Tag Archives: OPF

Bombardier breaks ground on a new Service Center at Opa-locka

Bombardier is pleased to announce another wave of growth for its award-winning service network as it increases its customer service capabilities in the U.S. with a new service center at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

The new service center will more than double the company’s current customer service footprint in Florida with new capabilities, including a paint facility for the center’s vast customer base spanning the U.S. and Latin America.

Planned for inauguration in 2020, the new service center in Miami will be fully equipped to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, aircraft modifications, avionics installations, and aircraft on ground support (AOG) for Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft. Once the facility is fully ramped up, the new service center will nearly double Bombardier’s employment in Florida to close to 300 employees.

Located in Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) is the largest of the County’s general aviation airports. Bombardier’s approximately $100-million investment for its new service center will bring significant benefits to Miami-Dade County, including the development of a comprehensive aerospace cluster and the establishment of talent development partnerships with local colleges.

The state-of-the-art facility of approximately 300,000 sq. ft. will become part of Bombardier’s network of exceptional service center facilities and Mobile Response Team (MRT) mobile units around the world, ready to respond to the maintenance needs of operators. Following the inauguration of the Miami-Dade County facility, Bombardier will continue to support customers in the city of Fort Lauderdale, FL with a line maintenance station.

Bombardier is currently hiring additional maintenance technicians across its entire service network to support its recent expansions. Technicians will receive Bombardier’s Type Training Course for Mechanical and Avionics certification to provide maintenance services at all Bombardier’s nine service centers worldwide, including Biggin Hill Service Center in London; Singapore, SG; Dallas, TX; Hartford, CT, Tucson, AZ and Wichita, KS.

Photo: Bombardier.

Historic Photo of the Day – May 23, 2013

Saudi Arabian Airlines Convair 340-68B N597MA (msn 222) OPF (Bruce Drum). Image: 102879.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

Saudi Arabian Airlines: AG Slide Show

Frameable Color Prints and Posters: AG All Photos Available

SP Cargo Air is a new Brazilian cargo operator

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo. 727-2Q9F N740DH (msn 21930) gets another life. It is pictured at Opa-locka (near Miami) after repainting.

SP Cargo Air (Sao Paulo) is a new cargo operator in Brazil. The new airline is getting ready to acquire ex-AStar Boeing 727-2Q9F N740DH (msn 21930).

ConViasa suspends operations until October 1

ConViasa (Caracas) suspended all operations from Friday (September 17) until October 1 to review safety procedures after the recent crash and another emergency situation.

Read the full report from the WSJ:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo. Now retired, de Havilland Canada DHC-7-102 YV1003 (msn 103) was the start-up aircraft type on November 28, 2004. It is pictured at Opa-locka Airport near Miami.

Historical Flight Foundation’s Douglas DC-7B N836D flies again!

Copyright Photo: Roger Jarman/Historical Flight Foundation.

Historical Flight Foundation (Opa-locka) today (July 4) flew its Douglas DC-7B N836D (msn 43545) for the first time after the careful restoration. The propliner is painted in the Eastern Air Lines’ 1940 livery.

The foundation is flying the classic propliner to Oshkosh on Saturday, July 24. Seats available for the trip. Membership is required ($250.00) and the flight cost is $1250.00 per person.

On Wednesday, July 28, the HFF will have a special flight, scheduled to carry Mr. Randy Babbitt, FAA Administrator, Captain Sully Sullenberger, and his F.O. Jeff Skiles around the Oshkosh area.

After Airventure 2010, N836D will continue to Thunder Over Michigan (Ypsilanti)  and on to Teterboro Airport. At both of those locations, HFF will be conducting local area flights (one hour flights for $300.00). HFF members are allowed to fly on flights between cities as well. You may book rides on our website by clinking on http://hffshop.com/bookmyflight.html .

The DC-7B operates under two permits, one is the HFF, Part 91 exemption, and the other as a Part 125 under the Operation Specifications of Florida Air Transport.

The HFF can make the airplane available for your event by contacting, Roger Jarman at  roger@historicalflightfoundation.com . The HFF website  is located at www.n836d.com.

