September 12, 2019 - No. 073 In This Issue Valsoft Enters the Aviation Vertical With the Acquisition of Commsoft OASES Australian Aviation Agency Looks To Simplify Regulatory Structure State must wait to design aviation academy on new site after feds reject Paulding's first choice Demand for Aviation Workforce Fuels AAR and WSU Tech Partnership MTU Maintenance Zhuhai to Repair CFM LEAP Engines Embry-Riddle Among Nation's Best Colleges in Undergraduate Engineering, Aerospace Engineering for 2020 Survey Shows Canada Bizav Firms Competitive on Pay Able Aerospace Opens $9M Facility Expansion SELF SERVICE TECHNOLOGY COMING TO KRABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Elon Musk says SpaceX is getting ready to fly its Starship into orbit Valsoft Enters the Aviation Vertical With the Acquisition of Commsoft OASES MONTREAL, Sept. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft"), a Montreal- based company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Communications Software (Airline Systems) Limited (Commsoft OASES), a leader in the aviation engineering and maintenance software market, based in Tiptree, UK. Communications Software (Airline Systems) Limited, which was founded as a software house in 1971, won its first airline contract in 1975 with industry innovator Laker Airways in the UK, leading to the launch of the predecessor to OASES (Open Aviation Strategic Engineering System) the following year. Since its first association with the airline industry more than 40 years ago, Commsoft has been continually developing its MRO IT system, now called OASES - a process that has been shaped in large part by feedback from its clients. Gary Pollak, James Stock, David Pusey and Nick Godwin are extremely proud of the company they have built along with their employees, and are optimistic about the company's future. "In Valsoft, we have found a cultural fit and an entrepreneurial team that we confidently believe will be able to help Commsoft continue to grow and evolve. We are confident our customers are in good hands, benefiting from a team of dedicated and passionate aviation professionals, as well as the backing of a larger software organization," said Gary Pollak. The directors will remain involved to ensure a smooth transition, while Nick Godwin will continue to lead the company as Managing Director. The company will continue to develop and support OASES, as well as all other products and services, providing a robust software solution to customers. "This acquisition is a milestone in Valsoft's growth. We are entering a new and exciting vertical, with a business that has a long history of providing high-quality, mission-critical solutions. We plan to invest tens of millions in the aviation software space through additional acquisitions and the development of complementary technologies. As such, this will further build on Commsoft's reputation of customer success. We welcome the Commsoft team, clients and partners to our family and look forward to years of prosperous growth," said Stephane Manos, head of M&A and co- founder of Valsoft. "We will do our utmost to ensure that the directors' legacy thrives and that customers continue to benefit from world class products and support." About Commsoft: Communications Software's OASES (Open Aviation Strategic Engineering System) is among the most successful aviation engineering and maintenance systems in the world. With more than 130 aviation customers supported in some 55 countries across six continents, including national carriers, third party maintainers, regional carriers, leasing companies, cargo specialists, charter operators and specialist rotable stockists based in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australasia, we have a very broad experience with all areas of aviation maintenance support. https://commsoft.aero About Valsoft Corporation: Valsoft Corporation acquires and develops vertical market software companies, enabling each business to deliver the best mission-critical solutions for customers in their respective industry or niche. A key tenet of Valsoft's philosophy is to invest in well-established businesses and foster an entrepreneurial environment that molds companies into leaders in their respective industries. On average, companies acquired by Valsoft have experienced growth north of 25% in the 18 months post-acquisition, all the while seeing steady improvement in terms of customer satisfaction (as measured by the Net Promoter Score). Unlike Private Equity and VC firms, Valsoft does not have a pre-defined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management. Valsoft Corporation was represented internally by David Felicissimo, General Counsel & Aude Florin, Legal Counsel, and by Russel Shear and Christophe Robert of Edwin Coe LLP. HSKS Greenhalgh acted as the exclusive corporate finance advisor to the selling shareholders of Commsoft OASES on this transaction. The selling shareholders of Commsoft OASES were represented by Martyn Brierly and William Bowler of Flint Bishop LLP. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/valsoft-enters-aviation-vertical-acquisition-110000066.html Back to Top Australian Aviation Agency Looks To Simplify Regulatory Structure The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) recently published new guidance directed at maintenance organizations required to report defects. Advisory Circular (AC) 20-06 expands the scope of its predecessor to include all aviation maintenance reporting mandates, some of which were relocated to Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) in June 2011 as part of CASA's regulatory reform project. The guidance is applicable to aircraft maintained under Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) Part 4B (i.e., charter operations) as well as aircraft maintained under the CASR Part 42 (i.e., regular public transport operations). In addition to expanding the scope of applicable reporting obligations, the new AC replaces