has supported Canada’s fighter fleet throughout four life extensions, demonstrating its ability to align with the changing concept of operations (CONOPS) of the fleet. 

Arcfield’s role and scope of work has expanded under Canada’s Optimized Weapon System Support (OWSS) concept to be a full in-service support performance-based contract. These roles include program management, engineering support, maintenance support, and materiel support. 

^{Collaboration strength} 

Arcfield is confident that in utilizing the proven OneLogistics model already in service throughout the European region, it can provide Canada with a sovereign regional warehouse solution to ensure reliable operational availability of Canadian F-35 equipment and materiel. An Arcfield and OneLogistics solution will assure Canada’s successful transition from the CF-18 to the F-35 fleet and deliver mission-ready assets every time they are needed. 

The post The Arcfield Advantage appeared first on Skies Mag.

Last year, Peraton Canada rebranded as Arcfield Canada, but the new name is anchored in more than 35 years of proven support to Canada’s fighter fleet.

Since CF-18 fighter jets first took off in the 1980s, the Arcfield Canada team has provided the highest levels of equipment and engineering support to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). As the company has changed identities — from Harris to Peraton and now Arcfield — a core team of more than 100 specialists has ensured the highest readiness levels for the Canadian fighter fleet.

Today, Arcfield Canada offers three main core capabilities: supply chain management (SCM), maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and engineering solutions (ES).

To achieve over 98 per cent availability of aircraft and support equipment on a 365/24/7 basis, Arcfield Canada manages an inventory of over 55,000 unique line items. Worth almost $1 billion, it is the largest contractor-operated supply chain management program in the Canadian Forces.

From two large fulfillment centres located on site at Cold Lake, Alta., and Bagotville, Que., Arcfield Canada staff run a seamless exchange system that receives faulty equipment and immediately issues serviceable items to RCAF technicians.

Supported by a 76,000-square-foot (7,060-square-meter) headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Arcfield Canada offers warehousing capabilities, training facilities, and engineering labs where test protocols are developed for efficient fleet maintenance and repair.

The test labs specialize in intermediate and depot level testing and MRO, micro-miniature repair, and secure electronic warfare repair.

The company also supports the CF-18’s entire avionics suite, providing in-depth engineering support translating into more than 70,000 repairs, modifications, obsolescence and capability enhancement requirements.

Arcfield Canada also provides SCM and logistics support for the CF-18’s GE F-404 engines, generator converter unit, airframe mounted accessory drive unit, and auxiliary power unit. In July 2022, Arcfield was subcontracted by L3Harris to provide SCM services to the CF-18 fleet’s primary air vehicle from expanded bases in Cold Lake and Bagotville. 

Most recently, Arcfield partnered with Canadian company Palitronica to develop a cyber materiel assurance capability for the global F/A-18 aircraft fleet. Ultimately, fleet readiness depends on supply chain security and resilience. Cyber materiel assurance programs detect supply chain attacks, identify counterfeit parts, and protect against “Trojans.” Examples of Trojans include counterfeit chips, recycled e-waste branded as new, or malicious hardware implants.

As it continues to grow and evolve its support capabilities, Arcfield remains committed to supporting Canada’s CF-18 fleet through to its anticipated end of life in 2032. As plans finalize for the country’s future F-35 fighter fleet, Arcfield is ready to provide in-country support that will enable Canada to meet its mission demands, whether at home or abroad.

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On Oct. 3, 2014, a team from L3Harris Technologies travelled to the Middle East to support the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during Operation Impact, a mission by the Global Coalition to degrade and defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

This was the first time in Canadian history the CC-150 Polaris entered a combat theatre as an air-to-air refuelling tanker, and for the next four years, L3Harris technicians worked around the clock to ensure the fleet was ready to fly at a moment’s notice.

Although this mission was unique, and certainly a significant milestone — one that landed L3Harris many commendations and resulted in a departure reliability of more than 97 per cent — it was merely one example of the commitment L3Harris has shown as the primary in-service support (ISS) provider for CC-150 Polaris aircraft fleet over the last decade.

“It is an honour and privilege for us to be a provider of solutions to the RCAF, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly,” said Ugo Paniconi, general manager of L3Harris Technologies, in Mirabel, Que. “If we go back through our heritage as Canadair and as a unit of Bombardier, we have a 75-year legacy of providing the RCAF with sustainment solutions and we take a lot of pride in this important role.”

L3Harris began providing ISS for the RCAF’s five CC-150 Polaris aircraft in March 2012. This multirole platform consists of modified Airbus A310-300 airliners operating an array of missions — from VVIP transport to cargo, refuelling and other passenger configurations.

L3Harris is the primary provider of fleet management, engineering, operational and heavy maintenance, logistics, material management and support of all deployed operations for the RCAF fleet. It carries out this work at the RCAF 8 Wing Trenton facility in eastern Ontario, where the CC-150s are based, as well as at the L3Harris facility in Mirabel.

In addition, L3Harris also provides ISS for five other key RCAF platforms: the CF-188 Hornet, CT-114 Tutor (Snowbirds), CP-140 Aurora, CH-147 Chinook, and CH-148 Cyclone helicopters.

“As a result of our long-standing relationship, we’ve developed significant expertise when it comes to sustainment and in-service support,” Paniconi said. “We understand what is important to Canada, in terms of performance, flexibility, value for money and high-value Canadian jobs. We think about all these key aspects and make sure the solutions we bring to the table are affordable, flexible and effective in meeting the RCAF’s operational needs. We always look for ways to be innovative and to continuously improve.”

As the RCAF transitions to the procurement and preparation of Airbus A330-200 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft that will replace the CC-150 Polaris, L3Harris is positioning itself as the ideal ISS provider for this new fleet.

“It really comes down to the capabilities and credentials we’ve built in developing and delivering complete, integrated sustainment solutions, backed by demonstrated performance and offering a low-risk solution at a level of readiness expected by the RCAF,” Paniconi said. “We invest a lot of our expertise and energy in making sure that all the necessary pieces come together to deliver mission success to the RCAF.”

Over the last 10 years, L3Harris said it has proven its ability to deliver that mission success by achieving dozens of milestones in support of the CC-150.

L3Harris began by rapidly achieving the required airworthiness accreditations in June 2012, followed by just-in-time support for the G8 summit in June 2013.

The VVIP transport aircraft was repainted and refurbished to properly represent Canada’s national identity and colours. It was also equipped with a secure voice communication system, satellite communication and WiFi capability, clearly demonstrating L3Harris’ leading capabilities.

In July 2013, the CC-150 Polaris team from L3Harris was recognized for outstanding performance during the Department of National Defence Operation Southern Reach in South America.

L3Harris received a new multi-year contract for ISS of the CC-150 Polaris in August 2013, and this work continues up to the present day, with a high degree of praise from the RCAF.

In December 2013, L3Harris provided RCAF 437 Squadron with the ability to use CC-150 Polaris aircraft to evacuate injured soldiers, installing four patient transfer units within 30 days — on time and on budget.

Then, in November 2015, L3Harris completed installation of an improved traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) on the fifth CC-150 aircraft — also on time and on budget.

This ensures the entire CC-150 fleet is now equipped with the latest TCAS, extending its lifespans and improving safety.

Many other milestones have followed since, and now that the Canadian government has begun engaging industry for its new A330 (CC-330) MRTT program, L3Harris is already planning an integrated supply chain solution for ISS.

Drawing on its experience and expertise, L3Harris said it is well-positioned as the logical, low-risk choice and ideal ISS provider to work with Airbus and Canada for the full lifecycle of this new platform.