Watch the restored first flight on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC4LD71nzQU

Copyright Photo: Roger Jarman/Historical Flight Foundation.

Historical Flight Foundation’s Douglas DC-7B N836D receives FAA permission to fly

Historical Flight Foundation, Inc. (HFF) (Opa-locka) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authority to operate its restored Douglas DC-7B N836D (msn 43545) which is painted in the 1940 Falcon colors of Eastern Air Lines (later Eastern Airlines). The FAA granted an exemption to Historical Flight Foundation to operate the classic airliner effective March 23, 2010.

According to the press release, “The FAA finds that a grant of exemption would be in the public interest and would provide an equivalent level of safety to that provided by current regulation.”

The HFF is unique in that its Douglas Aircraft Company DC-7B aircraft represents the only U.S. based, four engine, passenger propliner in operation today. With the advent of jet aircraft, most of the DC-7B aircraft disappeared from commercial airline service by the early 1970’s. The majority of the DC-7 were simply scrapped as they were seen as being un-economical to operate. In this unique case, the aircraft being operated by the HFF was still in its original passenger configuration as delivered to Eastern Air Lines in January 1958. Of the 112 DC-7 aircraft produced, this is the only surviving passenger configuration aircraft.

Signed: John W. McGraw, Acting Director, Flight Standards Service

The HFF sincerely appreciates the great effort on the part of the FAA to promote the living history program it has been approved for. The HFF is an IRS certified 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. The airplane will be touring the continental USA in the years ahead creating a passion for aviation not seen for a long time.We will be taking reservations deposits on a first come first served basis. Contact the HFF for details.

The announcement date for the Christening and Inaugural Flight will be made in the forthcoming weeks.

Roger Jarman, Secretary
Historical Flight Foundation, Inc.
Miami, Florida”

This is a fine organization, please visit their website:

http://www.historicalflightfoundation.com/

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Douglas DC-7B N836D (msn 43545) shines again in the Florida sunshine at Opa-locka (near Miami).

Historical Flight Foundation completes high-speed taxi trials of Douglas DC-7B N836D

Historical Flight Foundation, Inc. (Opa-locka) yesterday (March 14) completed two successful high-speed taxi trials at OPF. Captain Frank Moss Captain Blonco and Carlos Gomez completed the trials on Douglas DC-7B N836D (msn 45345). The organization is hoping to get the graceful airliner back in the skies in time for the rest of 2010. FAA approval is expected this week for a Part 91 Exemption to conduct “living history” flights. The airliner has been lovingly restored in the old 1940 colors of Eastern Air Lines.

Previous owner Legendary Airliners donated the Eastern DC-7B to the Historical Flight Foundation, Inc. Legendary Airliners was shut down in 2009.

For more information please visit the HFF website at www.n836d.com

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOD25EjeFH8&feature=channel

Lynden Air Cargo is flying relief flights

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

Lynden Air Cargo (Anchorage) is flying relief charter flights with emergency supplies to both Apia, Samoa and Padang, Indonesia.

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Lynden-Air-Cargo-Responds-to-prnews-2803441295.html?x=0&.v=1

AmeriJet acquires SRX, owner of Avialeasing

 

Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

AmeriJet International (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Miami) announced its acquisition of SRX Transcontinental (Opa-locka), a Florida based company specializing in ground handling operations throughout Central Asia, and owner of Avialeasing Aviation Company (Tashkent), an Uzbekistan certificated airline with US DOT Part 129 authority. SRX and Avialeasing market the sales, charter operations, and contract maintenance of Antonov An-12 and An-26 aircraft based in both Uzbekistan and Opa-locka (near Miami).  These aircraft are known for their ramp loading capabilities, unique winch and crane cargo handling system enabling it to load heavy and oversized cargo, as well as their ability to operate to airports not normally served by other commercial and or cargo aircraft.

 

AmeriJet also recently announced its intention to lease five Boeing 767-200 cargo aircraft. 

AmeriJet in addition also announced its acquisition of a majority interest in Nations Express, a nationwide express trucking company based in Charlotte, NC. Nations Express operates a fleet of approximately 200 trucks in a unique express charter truck service.