Duncan Aviation and KGB Aviation Solutions have teamed up to provide a new data analysis service for flight data recorders (FDRs) and cockpit voice recorders (CVRs). For years, KGB has been manufacturing equipment that downloads data from most FDRs, analyses it and provides a comprehensive report of the anomalies found. Duncan Aviation has acquired the necessary equipment and will now be using the new, streamlined KGB Aviation Solutions Data Acquisition Retrieval Tool (DART) in order to provide this necessary service to its customers.

“We believe that flight data and the integrity of that data is the next significant advancement in business aviation,” says manager of satellite operations Matt Nelson. “Beyond complying with various regulations and requirements from safety management systems, insurance carriers and OEM programmes will require that the data from onboard systems has the highest level of integrity.”

Vice president of KGB Aviation Kevin G. Balys agrees with Nelson's assessment and adds that the relationship between the two companies benefits operators by providing an efficient method of retrieving recorder data: “Using our state-of-the-art DART to effortlessly transfer the data and provide technical service will leverage the strengths of both companies.”

Avionics team leader Luke Bozetarnik at Duncan Aviation's Teterboro, New Jersey satellite shop, has worked with long-time customer and aircraft maintenance supervisor Bill Dunne for years, and they've used KGB Aviation's download service for both FDRs and CVRs.

“Recently, Luke asked me why I specifically request KGB when my work involves an FDR or CVR, and my three-part answer is simple: equipment, answers and urgency,” says Dunne. “Never have we been unable to procure the required equipment for a download. Whether the interrogation was being performed routinely or for troubleshooting purposes, we were able to accomplish the task on schedule. On the occasions where answers were needed regarding a FDR download, Kevin has shared, without hesitation, his knowledge of how certain manufacturers accomplish individual recording parameters versus the FAA and EASA regulations. Finally, I have never had to wait for results or answers of any kind. I have no idea how KGB manages to process the amount of data that it does and yet maintain such a positive customer experience, but I'm glad it does.”

Using the DART, Duncan Aviation will now offer the download and data analysis services to all of its customers at its full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska and Provo, Utah and most of its 27 satellite avionics shops located throughout the United States. Taking advantage of KGB's web portal, encrypted data automatically and securely transfers from the DART to KGB Aviation for analysis.

Duncan has also announced a collaboration with Gulfstream Aerospace to develop a full-equipment STC for the Gogo Business Aviation Avance L5 Wi-Fi system for the Gulfstream G200 and Galaxy airplanes.

The STC is the ninth that Duncan Aviation's engineering and certification services department has developed for the Avance L5 system, and it covers the Wi-Fi certification and the full equipment and antenna installation for G200 aircraft. The Avance L5, developed by Gogo Business Aviation, is a complete Wi-Fi system that operates on the Gogo Biz 4G network.

The engineering and certification services team developed the STC for the Gulfstream G200 in partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia. The STC for the G200 will be available through 7 March 2022, only for customers who install the system at any of Duncan Aviation's full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah; any of its 27 satellite avionics shops or workaway stations or at Gulfstream Aerospace.

For a limited time, Duncan Aviation is extending the free-of-charge period for Gogo Text & Talk and Gogo Vision subscription services to one full year. Gogo Text & Talk lets an aircraft's crew and passengers use their personal smartphones and devices to call and text in the air just as they do on the ground. Gogo Vision lets passengers enjoy blockbuster movies, hit TV shows, popular magazines, flight maps and more on their own devices during flight.

Currently, the Gogo Avance L5 system connects to the Gogo Biz 4G network and delivers faster speeds and enhanced network capabilities. Passengers can stream live video and audio, watch video conferences, use their personal smartphones, access data for cockpit apps in real-time and perform remote diagnostics in-flight.

Following on from the release of its ninth STC for the Gogo Avance L5 Wi-Fi system, Duncan Aviation has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) validation for its most recent three STCs. Duncan's engineering and certification services department has developed nine STCs for the Avance L5 system, and the STCs cover the Wi-Fi certification and the full equipment and antenna installation for each make/model of aircraft.

This most recent validation, sought by a team of engineers from Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Michigan facility, was led by certification coordinator Ayui Murata. Murata and her team received approval in mid-October for the Cessna Citation 680, Cessna Citation 750 and Gulfstream G200. Duncan has now secured TCCA validation on all nine of its Gogo Avance L5 STCs, which cover the Global Express, XRS, 6000; Global 5000; Challenger CL-650, CL-605, CL-604, CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R; Challenger 300, 350; Gulfstream GIV, G300, G400; Gulfstream GIV-X, G350, G450; Falcon 900; Falcon 900EX (EX, EASy, LX, DX); Falcon 2000; Falcon 2000EX (EX, EASy, LX, DX, LXS, S); Cessna Citation 680; and Cessna Citation 750.

“Many of the requests for quotes we've been getting are for connectivity, and we expect demand to remain strong well into 2021,” says regional avionics sales manager John Spellmeyer.

For a limited time, customers who install the Gogo Avance L5 Wi-Fi system at one of Duncan Aviation's full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska and Provo, Utah, or any of its 27 satellite avionics shops or workaway stations will also receive unlimited Gogo Text & Talk and Gogo Vision subscription services up to one full year free of charge. Gogo Text & Talk lets an aircraft's crew and passengers use their personal smartphones and devices to call and text in the air just as they do on the ground. Gogo Vision lets passengers enjoy blockbuster movies, hit TV shows, popular magazines, flight maps and more on their own devices during flight.

Currently, the Gogo Avance L5 system connects to the Gogo Biz 4G network and delivers faster speeds and enhanced network capabilities. Passengers can stream live video and audio, watch video conferences, use their personal smartphones, access data for cockpit apps in real-time and perform remote diagnostics in-flight.