“We are proud of the work we have done in support of the CC-150 fleet and look forward to the opportunity to continue this support on Canada’s new CC-330 MRTT fleet,” Paniconi said. “For many decades, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping keep the RCAF flying safely and effectively. This is a job we take very seriously, know how to do well, and look forward to continuing to offer trusted, reliable, and effective fleet management solutions for many years to come.”

The post Exceptional support — today and tomorrow appeared first on Skies Mag.

In 2023, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will accept bids from selected firms for the Future Aircrew Training program, or FAcT.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the RCAF to receive a comprehensive and fully-integrated training solution from BLCAT [Babcock Leonardo Canadian Aircrew Training], built on next-generation technology and international experience to ensure the needs of students and instructors are put first — and delivered by world-class companies like L3Harris,” said Jana Lee Murray, program director of BLCAT.

BLCAT is a well-established joint venture of Babcock and Leonardo, both world leaders in military aircrew training that each have a long history of supporting air forces around the world. BLCAT has strong Canadian roots, with a team that has more than 50 years’ experience delivering solutions to complex problems for the Government of Canada.

“Our parent companies have decades of experience in global aircrew training, including working with NATO allies,” Murray said. “By joining forces to create BLCAT, Babcock Canada and Leonardo Canada have created a trusted multinational team that is uniquely positioned to deliver world-class military pilot and aircrew training specifically tailored to meet every requirement of the FAcT program. Joining forces equips us to manage program transition risks, support students and instructors, and enhance quality at every touch point.” 

Murray noted that at this point in history, Canada’s air force must undergo a major transformation to maintain itself as a multipurpose, combat-ready entity capable of protecting Canada’s borders and those of its allies.

“The delivery of a new end-to-end military training infrastructure is required, and this is a complex undertaking with significant transition risks,” Murray said. “This is a critical time in the evolution of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and no organization but BLCAT has the international experience, proven track record and expertise required to successfully implement the new training system.”

In addition to experience and technological leadership, BLCAT is working with strategic companies to deliver its customized training solution in Canada, by Canadians. L3Harris is one of the industry-leading companies supporting BLCAT’s solution with its own recognized innovation and expertise.

Rich Foster, corporate vice president of L3Harris Technologies Canada, added that sustaining the complex training solutions required by FAcT also requires local presence.

“L3Harris has over 3,000 Canadian employees from coast to coast to coast and has been innovating solutions to support the RCAF for over 35 years,” he said. “Our solutions not only achieve efficiency but also ensure safe and effective operations.”

L3Harris is providing in-service support and aviation engineering services for RCAF mission-critical fleets, such as the CF-18, CC-150, CH-148, CT-114, CH-147 and CP-140.

If BLCAT is awarded the FAcT contract, L3Harris’ key role will be to ensure that the correctly-configured aircraft are available at the right time to support BLCAT’s training program.

“This will be made possible by deploying L3Harris’ proven sustainment solution and services,” Foster said. “Exact electronic record-keeping of each aircraft configuration and usage will be achieved through L3Harris’ customized and proven IT system. We will ensure that no training flights are delayed and each aircraft will remain airworthy to support RCAF trainees.”

Together, BLCAT and L3Harris will also incorporate the latest next-generation technology solutions.

“The evolution of aircrew training technologies is fast-paced, and BLCAT and L3Harris will keep pace with the latest developments and introduce them to FAcT on an ongoing basis to ensure that learning remains effective,” Murray said. “BLCAT’s training capabilities are underpinned by a network of fixed- and rotary-wing training centres, driven by our partnering company’s leading technologies on real and simulated assets — and by the quality and commitment of elite instructors.”

Understanding needs

BLCAT understands what Canada is asking through FAcT and has the proven experience with air forces around the world to deliver what is needed — an end-to-end cutting-edge training solution tailored to the RCAF and delivered through experienced local Canadian companies and industry leading organizations.

“FAcT is not an extension of a program — it is an entirely new program,” Murray explained. “This presents BLCAT with an opportunity to design and implement a fully-integrated aircrew training solution that meets the RCAF’s every need and provides lasting economic benefits and opportunities for Canadian businesses and Indigenous communities.”

Murray added that as a 25-year program, FAcT is a truly generational initiative. BLCAT is ready to develop the program at the grassroots level from the very beginning, to ensure required skills development and training goes smoothly, an inclusive workforce strategy is included, and diverse business partners are sought from coast to coast.

“We believe that with BLCAT’s proven track record of building complex aircrew training systems around the world, BLCAT is the right choice to enable the development of a modern, scalable Canadian military aircrew training infrastructure, centred on supporting students and instructors, designed to enhance quality at every touch point, and delivered by exceptional Canadian firms like L3Harris,” she said. “Collaborating with L3Harris — a proven expert in its field — supports BLCAT’s low-risk and success-focused approach.”

BLCAT and L3Harris are looking forward to having the opportunity to transform RCAF training in the decades to come.

“The next generation of pilots and aviators deserve the world’s best aircrew training,” Murray said. “And that’s what we will deliver.”

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As the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) prepares to select its partner for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, it faces a critical decision that will determine the effectiveness of Canadian military pilots and aircrew for decades into the future. It is a decision that will impact the security of Canada and its allies and alignment with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other international bodies.

The stakes are incredibly high, and SkyAlyne — an all-Canadian partnership between incumbent RCAF training providers CAE Inc., from Montreal, Que., and KF Aerospace from Kelowna, B.C. — is uniquely up to the task. The specifics on how SkyAlyne will expertly manage air force training for the next 25-plus years are laid out in its FAcT proposal due January 2023.

“SkyAlyne’s team is composed of highly specialized Canadian companies, founded by past military members and presently employing many veterans,” said Maryse Carmichael, a retired lieutenant colonel with the RCAF and a special adviser in aircrew training for SkyAlyne. “So, it’s more than just a contract to us — it is personal.”

Keeping Canadian aircrew training in Canadian hands is the top priority of the SkyAlyne team.

“We want to see Canada succeed,” Carmichael said. “We want to see Canada secure. We want to see communities grow through this program. We are rigorously ensuring that we are putting together the very best training solution for Canada’s next generation of pilots and aircrew. We also have a vast network of Canadian suppliers and subcontractors, literally in every region of this country, which means that when SkyAlyne is selected, all the benefits of the program will stay here at home.”

SkyAlyne is a 50/50 partnership between two of Canada’s revered aerospace firms. Formed in 2018, SkyAlyne has the single goal of continuing the RCAF’s long tradition of exceptional, made-in-Canada training and in-service support (ISS) for military aircrew and pilots, air combat sensor officers (ACSOs) and airborne electronic sensor operators (AES Ops).  

CAE and KF Aerospace know the importance of consistent and sustainable training, as they currently train all RCAF pilots through two contracted programs.

CAE has emerged as one of the world’s top aviation training and simulator manufacturing companies since its founding shortly after the Second World War by a former RCAF officer and now retired group captain Ken Patrick. CAE is also the manager of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Program at RCAF bases in Moose Jaw, Sask., and Cold Lake, Alta. This program covers Phases II and III of pilot training and fighter lead-in training.

KF Aerospace has grown into Canada’s largest commercial aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company since its founding in 1970 by Canadian entrepreneur Barry Lapointe. KF manages the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Program in Southport, Man. This includes ab initio (beginner) pilot training and Phase III helicopter and multi-engine fixed-wing training.

SkyAlyne combines the expertise, experienced personnel and resources, with the goal of continuing long-established partnerships with the RCAF when these programs are transitioned to FAcT over the next several years.