reference to "service difficulty reports" with "defect reports" and directs users to the latest defect- reporting portal (a system that was implemented in August 2016). In an effort to cut down on the number of unnecessary reports, the AC also sets forth a list of defects that do not require authority notification, including conditions where the fault cannot be confirmed or those caused by isolated maintenance errors. The defect-reporting AC replaces the now defunct Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP) 51- 1(2). The undertaking-converting CAAPs issued in association with the CARs with ACs issued under the new CASRs-is one small piece of CASA's broader regulatory reform project. In an effort to simplify and harmonize its regulatory structure with international standards, CASA is migrating regulations, including its suite of airworthiness rules (i.e., Parts 42, 66, 145 and 147) to the CASRs. The intent is to create a new regulatory framework that is more logically organized and agile. The project timeline sets forth milestones through 2021. Other maintenance-related reform activities include post-implementation reviews of Part 66 (aircraft engineer licenses and ratings) and Part 145 (maintenance organizations). A technical working group for Part 66 convened in April 2018 to review issues identified through an industry consultation survey. Another working group began disseminating survey responses for Part 145 at its first meeting last November. The purpose of both committees is to evaluate industry feedback and provide recommendations to improve the CASR and further harmonize the regulations with the European Aviation Safety Agency system. https://www.mro-network.com/safety-regulatory/australian-aviation-agency-looks-simplify- regulatory-structure Back to Top State must wait to design aviation academy on new site after feds reject Paulding's first choice State and local leaders will have to wait to see if a federal agency approves a new site for an aviation maintenance school at Paulding's airport after it rejected a nearby location the county government targeted for almost a year. The Paulding County Airport Authority recently joined the Paulding County Commission in voting to ask the Federal Aviation Administration to release almost 3 acres from its control for the new school site west of the terminal building at Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. The boards' votes followed the FAA telling county officials in mid-August not to make a long- planned donation of a separate 3.9-acre site east of the terminal building to the state's technical college governing board. The proposed new location for the school - which will be part of Chattahoochee Technical College - is on Airport Parkway adjacent to the main airport area. The site formerly was planned for construction of a new county fire station and 911 Center that have been built or are under construction elsewhere, airport director Terry Tibbitts said. He told the airport authority Sept. 5 that Chattahoochee Tech and the Technical College System of Georgia "are trying to move out very fast on design and so forth" of the new school. "They can't do anything until they know where the building is going to be located," he said. He said he already has "everything the FAA requires" for consideration of the new site such as engineering data, an environmental study, a property appraisal and a survey plat. "We consider this 3 acres to be surplus to any aviation need that we have today and we hope the FAA would agree with that assessment," Tibbitts said. "The only way to find that out for sure is to submit the (land) release request and give them a chance to evaluate and get back to us." FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac said on Monday, Sept. 9, that land release requests are submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation before going to the FAA. "If the FAA receives a new location request for the school, we will give it our full consideration," Salac said. Former governor Nathan Deal announced in October 2018 the new aviation school was planned for a site at Paulding's airport. The Georgia General Assembly voted earlier this year to add $35 million to the state's 2019 budget for its construction. Two county boards voted in October 2018 to donate the 3.9-acre site to the Technical College System of Georgia for construction of the school. The county government and airport authority co-own the site but must receive FAA approval for use of any airport land after agreeing to give the federal agency final say over the "federally obligated" land in exchange for past and future grant funding, Tibbitts said. The FAA has reimbursed the county millions of dollars for construction of most of Paulding's airport, which opened in 2007. Paulding's Airport Layout Plan -- required by the FAA and drawn before the school announcement -- shows space for future development of hangars and part of the airport tarmac on the 3.9-acre site. Salac said the FAA "objected to the initial location choice for the state aviation maintenance school because it is designated for future hangar development on the Paulding County Airport Layout Plan." "Hangar development is considered an aeronautical use for the land. The school is not considered an aeronautical use of the land," Salac said. The FAA will not allow the release of federally-obligated airport property for non-aeronautical development if the land has a future aeronautical designation, Salac said. https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/west_georgia/news/state-must-wait-to-design- aviation-academy-on-new-site/article_03f9ec86-d3bc-11e9-bb24-177a048d828f.html Back to Top Demand for Aviation Workforce Fuels AAR and WSU Tech Partnership AAR and WSU Tech have announced their new aviation maintenance education and training partnership to further enhance instruction, as well as student job experiences and career prospects at AAR upon graduation. AAR's EAGLE