Wings Magazine

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On the Fly-July/August 06

Industry News.


September 27, 2007  By Fred Petrie


BOMBARDIER, LANDMARK INAUGURATE FACILITY

Bombardier
Aerospace and Landmark Aviation recently unveiled the newly remodelled
terminal facility and expanded ramp operations area at Landmark’s
flagship Los Angeles International Airport service center, the newest
Authorized Service Facility (ASF) for Bombardier business jets. The
renovated facility pairs a flight center, which includes a pilot rest
area, flight planning area and conference room, with Landmark’s
maintenance, repair and overhaul services. The renovation, an
investment of US $2.6 million, also expands the facility’s ramp space
by 10 per cent to 300,000 sq. ft. “Landmark’s goal is to enhance the
ownership and service experience for each and every Bombardier customer
either based on the U.S. West Coast or regularly flying in from other
regions. This exciting new investment has prepared us to offer an even
higher level of comfort and service to Bombardier operators,” said
Roger Wolfe, CEO, Landmark Aviation.

Bombardier appointed
Landmark’s Los Angeles facility as an ASF for service and maintenance
on Bombardier Learjet and Challenger 600 Series aircraft in February
2006, making it the first Bombardier ASF in the US authorized to
service all three Bombardier business aircraft families.

Landmark
has been providing quality maintenance for the Global family of
aircraft in Los Angeles since 2000. “Bombardier is determined to
establish new levels of unparalleled aircraft availability for our
customers and, as a first-class service and maintenance provider, we
are confident that Landmark will assist in delivering this support here
on the West Coast," said Dave Orcutt, vice-president, customer support,
Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Now, Bombardier Learjet, Challenger 600
Series, and our Global business jet operators, will benefit from
unparalleled one-stop convenience for all their service requirements.”

DAVID CHARLES ABRAMSON TROPHY INAUGURATED IN OTTAWA
The
inaugural of the David Charles Abramson Memorial Trophy took place May
18, 2006 at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa. Jane and Rikki
Abramson unveiled and presented the trophy to the museum, where it will
be permanently on display.

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The industry was well represented,
including guest speakers Tony Smyth, director general of the Canada
Aviation Museum; Glenn Priestley, vice-president, fixed-wing air taxi
and flight training, ATAC; Jim Dow, chief of flight training, Transport
Canada; and pilot Adam Wright.

The Abramsons established the
David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award in 2003
to honour flight instructors who possess superior teaching skills, show
outstanding leadership qualities, demonstrate an unusually high level
of performance and are devoted to the advancement of Canadian aviation
safety. This prestigious award is presented annually at ATAC’s annual
general meeting.

The award is sponsored by Air Canada, Canadian
Forces Snowbirds, Essential Turbines Inc., FlightSafety International,
Sennheiser Canada and WINGS Magazine. Nominations for 2006 should be
submitted by Sept. 30. For further information regarding the nomination
process please visit the Web site www.dcamaward.com where all criteria
are listed.

BOEING BEGINS ASSEMBLING THE FIRST 737-900ER
Boeing
has begun final assembly of the first 737-900ER, the newest member of
its successful single-aisle airplane family. The wings and landing gear
were joined to the 737-900ER fuselage in the Boeing manufacturing
facility in Renton, Washington. Last-stage assembly and interiors
installation will begin once the airplane joins the moving assembly
line.

The 737 derivative incorporates an extra pair of exit
doors, a flat aft-pressure bulkhead and other structural and
aerodynamic changes that allow it to carry more passengers and fly
farther than the 737-900. The twinengine jet can carry up to 215
passengers and fly up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km). The
737-900ER, destined for Indonesia-based launch customer Lion Air, will
embark on a five-month flight test program later this year.

P&WC'S PW980A APU RECEIVES CERTIFICATION
Pratt
& Whitney Canada has received Transport Canada type certification
for its new PW980A auxiliary power unit (APU). The PW980A will provide
power for main engine starting, environmental control and electrical
systems on the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial passenger
jet. The certification enables P&WC to obtain Transport Canada's
manufacturing approval and thereby begin delivery of production PW980A
engines

INNOTECH INSTALLS ITS FIRST HONEYWELL APU CONVERSION ON CHALLENGER 604
On July 7, Montreal completion centre and service facility Innotech
Aviation completed its first installation of a Honeywell GTCP36- 150
(CL) auxiliary power unit in a Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet.
The new APU replaces the original GTCP36-100 series and provides
significant performance, operational and maintenance benefits over the
original.

Enhanced reliability is among the several benefits of
the conversion, as well as a longer hot-section life, largely as a
result of lower exhaust gas temperatures.

Other significant
benefits include an enhanced-reliability load control valve, an
advanced electronic control unit with complete built-in test equipment
capability which analyzes most line replaceable units and reduces
maintenance costs as well as downtime; and improved fuel scheduling and
fuel control boost starting and operational schedules for all
start-regime conditions – sea level, deep cold and high and hot
conditions.

Rob Brooks, Innotech vice-president and general
manager, believes the retrofit will be popular among Challenger
operators. “The operational and economic benefits are clearly there,
and we can perform the installation during a regular maintenance visit
or on demand. As a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility since 1983,
we know this airplane from radome to tailcone.”

CASCADE AEROSPACE AND HERC SOLUTIONS RECEIVE FIRST CC-130 HERCULES
Cascade Aerospace recently celebrated the arrival of the first CC-130
aircraft at Cascade’s maintenance facility in Abbotsford, BC under a
$423.4-million, six-year contract with the federal government to
provide comprehensive maintenance support services for Canada’s fleet
of 32 CC-130 Hercules aircraft. The Department of National Defence
awarded the contract in October 2005 as part of its Optimized Weapon
System Management Program, which represents a new, performance-based
approach to contracting. Under a rigourous contract, Cascade and Herc
Solutions team members will provide program management, engineering,
maintenance, material supply and information systems support services
in accordance with specific performance measures.

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