“We also have the direct experience and expertise of managing the current programs jointly with the RCAF and other militaries’ programs around the globe,” Carmichael said. “We are the highly experienced training integrators, capable of delivering excellent training programs for Canada’s next-generation aircrews.”

SkyAlyne leverages decades of experience supporting Canada’s military to build the program success of the next generation of Canadian aviators.

A typical day in the life of a SkyAlyne aircrew-in-training would encompass everything from classroom sessions to live flying training missions, simulator training, and all points in between.

SkyAlyne would provide student accommodations, meals and recreation, courseware design and live flying instruction, and access to cutting-edge training methods and equipment. SkyAlyne would also take full responsibility for building, maintaining and managing the facilities across three training sites in Moose Jaw, Sask., Southport (Portage la Prairie), Man., and Winnipeg, Man.

“It’s really a holistic, comprehensive, and integrated solution that we’re delivering for Canada,” Carmichael said. “We are procuring several fleets of aircraft for the various phases [of training]. They will be perfectly suited to train Canada’s pilots and aircrew and are some of the most advanced, most capable trainers available to military customers worldwide.”

Together with a team of highly capable subcontractors, SkyAlyne’s group of companies employs 19,000 people in Canada with unparalleled resources and experience that would be implemented and improved upon as the FAcT partner.

“Our people are there, on the ground in these communities where the training takes place,” Carmichael said. “We already have strong existing relationships with not only the Canadian military, and the Department of National Defence [DND], but also with local community leaders, including Indigenous communities, local governments, academic institutions and non-profits. We’re ready to spool up into this new program and expand to the scope Canada requires for the Future Aircrew Training program. But we’re doing so on that solid foundation.”

Although the RCAF and DND will weigh several factors when selecting a partner for the FAcT program, SkyAlyne is positioning itself as the best and most logical choice.

“Not only are we the lowest risk and the most capable, but we are the only Canadian solution for FAcT,” Carmichael said. “SkyAlyne will keep this capability and expertise fully in Canada’s hands, and really maximize the economic benefits at home, accelerate research and development, and help build Indigenous businesses and communities through this contract. We provide the best of all worlds for FAcT and we’re confident that our proposal clearly demonstrates that. At the end of the day, we expect the government will keep this program in Canada’s hands for the future.”

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Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has been a proud member of Canada’s aerospace industry, and is the leading provider of helicopters in the North American market.

In fact, the aerospace giant is a global reference in the military market — and the proof is in the numbers. More than 100 armed forces around the world place their trust in Airbus Helicopters to provide them with reliable solutions to complete their missions.

With deep experience building aircraft for the defence sector, Airbus Helicopters is committed to serving the wide array of military operational needs. Its aircraft are specially adapted to outperform on all types of military missions.

The dual engine platforms that are among its product offerings provide increased safety levels in the most challenging environments and advanced avionics for ease in pilot workload.

For instance, first class militaries turn to the H145 platform for its versatility — the German special forces operate the H145M, while the U.S. Army operates an H145 variant under the UH-72 Lakota designation.

The H145M is designed to conduct intelligence, provide transportation, and carry out fire missions successfully — whether it’s during the day or night and in the most adverse weather conditions and obscured visibility.

Other military platforms of interest include the H160M, where France plans to replace five fleets of helicopters in three branches of the French Armed Forces with the H160M Guépard, and the H175M, which is a contender for the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement — a U.K. military program to procure a new medium-lift support helicopter to replace existing helicopters operated by the Royal Air Force and British Army.

The H135 has become the aircraft of choice for pilot training programs within many military organizations globally, including the U.K. Military Flying Training System, the Australian Army and Navy, and now the Moroccan Forces Royale Air, which chose this aircraft earlier this year.

A full spectrum trainer, the H135 offers dual engines and facilitates the development of core skills with the onboard avionics — similar to more complex operational helicopters within the military fleet, allowing easy and safe pilot transition.

Although the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) doesn’t yet have an Airbus helicopter fleet in its current inventory, Airbus Helicopters believes its full spectrum of creative and robust solutions puts it in the prime position to meet the demands of the Canadian Armed Forces.

As the top helicopter manufacturer in the world, Airbus Helicopters boasts the largest civil and military range of some 20,000+ helicopters, delivered to 150 countries. There are about 12,000 Airbus helicopters in service today, but the company is not settling for status quo — Airbus Helicopters continues to invest heavily in the future of vertical lift.

As the Government of Canada prepares to release its new national defence policy, it is expected that the policy will enable the RCAF to look beyond existing capabilities and aircraft models, and embrace future next-generation platforms. Airbus Helicopters is closely monitoring the developments of future programs, such as the next Tactical Aviation Capability Set (nTACS) program, which explores the vertical lift capability for the RCAF beyond the life of the current fleet. 

The company believes that with its current military programs and its participation in NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program, Airbus Helicopters will be well positioned to answer the call when the time comes. The aerospace company is eager to participate in industry engagements with the Government of Canada, as well as take part in an open and competitive bid process.

The classic Canadian procurement model requires every project to be staffed independently for approval — a process that can take years or even decades, potentially causing shortfalls with near-term capabilities. Airbus Helicopters believes it can provide the appropriate solutions to support the RCAF and the men and women serving, who must remain agile to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Rotary-wing search and rescue (RWSAR) missions in the Great Lakes region could serve as a suitable case to test alternative solutions. As a company located on the shores of Lake Erie and in the Great Lakes region since 1984, Airbus Helicopters is motivated to bolster RWSAR coverage in the region in order to meet required capabilities.

The Government of Canada and the RCAF should know that there are several Canadian operators that are ready to help with various options, such as service contracts that could be implemented on a much shorter timeline. 

Headquartered in Fort Erie, Ontario, Airbus Helicopters has a team of nearly 250 employees, as well as sales support in Montreal, Que., and a 24/7 customer service network coast-to-coast. Airbus Helicopters currently supports a fleet of more than 760 helicopters flown by 220 operators across the country.

Across its divisions — helicopters, commercial aircraft, and defence and space — Airbus currently employs over 4,000 people in Canada supporting aerospace throughout the country.

Its helicopters division is focused on five primary areas when it comes to its activities in Canada. Those include aircraft sales and deliveries, composite manufacturing, repair and overhaul, supplemental type certificates/options development, and support and services.

Due to its competitiveness, the Fort Erie facility is a centre of excellence for engineering and composite manufacturing, and is the sole source supplier for eight different Airbus helicopter types flying around the world.

The repair and overhaul department provides overhaul services and dynamic component repair to Airbus helicopter operators worldwide for the light single-engine product ranges. Today, more than 50 per cent of the workforce in Fort Erie works on products for export.

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Even the least expensive business aircraft costs serious money to buy and fly. So if you’re going to make this kind of investment, it only makes sense to have an aircraft with a pristine paint job; one that makes you as proud to be seen with your aircraft as you are to own it.

This kind of thinking underlies Innotech Aviation’s state-of-the-art painting facility at its established Montreal plant. Located at 10-225 Ryan Avenue, next to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Innotech Aviation provides painting and finishing services to Bombardier’s family of new business aircraft, including the Bombardier Global Express 6000 (formerly XRS) twin-jet.

“Innotech is dedicated to making business aircraft look their very best, and stay looking good for years to come,” said Rob Brooks, the company’s vice president and general manager.

“Since we installed our painting facility 10 years ago, we have consistently upgraded the quality and precision of our process.”

The Innotech paint facility is comprised of two bays, each of which is big enough to accept aircraft as large as the Global Express 6000. The company provides painting and refinishing services to all comparably-sized aircraft, regardless of make or model.

“The first bay is where we strip and prep the aircraft, removing all vestiges of its old paint job, and make it ready to look new again,” said Brooks. “The second bay is where the magic happens, because this is where we apply the paint.”