Career Pathway program will expand the curriculum of WSU Tech's aviation maintenance technology program to include job shadowing and mentoring, as well as academic support and monitoring. WSU Tech students who pursue the FAA-certified aircraft mechanic's certificate are eligible for up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursements from AAR. "WSU Tech is excited about this new partnership with AAR and the EAGLE Career Pathway program," said Dr. Sheree Utash, president of WSU Tech. "This program will create more opportunities for our students by providing stackable skills and certifications that lead directly to jobs at AAR along with much needed financial assistance for students to continue their education and advance their careers. We are grateful to AAR for their commitment to the National Center for Aviation Training, their commitment to support to students and assisting WSU Tech to ensure that our college focuses on the development of a talent ecosystem relevant to the demands of today's workforce." AAR Vice President of Maintenance Workforce Development, Ryan Goertzen, joined WSU Tech President, Dr. Sheree Utash and Dean of Aviation Technologies, Jim Hall, as well as a hangar full of WSU Tech Aviation Maintenance Technology students for the official announcement on September 9 at WSU Tech's main campus in the National Center for Aviation Training, located in Wichita, Kansas. "We are honored to collaborate with WSU Tech to implement this advanced, hands-on element to their A&P certification program," said Ryan Goertzen, AAR vice president of maintenance workforce development. "The EAGLE Career Pathway program equips students with onsite job experience and competitive skills, so they graduate prepared for the workforce and aware of the diverse and exciting aviation fields and certifications they can pursue as a career. We look forward to their alumni joining our MRO team." https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/press-release/21096467/aar-corp-demand-for- aviation-workforce-fuels-aar-and-wsu-tech-partnership Back to Top MTU Maintenance Zhuhai to Repair CFM LEAP Engines MTU Maintenance Zhuhai confirmed it is now certified to repair CFM International LEAP -1A and -1B engines and it inducted its first one on Sept. 10. The German MRO, along with its partner in the 50/50 Chinese joint venture China Southern Airlines, recently agreed to a deal with CFM for a General Support License Agreement (GSLA), typically assigned to companies by the OEM embarking on aftermarket services for its engines. Other recent recipients of LEAP-related GSLA arrangements include TAP Portugal, which penned one for LEAP-1B maintenance in December 2018. Preparations have been underway for LEAP services in Zhuhai throughout 2019, and have included the procurement of tooling and testing equipment, review of technical documents, employee training and acquisition of the necessary aviation authority approvals. MTU Maintenance Zhuhai in China has also broken ground on the expansion of its facility, its second capacity increase in less than 10 years. Set to grow by 50%, the shop is expected to increase to 450 shop visits by 2021. Aviation Week's Fleet & MRO Forecast data projects a $69 billion MRO spend by 2028 for the LEAP engine, the long-term successor to the CFM56. Data projects more than 13,000 deliveries of the - 1B variant over a 10-year period, with the engine powering the Boeing 737MAX aircraft program. The -1A is forecast to have 8,222 deliveries over the same time period, while the -1C for China's Comac C919 will see 406 deliveries, according to Aviation Week data. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/mtu-maintenance-zhuhai-repair-cfm- leap-engines Back to Top Embry-Riddle Among Nation's Best Colleges in Undergraduate Engineering, Aerospace Engineering for 2020 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's undergraduate engineering programs at the school's residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., have once again received superior marks in U.S. News & World Report's 2020 Best Colleges guidebook, an annual listing of more than 1,800 accredited four-year schools in the United States. "We serve a dynamic industry. Embry-Riddle continually improves discovery-driven programs that prepare our students to meet emerging challenges," said P. Barry Butler, president of Embry- Riddle. "We are proud of our continued high ranking as an aerospace educator and the recognition we have earned for value, innovation and our commitment to veterans." Prescott, Arizona Campus Rankings In the category of Best Undergraduate Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical Engineering Programs at schools where a doctorate is not offered, Prescott is the No. 1 ranked school in the country for the third year in a row. In the category of Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at schools where a doctorate is not offered, the Prescott Campus tied at No. 17 nationally and excelled as the highest-rated Arizona school in the category. This year's ranking is also Prescott's 14th appearance in the top 20 nationwide. The Prescott Campus also achieved the following rankings: - Best Undergraduate Electrical / Electronics / Communication Engineering Program where a doctorate is not offered: Tied for No. 13. - Best Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Program where a doctorate is not offered: No. 16. "We are pleased to be recognized as a premier undergraduate engineering college delivering excellent results for our students and alumni," said Dr. Ron Madler, dean of the College of Engineering at the Prescott Campus. "Our outstanding alumni, experienced faculty, hands-on focused curriculum and modern facilities stand out amongst our peers." Daytona Beach, Florida Campus Rankings At the Daytona Beach Campus, in Best Undergraduate Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical Engineering Programs at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, the