Gama Engineering News

Fairoaks has been synonymous with the best in helicopter maintenance and support for many years.

That's Chris Baker under the A109, one of our very experienced avionic engineers, who has recently joined us from Premiair.  He's installing a Mode S Transponder upgrade for CastleAir.  This is the second of three of their helicopters to pass through Fairoaks recently for this work.

In addition to Chris, we've also been joined by Tony Stafford and Bill Johnson from Blackbushe, both of whom bring considerable experience to the current team.  Additionally, we're pleased to have the benefit of probably a century's-worth of experience in helicopter maintenance from Alan Storey and John Normanshire who continue to provide their services to us in semi-retirement.

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Paul Murrell, Gama Engineering's Manufacturing Manager demonstrates the Gama Infant Safety Seat to Ian Harbison, Editor of Aircraft Cabin Management magazine.

With over 300 Gama Child Seats already available in-flight to Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic's customers, many airlines were keen to stop by the Gama stand at this specialist show for airline procurement managers to get more details from Paul and his team.

Gama Engineering celebrated its first birthday at a special event held at Fairoaks Airport on Saturday 15 September 2012

Customers were invited to attend our informal gathering, to meet our experienced team and to discuss further our capabilities and how they can benefit aircraft owners.

Click here to view photos of the Gama Engineering Celebration Event

Several visitors took advantage of the superb weather and our complimentary landing fees and flew in, taking in the demonstrations during the day and enjoying the excellent barbecue.

Trevor Pegrum from Garmin was on hand to demonstrate the latest innovations from the world's leading avionic equipment manufacturer.  A great deal of interest was shown in the GTN series of touch-screen navigators and G500 EFIS upgrades.

Ronaldson Airmotive, part of the Gama Group, displayed a re-built engine and some components during the day to show-case their capability and took the opportunity to meet many customers including one whose engine is currently undergoing overhaul.

Mistral Aviation displayed the new Robin DR400 EcoFlyer, featuring its Garmin G500 Glass cockpit and full avionics upgrade.  The upgrade was developed by Gama Engineering to support new-build installations at the factory.

Another highlight of the day was the presence of the Tecnam P2006T G-TECT being on display in the hangar with video footage of the opening ceremony of the Paralympics.  This aircraft is installed with a set of pyrotechnic devices on each wingtip and a series of LED strips along the fuselage and on the underside of the wings.  The pilot and staff from Aerobility were on site to discuss the event and the charity's work.Click here to view video footage of the opening ceremony (start 4m50sec).

Gama Engineering displayed numerous avionic equipment devices and our Gama Infant Safety Seat. Our Continued Airworthiness Manager ran a presentation highlighting the importance of Continued Airworthiness regulations and Part M CAMO contracts which was well received by existing and new customers alike.

Congratulations to the following people who won on the raffle :

Martin Robinson          :           G-GASP           :           1^st Prize : Portable Garmin GP795

Nick Claxton                :           G-CCYY           :           2^nd Prize : 50hr Check

Cliff Hawkins                :           G-RRFC            :           3^rd Prize : 12mth CAMO Contract

We would like to say a special thank you to Martin Hill, Fairoaks Operations Director & his team.  Thanks also to David and his team at the Hangar Café for a superb BBQ and also to all our exhibiting companies.   Our Gama Engineering team who were on hand all day deserve as special thank-you, as do all of our staff behind the scenes during the "build up" to the event - it was a great team effort which made for a memorable and successful day and we look forward to welcoming everyone again next year.

Harry Lees

Managing Director

Millions of TV viewers around the World tuned in to last night's London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony to be treated to a spectacular flying display.

Gama Engineering specially adapted the aircraft to enable it to put on the remarkable pyrotechnic show.

The most challenging tasks of converting, flight testing and certifying the provision of pyrotechnic dispensers to the wingtips and installing LED strip lights to the wings and fuselage of the Tecnam Twin were achieved in complete secrecy at our Fairoaks, UK base.

"I am extremely proud of the dedication and support of the entire Gama Engineering team in successfully modifying and certifying the Tecnam Twin to enable last night's spectacular flight over the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony" said Harry Lees, Managing Director Gama Engineering Ltd. "The exceptional team work and support provided by Aerobility, Tecnam UK and the Civil Aviation Authority in particular proves to everyone the maxim that if I can fly a plane, what else can I do?"

Click here to view Gama Lighting up the London Sky : begin at 4m50sec

Under the watchful eye of Gama's Twin Commander engineering 'guru' Fred Gomez, new trainees Simon Burgoine (aged 20), Scott Lancaster (18) and Jack Whellams (18) are now hard at work in our main Fairoaks  hangar.