The reason Innotech’s paint facility can do such fine work is due to science, not magic. “It all starts with the cross-draft airflow, which works with the aircraft’s aerodynamic shape,” said Brooks. “Because aircraft are built to go through air, our cross-draft moves air horizontally through the booth from tip to tail.”

Thanks to this cross-draft approach, Innotech’s paint sprayers are able to apply an even, smooth coat on all exterior surfaces of the aircraft.

“We work with the aircraft’s shape, rather than fighting it by applying paint downwards,” said Brooks. “The spraying-downwards model, which other paint shops have adopted from the automotive industry, isn’t well-suited to painting aircraft.”

The speed of the cross-draft can be varied as needed, which eliminates the need to pressurize the paint bay.

“Either way, we can deliver a cleaner paint application to your aircraft, with better adhesion and substantially less paint waste than with conventional spray methods,” said Brooks. “There is so little overspray, in fact, that people can walk through the booth during painting with no ill effects–but of course, our expert technicians are properly suited and masked.”

Worth noting: Innotech’s “Super Clear Coat” provides superior adhesion and longevity for aircraft painted in its facility. This is because the first layer of clear coat is applied when the last level of paint is still tacky, allowing the two to blend together to form a more durable transition coat.

“By allowing these two layers to chemically bond to each other, you end up with a much stronger and [more] resilient surface … one that can more readily resist impact damage and scratches,” said Brooks. “The successive layers of clear coat then bond to the first level, resulting in a dazzling exterior coating that is as tough as it is good-looking.”

Then there’s purity: The outside air that is drawn into Innotech’s paint bay is thoroughly filtered before entering the room, preventing dust and other contaminants from getting into any fresh paint jobs. The exiting cross-draft is then progressively filtered so that the exhaust air is cleaner than when it came into the facility. The same is true for any wastewater, which is treated before being released to the plant’s drain system.

“Anything we release to the world outside is cleaner than when it came in,” said Brooks.

Innotech even goes as far as to control the paint facility’s humidity. This is no small feat for a hangar large enough to handle two Bombardier Global Express 6000 business jets, each of which has a fuselage 30.3 meters long with a wingspan of 28.7 meters.

“Paint needs a high level of humidity to bond and cure properly on an aircraft,” said Brooks. “The trouble is that gas heating in the winter results in very dry air, which can cause adhesion issues, plus a bumpy surface that resembles the skin of an orange. Innotech avoids this by having consistent humidity at all times.”

All told, Innotech Aviation’s new paint facility gives business aircraft the quality of eye-catching, durable paint treatments they deserve.

“If you’re going to invest in an aircraft, you deserve to have your investment look its very best,” said Brooks. “Innotech can do that for you.”

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What’s in a logo? For Columbia Aviation Companies (Columbia), one could say, “everything.”

Now approaching its 40th anniversary in 2020, this provider of aircraft sales, service, and management support has always put customer needs first. This commitment was originally symbolized in the 1980s-era Columbia logo that featured the twin-engine Piper Cheyenne. At the time, the Cheyenne represented Piper’s top of the line production aircraft and was a product that Columbia maintained.

The logo also showed the tall ship “Columbia,” to honor the seafaring heritage of Columbia Aviation Companies’ home town of Groton/New London, Connecticut. This part of New England was historically a center of maritime commerce and whaling.

“So much has changed since our company [since Columbia] was founded in 1980,” said Melissa Duzguner, vice president of administration with Columbia Aircraft Sales, a division of Columbia Aviation Companies. “In particular, the wonderful Cheyenne has been out of production for over 30 years. This is why our new logo features a swept wing, empennage and winglets, which we feel represent the evolution of general aviation production aircraft design and technology over our history. It symbolizes Columbia’s forward-looking attitude and commitment to investing in new technology.”

The new logo was scheduled to be officially launched at the companies’ flagship Groton-New London Airport fixed-based operator (FBO) location during the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Regional Fly-In from Oct. 6 to 7.

At the same time that it is adopting this new corporate look, Columbia Aviation Companies is doubling down on its customer-first focus.

“Our new look signals both change and continuity,” said Columbia co-founder Harry Holt. “It represents the changes in technology, aircraft and other parts of GA [general aviation]. But as those changes come we also continue to emphasize Columbia’s constant company-wide commitment to the quality of customer service, delivery of state-of-the-art aircraft, meticulous airframe, powerplant and avionics work and, above all, safety.”

Looking ahead, “2020 will be a milestone year for GA with the full implementation of ADS-B and NextGen–and a big year for Columbia,” said Columbia co-founder Art Maurice. “We’re planning now for that future to help our customers grow along with the industry. Along with our line services, avionics and maintenance services, we’re focused on meeting the needs of pilots with aircraft sales ranging from entry-level piston to top-performing business turboprops, including the Piper M600 and the Daher TBM series.”

In line with 2020’s approach, Columbia Aviation Companies has launched a number of forward-looking initiatives. They include advances in how the companies sell aircraft, service avionics, and train and retain their highly-skilled staff.

Aircraft sales

Columbia Aircraft Sales continues to expand services to aircraft buyers through partnerships with key providers of financing, insurance, training and other areas, to make aircraft purchasing as smooth as possible.

This includes identifying a pilot’s experience and goals, to match them to the aircraft that best fits their mission. The company also supports owner goals and planned transitions through its extensive experience in acquiring and selling pre-owned aircraft.

Avionics shop

Because avionics is one of the most important and fastest changing areas of general aviation, Columbia recently bolstered the capabilities of its avionics shop with a computer-controlled panel-cutting machine. With this new equipment, aircraft owners can now clearly visualize and approve their own custom avionics panels prior to creation and installation.

Staff training and retention

As reflected in its new tagline, “Because Experience Matters,” Columbia is committed to both staff retention and training. At least six employees will have at least 30 years of experience with Columbia by 2020, representing a formidable knowledge base its owners believe is not found at other FBOs.

The company has launched programs for direct recruitment and support of students at regional technical schools. Columbia also intends to support scholarships to aid select students with formal airframe and/or powerplant training.

“Our people are the core of who we are,” said Duzguner. “That’s why we do our best to recognize their talent and keep them happy and motivated.”

The big picture

Taking a big picture view, the technology and requirements of general aviation are in a constant state of change. As a result, aircraft owners and operators need access to a reliable, established FBO with the engineering knowledge, cutting-edge equipment, and experienced technicians to keep their aircraft ready to fly more than ever–no matter how new or old these aircraft may be.

This is where Columbia Aviation Companies comes in. Its staff of elite technicians–many of whom have made their careers at Columbia–are masters in the science (and art) of keeping aircraft properly maintained and safely repaired.

“Our managers are so dedicated that they give their cellphone numbers to our customers,” said Duzguner. “When a customer experiences an aircraft on ground emergency, they can call on us for help–no matter what time of day or night it is.”

“Our new logo summarizes what Columbia is all about,” Duzguner concluded. “We’re forward-looking in our approach to aviation services, yet unwavering in our commitment to putting customers first!”

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Although technology is steadily making the world smaller and more accessible, Machida Inc. still thinks big when it comes to finding new ways to solve customers’ quandaries and create a custom experience.

“We’ve been supporting the aviation industry for over 42 years now,” said Jitu Patel, vice president of Machida’s industrial division. The company has come a long way from its roots as a medical equipment-focused manufacturer in 1975, when it was founded as a joint venture between Katsumi Oneda and Tokyo-based Machida Endoscope Company, Ltd.

