Latest News
EAGLE CREEK'S NAPLES JET CENTER DELIVERS
DUAL GARMIN G600 REFURBISHED PANEL
DECEMBER 2009
NAPLES, FL — Naples Jet Center (NJC) announced last week that it has delivered its first dual Garmin G600 panel refurbishment in a Twin Commander 1000. The dual G600 retrofit was part of a larger panel redesign and aircraft refurbishment.
The panel replacement began by removing the old and unnecessary wiring, and installing all new wiring harnesses for a custom designed instrument array that featured recessed panels for the G600.
Garmin’s new G600 system represents a viable and affordable after-market glass retrofit option for older aircraft. Using technology derived from the popular G1000 avionics system, the G600 package replaces old-style mechanical instruments in the panel with sleek, large-format LCD displays.
Its fully integrated flight director makes the G600 a natural upgrade for aircraft with existing Garmin radios. The installed system also included a scaled version of Garmin’s SVT™ Synthetic Vision, which uses sophisticated graphics modeling to create a 3-D topographic landscape from the G600’s terrain alerting database.
In addition to the two G600s, NJC installed a GNS-530AW, a GNS-430A, a Garmin GMA-347 Audio Panel, 2 Garmin GTX-330 Transponders, an Avidyne EX-500 MFD with charts, Satellite Weather and Skywatch. Prior to the panel replacement, the airplane was refurbished with new paint, a new interior and fresh inspections.
“The style and craftsmanship put into this new panel, along with the other refurbishments, makes this airplane look better than the day it left the production line,” said Bruce Byerly, Naples Jet Center’s Vice President. “This project is another demonstration of our commitment to Twin Commander operators by continually offering programs and upgrades that keep the fleet up to date.”
About Naples Jet Center
Naples Jet Center, a division of Eagle Creek Aviation Services, is an FBO providing full-service aviation solutions at Naples Municipal Airport (APF) in Naples, Florida. Services include aircraft maintenance and support for business jets and turboprops, aircraft sales, and aircraft charter and management. To learn more, visit www.naplesjetcenter.com.
EAGLE CREEK TAKES DELIVERY
OF 12TH EMBRAER PHENOM 100 JET
November 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.— Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Inc. announced that last week it had taken delivery of the eighth Phenom 100 from its order of 17 Phenom 100’s. Additionally the company has assisted four additional owners with the acceptance and delivery of their Phenoms, for a total of 12 Phenom deliveries to date. Embraer and Eagle Creek had earlier announced the Companies firm order of a total of 21 Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 jets on behalf of its client base.
“It has been a busy year for Phenom Deliveries,” said Matt Hagans, Eagle Creek’s CEO. “And, we’re not done yet; we have several deliveries scheduled before the end of the year, including the first Phenom 300 delivery. As an owner, operator and manager of many of these aircraft, we are very impressed with the performance, quality and ruggedness built into the Phenom line”
Hagans, who is now approaching 400 hours of experience in the Phenom 100, has personally provided acceptance and delivery services on all twelve airplanes. His Indianapolis based company, Eagle Creek Aviation Services, is an Embraer Authorized Service Center that provides comprehensive solutions for Phenom owners and operators.
Chris Wallace, pilot for the new owners of this latest Phenom 100, accompanied Hagans to bring the airplane from Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil to the United States. “The people at Embraer are exceptional and I rate them five stars. The trip is a fun experience, but it was great to have Eagle Creek with us during acceptance and delivery,” Wallace said. “Their guidance, product knowledge, experience and relationship with Embraer made for an easy transition from our single-engine turboprop into the Phenom 100.”
About Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Inc.
Eagle Creek Aviation offers business jet and turboprop owners and operators a complete line of services including maintenance, avionics, interior refurbishment, parts support as well as sales and brokerage services. Eagle Creek is an Embraer Authorized Phenom Service Center and offers a wide range of services and products to Phenom owners. The company also provides executive charter and aircraft management through its First Wing division. Eagle Creek operates full-service fixed based operations at Eagle Creek Airport in Indianapolis and one at Naples Municipal Airport in Florida called Naples Jet Center. To learn more, visit www.eagle-creek.com.
About Embraer
Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. - NYSE: ERJ; BM&FBovespa:EMBR3) is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 120 seats, and one of Brazil’s leading exporters. Embraer’s headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and it has offices, industrial operations and customer service facilities in Brazil, China, France, Portugal, Singapore, and the United States. Founded in 1969, the Company designs, develops, manufactures and sells aircraft for the commercial aviation, executive aviation, and defense segments. The Company also provides after sales support and services to customers worldwide. On September 30, 2009, Embraer had a workforce of 16,986 employees – not counting the employees of its partly owned subsidiaries – and its firm order backlog totaled US$ 18.6 billion. For more information, visit www.embraer.com.
