In response to the imminent implementation of reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) on some Northern and Central Pacific routes, along with global trends towards required navigation performance (RNP) standards, KaiserAir is gearing up to increase its business jet maintenance capacity and services. To this end, a facility expansion program, now under way, is slated for completion by this spring, according to Andrew Fitzgerald, the company's vice-president of maintenance.

Along with the expansion, which includes doubling the hangar space devoted to maintenance, the Oakland (Calif.) International Airport based FBO, aircraft management, charter and service firm will also become an authorized dealer for two additional avionics product lines. In fact, avionics upgrades are predicted to account for a major portion of the company's business in the coming year.

"By building up our in-house maintenance capability, we will be ready for a surge in demand for avionics upgrades-not only for our aircraft management clients, but for a growing number of transient customers who are discovering us through our FBO and are coming back," Fitzgerald said.

Avionics Upgrade Avalanche

The implementation of Pacific RVSM rules next month will have a lot to do with the expected surge in avionics retrofits at KaiserAir, according to David Campbell, the company's vice-president of operations and chief pilot.

"RVSM requirements will be imposed [February 24th] on all aircraft flying between FL 290 and FL 390 over those areas of the Pacific Ocean controlled by both the Oakland and Anchorage Oceanic Flight Information Regions," Campbell explained. "This covers the Northern and Central Pacific air routes-including the West Coast to Hawaii, which a number of our customers fly."
Campbell noted that in addition to RVSM, Pacific operations now require compliance with RNP-10, with a more restrictive version. RNP-5, now mandated for flights over Europe. RNP-5 and RNP-10 have reduced in-trail aircraft separation to five and ten nautical miles, respectively.

It was the coming of RVSM and RNP-10 to the Pacific that was, in fact, one major impetus for KaiserAir to become so heavily involved in avionics upgrades. According to Campbell, about 15 percent of the 7,000 annual flight hours logged by KaiserAir's total managed fleet of 13 aircraft is accounted for by transpacific operations.

"Business aircraft operators will have to consider avionics upgrades to comply with the RNPs if they are going to use the affected airspace, which tends to be the most fuel-efficient cruise altitudes," Campbell said. "Because RNP has the potential to become more global, we are urging our customers to be prepared for greater restrictions on airspace in the coming years."

Expansion Plans

KaiserAir was founded at Detroit Willow Run Airport in 1946 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser as the in-house flight department for Kaiser Industries Corp. In 1954 the facility was moved to its present location, and was spun off to its management staff in 1980.
KaiserAir's growing business in avionics upgrades is building upon a well known maintenance base that will include two dedicated maintenance hangars (numbers four and five), each with 36,000 sq. ft. of floor space.

"Until recently, we used hangar four, now undergoing a major refurbishment, mainly for aircraft storage. Now, we need it for the overflow work from hangar five," said KaiserAir's Fitzgerald.

The project, slated for completion by next month, will include new flooring, electrical wiring and office space. Along with the two maintenance hangars, the facility's 25,000 sq. ft. of back shop and office space will remain the same for now. KaiserAir is an FAA-approved repair station limited to airframe, powerplant, accessory, radio and instrument work.

Authorizations Pending

Fitzgerald explained that a major step toward meeting the anticipated demand for avionics retrofits will occur this spring when KaiserAir expects to become an authorized dealer for Honeywell and Collins equipment. The company is already a dealer for Universal products.

The application of RVSM and RNP, reported Fitzgerald, has specifically lead to upgrades on aircraft altimetry, including the air-data computer and the static ports. Early last year KaiserAir added the capability to bring pilot-static systems in compliance with RVSM standards. Along with this, he said, the phaseout of VLF Omega stations has mandated global positioning system (GPS) avionics installations, another part of the company's growing business.
Although no numbers have been determined at this time, Fitzgerald said the expansion of avionics work will mean adding to the current staff of 30 maintenance technicians, who are now working two overlapping ten-hour shifts Monday through Friday, along with a single Saturday shift, to meet demand.

More Than Just Avionics

Customers often elect to have avionics upgrades, said Fitzgerald, during periods of major airframe inspections. In that regard, KaiserAir, specializes in Gulfstreams, Hawkers and Citations. The company carries out all major airframe inspections including the Citation Phase Five 1,200 hr/36-month, the Hawker 48/96-month, and the Gulfstream 72-month inspections.

"Often a Gulfstream customer will split the 72-month inspection into two parts," Fitzgerald reported. "Typically, one half of a 72-month inspection takes two weeks. That's an ideal time to do avionics installations and upgrades."

In addition to avionics upgrades and heavy airframe maintenance, KaiserAir also maintains a wheel and brake shop that services all major brands, including Goodyear, AlliedSignal, Dunlop, ABS and Messier-Dowly.

The company also carries out some light interior work, mainly on the soft goods side, including carpeting and upholstery. At this time, KaiserAir does not do full interior completions, but because of customers demand, an increase in the interior shop's capabilities, said Fitzgerald, is "under serious consideration."

Engine service is also offered, but as Fitzgerald stressed, it is mostly restricted to troubleshooting, line support and the removal and replacement of bizjet engines. "We do not do major powerplant inspections or repairs on site," he said. "Those jobs are subcontracted out to the OEM or other specialists that the customer requests."

Although much of KaiserAir's maintenance capacity has been devoted to keeping its managed fleet of aircraft in operation, owners of aircraft not involved in that program are now seen as the major area of growth in service and repair.

"We get a lot of transient aircraft who stop to refuel en route to or from Hawaii because the San Francisco Bay area is the closest point to Hawaii on the mainland U.S.," he said. "Along with this, many who fly to the Bay Area prefer to use Oakland International Airport because of the frequent weather-related delays at San Francisco. When they come here, they learn that KaiserAir has the maintenance capability to support business aircraft, along with the FBO."

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