Patel, who has been with the company since its inception, recalls its initial move into the aeronautics industry by designing a flexible borescope for the Pratt & Whitney Government Products Division’s F100 engine.

“We used our experience in making medical bronchoscopes and the channel within it to get biopsy tissue and we created the six-foot borescope with a working channel for the F-15 and F-16 aircraft engines–all within 30 days,” said Patel. “Beside our standard models, we were the only people doing the custom designing at that time.”

The success of that initial design led to the creation of Machida’s industrial division which, over the years, has created borescope systems for the aerospace, automotive, aviation, casting, electronic, nuclear, petrochemical, power generation and refining industries.

Today, Machida’s work in the non-destructive testing (NDT) field is known for its custom approach in the developing of visual inspection instruments for both the military and commercial gas turbine engine market.

“We are known in the industry as the custom design people–we do a lot of custom work and resolve a lot of issues for engine companies or the aerospace industry,” said Patel. “Having the medical background and industrial background in our company allowed us to combine both technologies together.”

All of Machida’s borescopes are made at its facility in Orangeburg, New York, where the company is based.

“Having everything here in the U.S. allows us to give a better customer service experience, so we’re able to not only react quickly, but we can get things expedited because we have those capabilities in house,” said Machida marketing and operations manager Jennifer Kempsey, who has been involved with the borescope industry since 2004.

“Whenever any of our customers have an AOG [aircraft on ground], we’re always quick to respond and get them something right away, and we do the best that we can internally here with our team to get the manufacturing done as quickly as possible because we understand the demand and requirements needed.”

That custom experience is based on the ingenuity and problem-solving capabilities of Machida’s engineers. “Every engine company will encounter some issues during the manufacturing or design process, and a lot of the time, they require something totally different that does not currently exist in the field,” said Patel. “We’ll get a call about these hurdles, and consult with our medical engineers and 99 percent of the time, we’ll come up with a solution.”

Patel pointed to solutions that Machida has worked out for clients, such as borescopes that allow mechanics to apply RTV through openings as small as six millimeters to avoid blade vibration within an engine, videoscopes with high resolution, medical grade cameras for smaller engines and components or borescopes which grind out blockages, vacuum debris or use black light to detect minute cracks.

Products such as Machida’s power blending borescopes, which allow for reworking of nicks or dents on a blade while the engine is on the wing, also allow aircraft owners or engine companies to save time and money.

“Our borescopes offer a wide field of view and automatic light adjustment, allowing a clearer view. This cuts down on inspection time as it allows you to make the important decisions quickly and easily with confidence,” said Kempsey.

Regardless of the problem, Patel and his team relish the chance to solve it. “The more challenges we have, the more we study and investigate it and try to look at available techniques,” said Patel. “We’re staying in touch with the medical field constantly to see what they are doing so that we can use it in our field. Our custom work is setting the standards in many cases.”

As part of that process, Machida also gives back by investing in industry education, whether through the glossary of terms on its website or through philanthropic efforts, such as sponsoring the Aerospace Maintenance Competition.

“It is important to us to get involved with future engineers and technicians to ensure they have the proper tooling in front of them, and prepare them for tomorrow’s workplace,” said Kempsey.

As a smaller company, Machida applies the personal touch to its customer base. “Our customers are our family,” said Patel. “Most of our customers are long-term. We’ve known them since the beginning and we’ve been able to continue to support them for many years.”

Many of those customers are at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, where Machida has been present for the last four decades, and both Patel and Kempsey look forward each year to supporting the industry and continuing those relationships.

“We’ve been supporting NBAA for the last 40 years now, so our customers have seen us grow and develop and improve over time,” said Patel. “We take real pride when customers come to the booth and say they like the new products and developments. Our products tell them about what we do here–it’s not the number of employees but the talent and innovation that they bring that matters. We are presented with new challenges every day and our ability to provide solutions is what sets us apart.”

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New Zealand has a long, rich history of breaking with convention–of scuttling what’s familiar in favor of what’s exciting, better, and new.

It’s a quirky but progressive island nation founded by adventurers, populated by innovators and driven to make the world a better place, one pragmatic step at a time.

Within the aviation industry, there’s no better example of this spirit than Spidertracks, an Auckland-based global leader in tracking devices for aircraft.

“There’s this real frontiership and resourcefulness that comes through into our DNA down here,” said Dave Blackwell, Spidertracks CEO. “It’s a really powerful and core part of who we are.”

Spidertracks was created in 2007, after a helicopter crash that claimed the life of a prominent New Zealander. The antenna for the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter (ELT) broke off in the crash and couldn’t transmit his distress.

After 15 days of searching 16,000 square kilometers of countryside, the aircraft was found less than 100 kilometers from the origin of the flight, Blackwell said.

“It was one of the most inefficient search-and-rescue efforts that New Zealand’s ever seen,” he added. “The public was outraged.”

A young engineer who was working for a helicopter pilot at the time went looking for a better, more cost-effective way to track and locate general aviation aircraft, and he created Spidertracks’ first product.

Using a GPS receiver, an Iridium transceiver, and a few other components, the product–called a Spider–was able to send position reports of an aircraft in real-time through a network and display it back to people on the ground.

“The commercial potential became apparent very, very quickly,” said Blackwell.

“The industry adopted the solution with open arms, and the rest is more or less history.”

Today, Spidertracks continues to set the standard for real-time aircraft tracking, partnering with the Iridium satellite network to track aircraft over every inch of the globe, from takeoff to landing.

Operators can view, manage, and communicate with their entire fleet using any internet-connected device, making use of custom apps for iPads, iPhones, and Android cellphones and tablets.

In addition to being a safety and productivity driver in the business, Spidertracks delivers a peace of mind to its customers that’s invaluable, particularly in today’s environment.

Blackwell speaks of the company’s standard practice of asking customers what it is that keeps them up at night.

“More and more, we’re seeing our customers aspire to a level of safety above and beyond any regulatory requirement. This comes against the backdrop of a global shortage of pilots, which often leaves operators no choice but to hire pilots with minimum qualifications and experience into their frontline operations. That’s something that drives a ton of anxiety.”

Spidertracks’ new innovations address this anxiety, providing operators with complete insight into and analysis of their aircraft and pilots before, during, and after a flight in ways that have traditionally only been available to airlines or operators with cash to burn.

The company is also developing an integration for automatic maintenance tracking systems, using leading software to add value by automatically capturing flight details and then integrating those details into other parts of the business.

Blackwell added that it’s about understanding the whole problem that needs to be solved.

“A huge part of any any business is trust, and we have a long history of meeting the needs of our customers in a way that allows commercial success to simply follow,” he said.

A genuine passion for aviation and a compassion for people who work in the industry has always been the impetus for innovation at Spidertracks. It’s part of what continues to move the company forward as it tries to revolutionize the way commercial and general aviation operators manage their businesses.

“We’re passionate about solving problems for our customers, and when we continue to do that better than anyone else, we get to keep them as our customers,” said Todd O’Hara, helicopter pilot and chief marketing officer for Spidertracks.

Along the way, the company is embracing diversity–its 25 employees have 14 different nationalities–and an agile approach that welcomes failure as a path to success.

“In many corporate environments, you see a great deal of risk aversion–a lot of safe choices being made,” said O’Hara. “People like to stick with what they know, and as a result you see a slowdown in innovation.

“You see a lot of very predictable outcomes in terms of what companies do, and these companies follow a trend in that they become less relevant over time.

“At Spidertracks in particular, we approach solving problems for our customers by celebrating our own failures. We believe that failure on a small scale allows us to be comfortable trying new things–to attempt to solve problems in ways that others haven’t thought of yet, and then to learn and become better rather than just seeing mediocre success.”