Eagle Creek's Naples Jet Center Profiled by Aviation International News
MRO Profile: Naples Jet Center
By: David A. Lombardo
August 1, 2009
Turbine service for southwest Florida
Naples Jet Center in Florida was born out of the partnership of two Rust Belt FBO owners, according to Bruce Byerly, who describes himself as “a third-generation aviation-family member.” After he received a degree in economics in 1992 from Vanderbilt University, he returned to work at the family FBO, Byerly Aviation on Greater Peoria Regional Airport in Illinois.
By 2007 Byerly realized that the significant consolidation of the general aviation industry was making it increasingly difficult to get ahead as a family- owned FBO.
“Our biggest competitor was a similar FBO in Indianapolis called Eagle Creek Aviation Services. Matt Hagans, Eagle Creek’s owner and CEO, was also a good friend. Matt and I both saw the future was in higher growth markets, such as Florida, so we wanted to move to that area and capitalize on it,” Byerly told AIN.
In addition, Byerly Aviation was more turboprop oriented, while Hagans had developed a desirable relationship with Embraer business aircraft. Byerly said
he “felt the Phenom 100 and 300 were the most exciting new product concepts I’d ever seen.”
The two decided to team up, renovating the existing FBO and maintenance facility Hagans had recently purchased on Naples Municipal Airport, rebranding it as Naples Jet Center.
“We began assembling a diverse group of experienced aircraft professionals in the fall of 2007,” said Byerly, who is now vice president of Naples Jet Center. The facility completed its first inspections on King Airs and Citations that fall and in early 2008, when it also received its FAR 145 status as a satellite of the Indianapolis operation.
Naples Jet Center is not immune to the effects of the economic downturn and has “had to make adjustments accordingly,” reducing its original staff of 36 to 18, Hagans said. Nonetheless, he is optimistic. “We did what we had to do to meet the issues of the economy but we’re not just holding our own; we’re showing growth,” he said.
Hagans, who remains CEO of Eagle Creek, which owns and operates Naples Jet Center, said one of the reasons the company is doing well, and the primary reason he and Byerly moved into the market, is the significant potential they see in southwest Florida. “There are no major players for turbine-powered aircraft on the west coast of Florida, yet people want to come to Naples to live and for vacation,” he said. “It’s an ideal location for an FBO and maintenance operation.”
Hagans said he had been studying the market for several years and noted that from 2005 to 2007 the state of Florida averaged an increase of one turbine-powered aircraft registration per day. The number of turbine aircraft on the Indiana registry remained constant during the same period.
“It was very clear that the Rust Belt was losing ground to Florida in terms of business potential,” he said. “When we made the move we assumed the Naples operation would be in the red for the first two years of operation, yet despite the economy we’re operating in the black. I’m very optimistic about our future; before long the economy will recover and we’re in the right zip code to be focusing on turboprops and jets. We are also in an excellent location to go after the South American market.”
In addition to holding FAA Part 145 repair station limited airframe, limited powerplant, limited instruments and limited radio authorizations, Naples
Jet Center has just been approved as a Venezuelan repair station by the Instituto Nacional De Aeronautica Civil Venezuela. The company offers bilingual (English-Spanish) support.
Of Naples Jet Center’s overall 40,000 sq ft there are two 12,000-sq-ft maintenance hangars. Of its 18 employees, 16 are dedicated to maintenance (12 are maintenance technicians and four are avionics techs).
While the company is heavily oriented toward maintenance, it also offers basic FBO services, including aircraft sales, charter and executive aircraft management through its First Wing division. It specializes in custom travel solutions, aircraft sales and brokerage, partnership development for partial aircraft ownership, aircraft maintenance and consulting.
Naples Jet Center is a Twin Commander authorized service center and specializes in Honeywell TFE731 and TPE331 engine service and support. It is also authorized to provide maintenance and repair work on Citation, Learjet, Hawker and Embraer models. Services include avionics installations and repairs, structural repairs and upgrades, interior refurbishments, and maintenance and inspections. The company is constantly updating its capabilities list, Byerly said.
See the Article at AINONLINE
Visit our Naples Jet Center Website
Eagle Creek Completes and Delivers Grand Renaissance Twin Commander to the County of Kern
March 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Inc. completed and delivered a Grand Renaissance Twin Commander to the County of Kern, California. The Grand Renaissance is a factory-audited program that entails a complete refurbishment of a Twin Commander aircraft.
