News
Flying Colours gets AS9100 approval, expands facility

The certificate was awarded in March 2013 and reflects the significant investment Flying Colours Corp. has made in developing the LEAN technology production and manufacturing systems at their facilities in Ontario and at JetCorp Technical Services in St Louis.  The use of LEAN technology was implemented by Flying Colours Corp. two years ago and has successfully improved efficiency as well as enhancing production times and quality standards. This was one of the principal factors in Bombardier appointing Flying Colours Corp. as a Preferred Completion Centre.
 
Flying Colours Corp. has also expanded its CRJ conversion program beyond executive aircraft. It is now a third of the way through an extensive schedule, which will see eight CRJ 200 regional airliners converted into sixteen seat Executive Shuttle configuration for an undisclosed client. The complete shuttle conversion sees each aircraft fitted with new business jet seats, a new executive shell kit, upgraded galley, refurbished first class lavatory, and Swift broadband installation. This is the first time that Flying Colours Corp. has been involved in executive shuttle configurations and reflects the company’s ambitions to widen its offering to the aviation market place. “We continually look at options to develop our client offering that fits within our capabilities but that also broadens our experience. Working with these shuttle conversions has been an excellent new challenge and we are now looking at a growing number of opportunities in this sector,” said Sean Gillespie VP Flying Colours Corp.
 
In response to the increase in client demand Flying Colours Corp. will begin the first phase of a three phase infrastructure expansion project this June. With an investment of over $2.5 million dollars the initial phase will see the addition of 20 000 square feet added to the third hangar at Flying Colours Corp. Peterborough facility which on completion will be used to accommodate the time span and number of aircraft in the conversion shuttle programme. Further development will continue over the next two years to expand the overall facility.

Work force expansion
Bolstered by the growth in service centre status appointments – Bombardier, Blackhawk Modifications Inc and Beechcraft –  and the executive shuttle project, Flying Colours Corp. has expanded its work force and bolstered its management team. Gabor Haskohas been appointed as Director of Program Management within the completions division and will focus initially on the recently awarded Bombardier contract that will see Flying Colours Corp. undertake the interior modification of seven CRJ700 NextGen aircraft for an undisclosed Chinese customer. Rene Lalumiere has been appointed to Director of Avionics to support the growth of the avionics division which, driven by technological advances, and the move towards the paperless cockpit, is rapidly expanding.  This is in addition to the forty new staff employed in the expanded maintenance, interior installation, cabinetry, upholstery, program management, and paint divisions supporting the continued rise of refurbishment and completions at the Canada facility.

Flying Colours Corp. and sister company JetCorp Technical Services will be exhibiting for the fifth time at this year’s EBACE 2013 where it plans to strengthen relationships with existing partners. It has already delivered two projects to German operator Fairjets GmbH in the last six months, and will be talking up the value for money it offers for maintenance and refurbishment projects. 
 
“With our Bombardier ASF status and growing interest from European operators and owners in our services, EBACE 2013 will be more important than ever and we are looking forward to this year’s show. With our growing relationships with European operators such as FairJets we value the potential in the region,” says Sean Gillespie VP, Flying Colours Corp.
 
Flying Colours Corp. and JetCorp Technical Services will be welcoming visitors to booth 1855 during this year’s event.