Another quirk of the culture at Spidertracks: every Friday at the office, beer is available–but only for colleagues who share their failures that week.

“I think that drives a big culture of shared learning and of improving the solution the customer gets at the end of the day,” said O’Hara.

“We’ve gone through the process of figuring out what does and doesn’t work, and we’ve celebrated the things we’ve done well alongside the things we’ve done wrong.

“But there’s not much point in keeping all of this to ourselves. We have a huge depth of knowledge from more than 10 years of making mistakes, listening to our customers, and being involved as leaders in our industry. If we can help prevent even one accident by sharing this experience, then it’s all worthwhile.”

The post A different approach appeared first on Skies Mag.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. When Levaero (originally branded as Pilatus Centre Canada) opened its doors in Thunder Bay, Ontario, nearly 20 years ago, the company was focused on being Canada’s exclusive Pilatus dealer, both for sales and service of the famed PC-12 single engine turboprop.

Today, Levaero remains Canada’s exclusive Pilatus dealer, both for the PC-12 and now the exciting new PC-24 twin-engine business jet. “Since we started, the company has constantly upgraded its MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] capabilities and expertise,” said Robert Arnone, Levaero’s president and CEO. “We have also put tremendous effort into providing consistent customer-first service.”

Maybe that explains it: Although Levaero is positioned to serve the Canadian market, the company is actually also serving Pilatus owners from the United States, and indeed all over the world.

Actually, there are many reasons why Pilatus owners are bringing their aircraft to Levaero. One major reason is that Levaero is available to offer assistance whenever Pilatus owners need it.

“Although we are a Pilatus dealer, we provide 24/7, AOG [aircraft on ground] and on-site maintenance services for a variety of aircraft, to get you back in the air safely and quickly,” said Arnone. “This includes having a 24 hour AOG team that can be dispatched to wherever your aircraft is, so that you can get it fixed and flying as soon as possible.”

Levaero’s diverse mix of service capabilities, including line and heavy maintenance, avionics repairs, installations and upgrades, structural repairs, modifications and interior refurbishment, provides clients with a one-stop solution.

Another reason why international Pilatus owners are flocking to Levaero is its knowledgeable MRO services. The company employs highly-skilled, well-trained technicians who know Pilatus aircraft inside and out.

“The reason why we are so knowledgeable is due to the PC-12 being so widely deployed by Canadian operators,” said Arnone. “Thanks to so many PC-12s coming to us for service, Levaero has seen virtually everything that can become an issue on this aircraft–and fixed it. Nothing builds your skills like problem-solving for clients!”

A third factor driving customers to Levaero is the company’s commitment to making PC-12s do more for their owner/operators.

Specifically, “Levaero is a Centre of Excellence for the installation of the Finnoff Aviation Products PT6A-67P upgrade for pre-NG PC-12 aircraft,” said Arnone. “The latest P&W PT6A engine technology has been used to develop the PT6A-67P engine.

In plain language, this upgrade installs the engine used in the newer PC-12 NG aircraft into earlier PC-12 models. The performance improvement is significant: With the PT6A-67P engine installed, pre-NG PC-12s will see a speed increase of up to 15 to 20 knots, and an improvement in their climb rate.

“Whether you install the 67P or not, Levaero offers a life extension process that can extend the life of your Pilatus PC-12 by 150 percent,” said Arnone. “You’ll need to contact us for details.”

As for the fact that Levaero is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario? No problem: “Our concierge service will pick up your Pilatus wherever it is in the world, and fly it back to our MRO shop,” said Arnone. “We’ll do everything that needs to be done to bring it back to prime operating condition–or even better if you get the 67P engine upgrade–and then fly it back to you, all pristine and ready to fly.”

Taken as a whole, these services explain why aircraft owners around the world are turning to Levaero. One of them is Phelps Lane, founder and president of Cygnus Lift in Denver, Colorado.

“I purchased a Pilatus PC-12/45 from Levaero that had gone through their rigorous life extension program,” said Lane in a testimonial published on Levaero’s website.

“The professionalism and attention to detail demonstrated by their maintenance engineers reassured me that I was making a sound purchase decision and that the aircraft would continue being a reliable workhorse for many years to come. I also chose to install the upgraded 67P engine, new avionics, the five-bladed MT prop, as well as other improvements. Most importantly, the people at Levaero are great and a pleasure to work with–they get things done. I was so happy with my first LEP PC-12, that I have ordered another.”

“As Pilatus’ exclusive Canadian dealer, we are humbled by the fact that people from around the globe are coming to Levaero for our services,” said Robert Arnone. “This is a responsibility that we take very seriously, by always doing our best to deliver top-notch service and support to our customers wherever they may be.”

The post Serving the world appeared first on Skies Mag.

Gill batteries and the company that makes them are woven deeply into the fabric of the aviation industry, with a history that stretches back nearly a century and a record of continuous innovation that finds them trusted by customers around the world.

What launched in 1920 as the original aircraft equipment battery manufacturer has become a fixture in the industry, thanks in part to its original product–a dry-charged battery that is still produced, and remains highly popular in certain segments of general aviation.

“Testimonials still come in from owners who have flown 10 to 20 years on the same incredible small pink battery,” said David Vega, Gill Battery’s western region sales manager.

“For this reason, Gill continues to manufacture dry-charged batteries–in a show of support to customers, long after most of the competition has stopped offering them. However, customers are rapidly upgrading to the new LT Sealed family when they see the superior performance and the value.”

Gill began offering sealed batteries more than 30 years ago and has constantly improved them, upgrading their internal chemistry, packaging, features and applications.

The result is a product line that consistently raises the bar for performance and reliability, with an increasingly diverse collection of aircraft to support. Gill’s sealed batteries are used in hundreds of aircraft types, including all major fixed- and rotary-wing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) platforms and models.

Now, Gill’s venerable sealed battery line includes the LT Series, a meticulously-developed group of valve-regulated batteries that reliably produce superior performance numbers.

“Gill is very fortunate to be part of the Teledyne family of companies,” said J.D. Anderson, general manager for Teledyne Battery Products.

“Teledyne maintains an extensive complement of staff and facilities for research and development. Teledyne’s support, coupled with Gill’s expertise in battery technology, allows Gill to continuously spin out exciting new products and certifications.”

Gill is formally announcing two major product releases for its LT series at this year’s National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas.

The models announced are the 7638-44, which is now Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified for variants of the Pilatus PC-12 single-engine turboprop; and the 7638-44T, which is now released and FAA certified for the variants of Cessna Citation aircraft that include a battery temperature sensor.

Both new products are aimed at supporting business aviation operators with the best value and the best choice. They’re tangible products of Gill’s mission to provide unparalleled service, quality and technical innovation in the aircraft battery market.

The 7638-44 was already available for many other aircraft types and is a top seller, which begs the question: Why go to the time and expense of securing parts manufacturer approval (PMA) and a supplemental type certificate (STC) to offer it for the PC-12?

It’s simple: the industry requested it, and Gill–more than anything else–is in the business of serving the industry.

“I have had a lot of customers asking, ‘When will you be able to sell me an LT sealed battery replacement for my present battery,'” said Kimberly Schmidt, customer service manager for Gill Battery.

“It’s difficult to imagine turning someone away because you don’t have what they want. Fortunately, Gill listens to their customers and I am very happy we can now satisfy the PC-12 need.”

This battery is now approved for use on the Pilatus PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E variants, as well as scores of other aircraft covered under the original approvals. A full list of supported aircraft is available online or on a specification sheet available at the Gill booth at NBAA (booth number N5113).