The County of Kern will use the aircraft as a command and control platform for wild land fire suppression and all-risk incidents. The aircraft will have a secondary role in providing VIP transportation.
Under the Grand Renaissance program, Eagle Creek performed the completion on a Twin Commander 690A, upgrading it with Honeywell Dash 10 engines, and a complete Meggitt Magic Panel including the Meggitt Magic 2100 Digital Flight Control System.
Special-purpose avionics were installed that will enable the Grand Renaissance to serve as an aerial command and control platform for fighting wildfires in the county. This specialized equipment includes an Avalex mapping system, tactical radio systems, Aircell system and an AFS tracker System.
The project took more than 8,500 shop hours to complete. As part of the completion, Eagle Creek provided two technicians to travel with the aircraft for two weeks each. These technicians will be on-site to provide initial maintenance support during the delivery period.
“We’ve been impressed with Eagle Creek’s performance and professionalism in the bidding process, the initial planning phase, and throughout the entire completion and delivery, including post-delivery service,” said Dennis Thompson, fire chief and director of emergency services for the County of Kern Fire Department.
“We are honored to have been selected by the County of Kern for this important completion and delivery,” said Matt Hagans, Eagle Creek’s CEO. “Our efforts in this delivery demonstrate Eagle Creek’s dedication to ensuring that every aspect of aircraft ownership and operation exceeds our clients’ expectations.”
“Given this aircraft’s critical role in maintaining the safety of the people of the county, we are especially pleased to have been selected for this important project,” added Randy Morelock, Eagle Creek project manager.
About Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Inc.
Eagle Creek Aviation offers business jet and turboprop owners and operators a complete line of services including maintenance, avionics, interior refurbishment, and parts support as well as aircraft sales and brokerage services. The company also provides executive aircraft management through its First Wing division, and operates a full-service fixed based operation (FBO) at EYE in Indianapolis and one at Naples, FL (APF) as Naples Jet Center. To learn more, visit www.eagle-creek.com.
Contact Us
Eagle Creek Aviation Services Named Embraer Service Center
Eagle Creek Aviation Services, a full-service provider of aircraft sales, management and maintenance services was recently named an authorized service center for Embraer, the announcement coming during the industry's largest event, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention held this year in Orlando, FL. The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer of executive jets confirmed that Eagle Creek will be certified at the highest level of full-service authorization for the company's new Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 jets.
The service center is scheduled to open in Indianapolis concurrent with the first Phenom 100 deliveries, scheduled mid-year 2008, as part of a new network of regional facilities in the U.S. authorized to service and maintain the newly introduced executive jets. This addition to Eagle Creek's existing operations is thought to eventually add 25 new jobs to the local economy over the next several months. "It was an honor to be selected as one of the first Embraer Phenom services centers," said Eagle Creek CEO, Matt Hagans. "The selection demonstrates that our reputation for precision, professionalism and safety has been recognized not just here in this country, but around the world."
The announcement follows the recent purchase and sale of 16 new Phenom jet positions that Eagle Creek acquired on behalf of its clients. The deal involved 12 Embraer Phenom 100's and four Phenom 300's with five additional options for either model. The first delivery will take place in late 2008 with remaining deliveries occurring about one per month thereafter. The current value of the total acquisition is approximately $61 million.
The Phenom 100 and Phenom 300, with ranges of 1,160 nm and 1,800 nm respectively, offer spacious cabins designed by BMW Group DesignWorksUSA, as well as the industry's most intuitive and responsive pilot interface and many advanced safety features. "The Phenom aircraft are a perfect fit for many of our customers who have chosen to transition from turboprop aircraft or older light jets to meet their evolving travel requirements," noted Hagans. "Our ability to service these aircraft here at Eagle Creek allows us to offer a complete package of acquisition, maintenance, training and flight support for owners of these innovative aircraft."
Eagle Creek Aviation Services is the nation's premiere Twin Commander sales and service center and is one of the Midwest's regional leaders in Learjet, Citation and Cirrus sales and service.
Embraer (Empresa) is the world's leading manufacturer of Commercial jets up to 110 seats with 37 years of experience in designing, developing, manufacturing, selling and providing after sales support to aircraft for the Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, and Defense and Government segments. With headquarters in São José dos Campos, State of São Paulo, the Company has offices and customer service bases in the United States, France, Portugal, China and Singapore. Embraer is among Brazil's leading exporting companies. As of September 30, 2006, Embraer had a total workforce of 18,336 people, and its firm order backlog totaled US$13.3 billion.
|