Simon, Scott and Jack have just joined Gama following a 2 years BTEC Aircraft Engineering course at Brooklands College. They will spend a further two years at Fairoaks, gaining invaluable hands-on experience on a Gama Engineering approved training course, leading to them becoming qualified aviation technicians.

Fred is delighted to be part of the Gama team mentoring the engineering talent of the future.

Richard Scase, our Fixed-Wing Maintenance Manager is delighted to announce that Cirrus Aircraft have appointed our Gama Engineering Fairoaks facility an authorised Cirrus Service Centre, enabling Gama to provide Cirrus owners with a complete maintenance, design and modification service including full warranty coverage for airframes, engines and avionics.

Gama Engineering services for Cirrus owners include:

• Support and certification of all EASA and US registered Cirrus Aircraft
• Cirrus-approved scheduled maintenance
• In-house composite repairs
• Avionics support for Avidyne, Garmin, Sandel and Cobham/STec systems.
• Warranty administration

Richard and his specialist engineering team are Cirrus factory-trained and approved and have been supporting Cirrus SR20 and SR22 operator's owners for many years.

You can reach Richard at richard.scase@gamagroup.com  or on +44 (0) 1276 857888

With Gama Engineering about to announce completion of it's 50^th Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), the European Regions Airlines Association (ERA) could not have chosen a more qualified person than our Certification and Approvals Manager, David Wyatt to make a key presentation to the ERA's Technical Affairs advisory group in Lisbon, Portugal recently.

David took the delegates through Gama Engineering's approach to 'Achieving EASA certification'

The subject STC was for the certification of the navigation system on a BN2 Trislander aircraft for ERAA member Aurigny Air Services Ltd:

• RNAV 5 (BRNAV) in accordance with EASA AMC20-4
• PRNAV operations in accordance with JAA TGL-10
• GPS non-precision approaches (NPA) in accordance with AMC20-27
• LPV approaches in accordance with AMC20-28

Yes it's a world of acronyms! David is always available to not only explain them to you, but also assist you in achieving EASA certification too.

david.wyatt@gamagroup.com

UK-based Gama Engineering Ltd, a division of the Gama Group, has produced the world's first child's seat certificated for take-offs and landings on most business jet configurations.

The new seat is already in service with long haul airlines Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific and it is anticipated that it will be well received by those looking to ensure the comfort and safety of younger passengers flying on executive aircraft.

Designed to enhance the in-flight experience (for both toddlers and their parents), children no longer have to sit on parents laps, ensuring a more relaxed, less stressful and safer travelling experience. The Gama Infant Safety Seat, has been designed to fit seamlessly with all the new aircraft seat design trends and can be tailored to individual aircraft owners and operators bespoke interior schemes.

The seat is compliant with the requirements of TSO-C100b and is approved for installation under EASA STC's for carriage on all commercial Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In addition it is now available for a wide range of corporate jet operators, including aircraft manufactured by Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream.

This announcement follows a new child flight safety awareness campaign launched by the FAA.

"Millions of people will take to the skies this summer, and we are doing everything we can to keep air travelers as safe as possible," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a press release. "We want to make sure parents and caregivers have the best information to keep their children safe when they travel."

As part of the campaign the FAA has introduced a new Flying with Children website that provides parents with tips and video tutorials on the proper child safety procedures to follow while flying this summer.

"The safest place for a child under two on an airplane is in a child safety seat, not on a parent's lap. Whenever possible, parents should travel with a safety seat for use before, during and after a plane ride," said Robert W. Block, president, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Find out more about our Infant Safety Seat or download our pdf brochure.

Gama Engineering welcomes Richard Scase, our new Fixed Wing Maintenance Manager.  Richard brings a wealth of GA experience to the established team.  In particular his Cirrus knowledge will complement our newly-awarded Cirrus Service Centre Approval.

SESAR, ADS-B, CPDLC, TCAS, PNB (PRNAV and LPV), EFB and FMS. Acronyms , acronyms and more acronyms!

Gama Engineering's Certification and Approvals Manger, David Wyatt is keeping our clients and partners abreast as to how the advent of SESAR (Single European sky ATC research) can positively affect their future operations.

SESAR is a massive undertaking, with some €2bn of funding involving some 2500 people, developing over 300 projects, covering the entire air traffic control/ management infrastructure. David has just returned to Fairoaks from 'ATC Global' the the three day annual event comprising an exhibition, speiclaist seminars and workshops.

"I have often felt that SESAR will be of benefit to the scheduled airlines, rather than for the Regional or General Aircrat sectors. That said, we are ensuring our clients and partners keep vigilant and take advantage of any benefits that technology might bring, e.g. the use of electronic flight bags to receive text messages for up to date weather, NOTAMs etc."