Gill’s second new model, the 7638-44T battery for Cessna Citation aircraft, also has the proven LT chemistry at its heart.

Citation owners demand the best performance, and getting stranded on the tarmac or stuck in an aircraft hangar is not an option. Gill’s LT chemistry meets those standards, providing superior results when compared to other lead acid-type batteries, according to spec sheet comparisons.

This battery is said to provide the Citation with higher starting power, higher residual power, and a faster recharge. It is now approved for the following variants: 500, 501, 525, 525A, 525B, 525C, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, 650, 680 and the 750.

So, what’s next for the Gill brand? More of the same innovation that helped it become one of the most revered names in the business aviation community.

“We are approaching our 100th anniversary, and it is because we have a passion for what we do,” said J.D. Anderson. “We intently listen to our customers. We take their wants and needs and provide solutions in the form of innovative products, additional certifications, and service improvements in our distribution network.

“It is no accident that we are known as the aircraft battery company that most reliably starts those who soar. What is next? Continuous evolution in a way that will surprise our competition and delight our customers.”

Gill plans to continue to release additional LT sealed battery models and aircraft certifications in the coming months. In keeping with its mission to be the very best, Gill believes it provides better value than any other lead acid sealed battery on the market.

Aircraft owners, operators and maintenance crews are invited to review published lead acid sealed battery performance numbers against the Gill LT Sealed series and compare them, head-to-head. A full list of Gill distributors and aircraft served is available here.

The post Starting those who soar for nearly 100 years appeared first on Skies Mag.

Pilots demand two things from their headsets. First, these units have to provide audio that is clear at all times, no matter how noisy the aircraft environment may be. Second, since aviation headsets have to be worn for many hours at a time, they must be comfortable to wear for the long run.

As one of the world’s premiere audio equipment companies, it only makes sense that Bose would tackle the aviation headset challenge, and resolve it brilliantly with the A20.

Weighing in at just 12.5 ounces, the A20 is designed to provide the most noise reduction ever offered by a Bose aviation headset, while still providing the clearest audio possible through the use of active equalization and other technologies. Compared to traditional headsets offered by competitors, the A20 provides 30 percent more noise reduction while exerting 30 percent less clamping force on the wearer’s head.

Comfort is enhanced by the A20 having a torsion spring in the middle of the headband. This ensures that the headset sits comfortably on the user’s head and distributes the clamping force evenly. It also ensures that lateral pressure is consistent, regardless of the size and shape of one’s head.

That’s not all: The Bose A20 aviation headset also offers features such as Bluetooth audio and communications interface; a customizable audio prioritization control that enables either the muting of existing audio for incoming communication, or mixing that new audio with the existing audio feed; intuitive “plug-and-play” operation for easy use in all kinds of aircraft; a high-performance adjustable noise rejection boom microphone; and an optional coil cord, popular with helicopter pilots. The coil cord version, which provides the cable management that helicopter operators often prefer, can be ordered with the most popular helicopter-specific connectors.

“Our most current product, the A20 aviation headset, is the best performing aviation headset we have ever brought to market,” said Hratch Astarjian, Bose Corporation’s manager of global aviation sales, marketing and service. “It provides more noise reduction in louder environments over a broader range of frequencies than our previous model and does so in a very comfortable and easy-to-use way. It also has the features pilots have told us are important, like full function Bluetooth, a coil cord cable, auto-on (for panel powered models), auto shut-off, and audio prioritization.”

The A20 is the latest in the company’s long line of quality aviation headsets.

“Bose was the first company to bring a commercially available, active noise reduction headset to the market in 1989,” said Astarjian. “As we have developed meaningful new technologies over the years, we have brought new headsets that incorporate those improvements to the market.”

Due to the combined noise from engines, wind rushing by at high speeds and other operational sources, helicopters are generally noisy places. This is why pilots need headsets that reduce their exposure to loud ambient noise by actively analyzing that noise and then electronically negating it before it reaches their ear drums.

“But contrary to what you might think, noise isn’t the first thing most pilots complain about,” said Astarjian. “It’s comfort. There are many noise reduction headsets on the market today, with some, like the A20, that do a good job of reducing noise. But, unfortunately, most of them trade comfort for quiet. The challenge is to deliver a headset that does a great job with noise reduction, while remaining comfortable over the long haul.”

For that, the Bose A20 is the clear choice. It has been specifically designed to cancel noise while maximizing user comfort, without the traditional trade-offs or compromises.

“Our customers routinely tell us the A20 is not only one of the quietest but also one of the most comfortable headsets they have ever worn,” said Astarjian. “That’s really satisfying to hear because comfort is one of the design elements we pay close attention to.

“There are a wide variety of reasons pilots tell us they prefer our product,” he added. “These range from comfort to audio clarity to having the right features that add to the flying experience in a meaningful way.”

Bose’s success in making aviation headsets is borne out by its other specialty headsets made for other markets where noise reduction and clarity are also top priorities. These markets include the National Football League’s noisy playing fields for coaches; the U.S. and other militaries in a variety of tracked and wheeled, armored vehicles; and in the air on Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft, Boeing P-8s and KC-135s, and others. Bose also has strong relationships with some of the largest helicopter original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the world, including Bell Helicopter, Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland), Airbus Helicopters and Robinson Helicopter Company.

The bottom line: The A20 aviation headset is the kind of quality equipment every pilot needs in their cockpit, be it inside a Robinson R44, a Bell 406, a Cessna 172 or a Boeing 757.

“Bose has been providing products for mission critical communications for over 25 years and, it seems, our customers really value that,” said Astarjian. “The result is that customers can feel confident that the A20 will do what we claim. We don’t over-promise and we focus on what really matters to pilots; namely clear communication, comfort, less noise and, ultimately, a durable and reliable product that will enhance the flying experience for years.”

The post Clear Communication, Comfortable Fit appeared first on Skies Mag.

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) was founded in 1928 in Montreal by James Young to offer maintenance on the then popular Wasp 1340 radial piston engine. From these humble roots the company grew, with in-house innovations that include the mighty PT6 gas turbine engine unveiled in 1963. In May 2017, P&WC announced it had produced 100,000 engines.

The PT6 started out as a powerplant for turboprop aircraft (the PT6A engine family) and evolved into also powering helicopters–the PT6B, PT6C, and PT6T engine families later complemented by the PW200 and PW210 engines. Together, these engines power many of the world’s helicopter fleets, especially small and medium twins.

“From the beginning, P&WC has been at the cutting edge of engine research,” said Irene Makris, vice president of marketing, responsible for helicopter engines. “More importantly, our engines have been well-accepted by the aviation industry. This is why P&WC engines have flown more than 800 million hours in total, with our helicopter engines achieving 60 million flight hours to date.”

Mindful that helicopter operators are always seeking engines that are more powerful, lighter and more fuel-efficient, P&WC is constantly developing new models. The company’s most recently developed helicopter engine is the PW210, an innovative centerline design.

Delivering an impressive 1,000-plus shaft horsepower, the PW210 design is surprisingly simple. It has only five major rotating components. The engine was designed for ease of maintenance, benefitting from the knowledge acquired from the company’s PT6 heritage and PW200 experience. The PW210 also uses a combined reduction/engine accessory gearbox, which contributes to the engine’s compact design.

The PW210 is equipped with a dual-channel, full authority digital engine control (FADEC). FADEC reduces pilot workload by taking responsibility for monitoring and managing the engine so that it always delivers peak performance within manufacturer specs,” said Makris.

“The PW210 engine uses the latest FADEC technology with increased processor capability and memory, allowing more software functionality to be embedded in the FADEC system,” she said. “This means the PW210 reduces pilot workload even further by enabling functions such as creep counting, and electronic on-ground and in-flight power assurance checks.”