university is now tied for No. 4 in the nation. In previous years, when the campus was ranked among non-doctorate schools, it was No. 1 in this category for 16 consecutive years. The Daytona Beach Campus' aerospace engineering program is the largest in the nation and offers bachelor's, master's, including an online option through the Worldwide Campus, and Ph.D. degrees. For the ranking of Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, the Daytona Beach Campus is once again ranked as one of the top three programs in the State of Florida, along with the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. In previous years, when the campus was ranked among non-doctorate schools, it was in the top 12 in this category for 14 consecutive years. "Our engineering programs are based on experiential learning and incorporating discovery into the teaching process. We promote innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset, and instill the values of ethics, professionalism and service," said Dr. Maj Mirmirani, dean of the College of Engineering at the Daytona Beach Campus. The University's engineering degree programs at the Daytona Beach Campus include aerospace, civil, computer, cybersecurity, electrical, mechanical, software, systems, and unmanned and autonomous systems, in addition to other engineering-related programs. Best Regional Universities in the South In additional rankings, the 2020 Best Colleges guidebook once again lists Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus among the Best Regional Universities in the South, tied at No. 11, the 16th year in a row the school has been in the top 20. Within the Southern regional category of 136 schools, Embry-Riddle also achieved the following rankings: - Most Innovative Schools: No. 2 and the highest ranked school in Florida. - Best for Veterans: Tied at No. 4 and among the top ten for the seventh year in a row. - Best Value Schools: No. 42 among only 59 schools to make the list. - Best Undergraduate Teaching: Tied at No. 20 out of only 39 schools to make the list. The Daytona Beach Campus was additionally recognized within the southern regional university category as an A-plus School for B Students, a School with the Most International Students and for Campus Ethnic Diversity. Worldwide Campus Rankings Earlier this year, Embry-Riddle's Worldwide Campus was ranked No. 1 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs, the only private, not-for-profit institution ranked in the Top 10 out of 367 universities nationwide. Since 2014, Embry-Riddle Worldwide has ranked in the top five of the annual list, including being named No. 1 three out of the past four years. The Worldwide Campus was once again named the top school in the country in U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans and its online graduate business program (excluding MBA) was also named one of the top programs in the nation. "The U.S. News and World Report rankings recognize the commitment of our faculty and staff to the success of our students," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Lon D. Moeller. "The Best Colleges recognition also helps to emphasize the sense of discovery our students bring to and develop during their time at Embry-Riddle and it acknowledges the career success our graduates have when they enter the workforce." https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/press-release/21096655/embryriddle- aeronautical-university-embryriddle-among-nations-best-colleges-in-undergraduate-engineering- aerospace-engineering-for-2020 Back to Top Survey Shows Canada Bizav Firms Competitive on Pay Salaries and benefits offered by business aviation companies in Canada are generally equal to or higher than those offered by airlines and other aviation companies, according to results of the Canadian Business Aviation Association's (CBAA) 2019 Compensation Survey. Conducted by the Wynford Group with responses from 54 CBAA member-organizations, the survey provides detailed salary and cash comparisons, as well as business aviation compensation practices, incentive plans, and work conditions. Information on recruitment, turnover, and retention practices is also available from the survey, which is the second such survey since CBAA launched the biennial report in 2017. "Operators will no long[er] have to rely on educated guesses or assumptions," CBAA president and CEO Anthony Norejko said. "They can use the report to do a deep dive into the data and rank how they compare with colleagues and competitors-and create new recruitment and retention packages based on the data." Results of the survey show that salaries for management positions in business aviation are 12.7 percent higher than for airlines and 3.7 percent more than those positions in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing. For maintenance positions, the salary differential is 16.7 percent above those in the airlines, and 17 percent higher than similar positions in maintenance and manufacturing. Among flight crews, the average salary differential is 4 percent greater than at airlines, and 4.9 percent higher than flight crews working for aviation maintenance companies and manufacturers. "While we are a niche within the aviation sector, we are a lucrative one," Norejko explained. "We are always looking to hire the best and are willing to compensate them accordingly." Employee-referrals is the most used recruitment tool by business aviation companies followed by job boards and company websites, the report also shows. And salary increases followed by professional development and benefits are the top three methods used by business aviation companies to retain employees, according to the report. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-09-10/survey-shows-canada- bizav-firms-competitive-pay Back to Top Able Aerospace Opens $9M Facility Expansion Able Aerospace Services has opened a $9 million building expansion at its headquarters facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) in Arizona, the unit of Textron Aviation announced this week. The 60,000-sq-ft expansion allows Able to add new technology to its aircraft component repair and overhaul, as well as add new products and services such as aftermarket support for large rotorcraft and commercial fixed-wing parts. "Able has earned a reputation for identifying where our customers need support and responding to that need with world-class aftermarket services," said Able general manager Michael Vercio. "This expansion is the latest example of that ability. It is an outward sign of the internal employee talent that drives our success." It expects to add up to 100 new jobs over the next two years with the expansion, including airframe and powerplant mechanics, machinists, and plating and paint specialists, in addition to positions in engineering, sales, and supply chain. With 200,000 existing sq ft of facilities at IWA and 450 employees, Able offers component repair, overhaul, parts, and aircraft completions for civil and military fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-09-10/able-aerospace-opens- 9m-facility-expansion Back to Top SELF SERVICE TECHNOLOGY COMING TO KRABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Krabi International Airport in Thailand is to install self-service technology provided by SITA in line with its ambitions to become a regional aviation hub. The airport, operated by Thailand's Department of Airports, is investing in SITA's common-use passenger processing (CUPPS) platform, along with self-service check-in kiosks at both domestic and international terminals. Airport director, Attaporn Nuang-udom, says: "This investment in common-use infrastructure provides greater flexibility to international airlines operating from Krabi Airport and optimises terminal facilities while improving the passenger experience at the airport. This strategic move is also aligned with our goal to uplift the image of the airport, upgrade its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) rating to international standards and keep abreast with new technology and future trends." Commenting on the potemtial of his airport, Nuang-udom, says: "Krabi province has a geographical advantage as it is situated between the spectacular Andaman and Gulf of Thailand coasts. "With abundant natural resources and tourist attractions of natural beauty, Krabi has gained increasing popularity as a tourist destination. "Last year, Krabi saw more than four million visitors from various countries including China, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, Russia, and South Korea, and over 30,000 flights departed from Krabi Airport." Sumesh Patel, SITA's president for Asia Pacific, comments: "We are pleased to work with Krabi Airport and Samart Telcoms to bring the benefits of common-use technology, which will enhance the experience for both passengers and airlines. "We look forward to continuing our strategic partnership to future-proof Krabi Airport, as it grows and expands to become a regional aviation center over the new few years." Future development plans for Krabi Airport include the construction of Terminal 3 and the renovation of Terminals 1 and 2 to increase the capacity from 1,500 passengers per hour to 3,000 passengers per hour. Construction and expansion of aircraft parking bays are also in the plan to accommodate 40 aircraft at the same time. http://www.airport-world.com/news/general-news/7318-self-service-technology-coming-to-krabi- international-airport.html Back to Top Elon Musk says SpaceX is getting ready to fly its Starship into orbit SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship spacecraft into orbit, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Teslarati reported that FCC applications submitted on September 9 reveal that SpaceX requested permission to "authorize Starship suborbital test vehicle communications for SpaceX Mission 1569 from the Boca Chica launch pad." The test will include an "Experimental launch, landing, and recovery of the Starship suborbital test vehicle." The vehicle will land about hundred or so feet from its launch site. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed the flight preparations in a tweet on Tuesday. If approved, the test will take place at SpaceX's launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The application dates point to the possibility that the company could launch the Starship prototype, known as Starship Mk1, as soon as October 13. SpaceX is hoping for Starship Mk1 to reach an altitude of 22.5 km (13.98 miles). This height is a significant upgrade from SpaceX's Starhopper engine tests, which reached 150 meters (492 feet) during its August 27 launch. Starhopper is the prototype to Starship, which SpaceX hopes to be used as a commercial spacecraft that will be able to take off and land again, like an airplane. The hope is to have Starship ready for commercial flights by 2021. Musk has previously said that SpaceX hopes to land the Starship on the moon by that year, followed by a crewed mission a year or two later. These tests are essential to perfecting the Starship rocket. Musk's ultimate goal is to help set up a colony on Mars, bringing people on a trip to the moon, and even bring used for transcontinental travel. SpaceX's race to dominate the field of space travel also includes a partnership with NASA. In July, NASA announced the partnership with SpaceX to advance commercial space and future NASA missions, specifically to the moon and hopefully even Mars. NASA also selected SpaceX to create spacecrafts, rockets, and systems to carry astronauts to the space station for missions. Digital Trends reached out to SpaceX for additional information about the launch of the Starship Mk1, but we haven't heard back from them yet. We'll update this story if we receive more details. https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/spacex-starship-orbital-test-flight-elon-musk/ Curt Lewis