The PW210’s FADEC even helps with ongoing engine maintenance by delivering detailed maintenance messages directly to the cockpit.

The engine also doubles as a helicopter’s auxiliary power unit (APU). This eliminates the cost, weight and maintenance associated with having a third engine onboard. This is especially critical for applications such as emergency medical services (EMS) because medical equipment will continue to function while the helicopter is on the ground without the rotors turning.

Put it all together, and the P&WC PW210 delivers best-in-class fuel consumption and power-to-weight ratio; a lightweight, compact form factor; low environmental emissions; minimal maintenance and low maintenance costs. This is why the PW210 is featured in new aircraft such as the Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland) AW169 and the Sikorsky S-76D.

The advances found in the PW210 reflect P&WC’s ongoing commitment to developing engines that offer reduced maintenance costs to customers, in addition to extra power, less weight and more performance. P&WC has recently increased the maintenance interval (time between overhaul) for the PW210 engine from 3,500 hours to 4,000 hours.

“We are in development and collaborating with our customers on the next generation of engines for next-generation helicopters,” said Makris. “In fact, we are currently developing an entirely new engine in the 2,000 shaft horsepower range that will power both helicopters and turboprops.”

To ensure all P&WC engine owners and operators enjoy optimal on-wing time at the lowest cost, Pratt & Whitney Canada offers the largest, most comprehensive customer service network in the industry, including the company’s Customer First Centres working 24/7 in Montreal and Singapore.

“We have 30 owned and designated overhaul facilities, and 100 mobile repair team technicians, ensuring that P&WC’s MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] expertise is available to our clients wherever they happen to be,” said Makris.

“Add in our cost-effective maintenance options like P&WC’s Eagle Service Plan and our Fleet Management Program, which keep operator costs manageably predictable while maximizing fleet availability.”

P&WC is also known for its diagnostics, prognostics and health management (DPHM) solutions, including its most advanced solution–FAST (Flight Acquisition Storage and Transmission).

“FAST captures, analyzes and electronically transmits full flight data intelligence to customers within minutes of the pilot shutting down the engines after landing, allowing them to optimize dispatch availability and maintenance, while reducing operating costs,” said Makris.

FAST is currently installed on more than 1,100 rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Leonardo AW139 powered by the PT6C-67C engine.

P&WC has recently made its Oil Analysis Technology Program commercially available to customers of the PW306A engine. The technology has been in a trial phase since early 2016 and some 5,000 engines are still in that trial. The Oil Analysis Technology employs highly sensitive technology to detect minute debris in engine oil, allowing operators to learn what is happening inside their engines without having to open them up, hundreds of hours before a potential event occurs. The technology enables on-wing monitoring of engine bearings, gears and carbon seals and demonstrates the ability to help identify issues early to minimize or avert them entirely. The technology will become available on P&WC’s other engines in the future.

Today, P&WC engines power approximately 5,000 helicopters used for corporate transport, firefighting, emergency medical transport, oil-and-gas and other utility applications. The reliability, versatility and durability of the products provide superior value for all types of missions and customer profiles.

“From the beginning, P&WC has been at the cutting-edge of engine research.”

— Irene Makris, vice president of marketing, responsible for helicopter engines

The post Taking Engines Further appeared first on Skies Mag.

The new owners of Skyplan Services Inc. (Skyplan) have one simple, if ambitious goal: they intend to be number one.

With over 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry, a strong mix of industry-leading programs and services, and office walls replete with plaques commemorating assistance in and contributions to world events from the first Gulf War to the recent Fort McMurray evacuation, new owners Muhammad Sami and Craig Mariacci are proud of Skyplan’s past, and ready to set a new course for its future.

Located in Calgary, Alberta, Skyplan is a major provider of flight operations support services to the aviation industry, worldwide. The company provides computer generated flight planning, global weather data, domestic and international notices to airmen (NOTAMs), overflight and landing clearances, aviation fuel, flight watch, flight following and a number of other flight operations support services.

In March 2016, Mariacci, a 29-year veteran of Skyplan, and Sami, who has run the company’s Dubai satellite office for 10 years, took over the helm from retiring owner Adrian Bone. They are determined not only to carry on Skyplan’s tradition of excellence, but to add fresh energy, create a new vision, and encourage new ideas.

“We have our own proprietary software, we take care of those with private jets, and we cover all aspects of the industry, including helicopters–Skyplan’s cart’s a little more varied than most,” said Mariacci. In fact, he said some of Skyplan’s competitors use its programs in their own operations.

“We are proud of our 30-year history. Despite an economy that’s been up and down, the fact is, Skyplan is still here, surviving and doing well.

“Being Canadian offers us more leeway into many places, such as Cuba, for instance, than U.S. companies,” said Mariacci. “But having said that, it’s important to note we don’t just handle Canadian companies–we are worldwide.”

Among other strengths, Mariacci attributed Skyplan’s vitality to the ability of management and staff to adapt to the market and the economy. With just over 40 employees, Mariacci noted that Skyplan is still “a small enough company that we can change the way we operate–for instance, when the economy is down, we can be flexible in the types of services offered, or in pricing.”

Skyplan remains technically strong and innovative, continuously updating and developing its flight plan system, while its trip planning department stays up to date on changes in all countries across the world.

Skyplan’s user-friendly flight planning system was developed by dispatchers for dispatchers, said Mariacci.

“It’s simple and easy-to-use, but will do everything asked of it,” he noted. “We can have an airline up and running within days of contract signing.”

Customer service and
support is top priority

Despite Skyplan’s technical expertise, however, Mariacci stressed that what makes the new owners confident in achieving their goal to be number one is the company’s commitment to customer service and support.

“Everybody has a widget that does stuff– the differentiation is not the button you push but the people producing and servicing it,” said Mariacci. He noted that he and Sami have made a concentrated effort not only to maintain the same strong team at Skyplan, but have been able to entice back some best-in-industry employees, making for an even stronger team.

“In the world of flight planning and dispatch, the goal is that customer service and customer support have to be best in industry,” said Mariacci. “We are a 24/7 operation–we never close the doors. It’s not rare for us to hand out our cell numbers so our customers can reach us at all times. We are seeking out and employing the best industry minds and expertise, and we’re still expanding.

“We don’t want to be pegged as simply a tech company rather than a service company–we want and have the greatest technology behind the scenes, but service is what will make us number one.”

Mariacci and Sami are particularly proud of the multinational and multilingual Skyplan staff, noting that they currently can service their customers in eight different languages.

One example of Skyplan’s ability to step up and provide excellent service was during the recent devastating fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

“Everyone heard about the big players, but Skyplan has four regional customers who we do dispatch for that were also removing people affected by the evacuation,” said Mariacci. The four–Regional 1, Air North, Sunwest and Enerjet–did 230 flights out, he said.

In recognition of the new ownership and renewed energy, Skyplan plans on having an increased presence at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition this year. Mariacci said the ownership will be present.

“We’ll be there on the floor working,” he said. “Show attendees will not be able to miss seeing the Skyplan exhibit this year!”

The post It’s all about Service appeared first on Skies Mag.

About Insight Magazine

Insight is an elite, tradeshow-only publication that delivers advertising worth reading. Every company has a story tell, from the largest original equipment manufacturer to the smallest supplier. Insight is the best forum in which to tell them. We bring the same high standards to Insight as we bring to our other industry-leading titles, including Vertical and Skies magazines. The result is a collection of exceptional company profiles and jaw-dropping layouts that help you stand out from the crowd. Insight is more than advertising; it’s essential reading for any tradeshow audience.

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