Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Business aircraft MRO Constant Aviation is being folded into sister company Flexjet as the fractional provider’s in-house maintenance department. Flexjet noted that its fleet grew by 40 percent last year, bringing additional demands for maintenance services. Constant Aviation will continue to operate under its own brand name and provide maintenance services for both Flexjet and non-Flexjet-operated aircraft.
While both companies are Directional Aviation subsidiaries, Flexjet is technically acquiring Constant since the MRO arm wasn’t wholly owned by Directional. Under the deal, Flexjet will acquire Constant’s facilities at Ohio’s Cleveland Hopkins International&nbsp;and Florida’s Orlando Sanford International (KSFB)&nbsp;airports, as well as its nationwide AOG mobile response network. Flexjet also plans to build facilities at KSFB, expanding its maintenance footprint there to 220,000 sq ft.
With Constant under its wing, Flexjet’s maintenance facility footprint now covers 650,000 sq ft across bases in Cleveland; Teterboro, New Jersey; Naples, Florida; Dallas; White Plains, New York; Sanford; and Morgantown, West Virginia.
“Integrating Constant Aviation into Flexjet is part of an overriding strategic vision to differentiate Flexjet among its competitors at the most fundamental level,” said Flexjet senior v-p of maintenance Jay Heublein. “Typically, other companies in our space rely largely on third-party providers to meet their global product support and maintenance needs. This not only limits their overall ability to meet the needs of their customers, but it also takes control away from operators and limits their ability to deliver the highest possible levels of service.”
Constant’s capabilities include airframe, engine, and avionics maintenance;&nbsp;paint and interior modification and refurbishment; in-house engineering and avionics installation; heavy maintenance, engine, and component overhaul; damage repair, composite and sheet metal repairs, and non-destructive testing; and parts support and distribution. It also recently added maintenance services for helicopters, drones, and unmanned aircraft systems, which will allow it to support Flexjet’s new private helicopter division.
All of Constant’s existing team members will join Flexjet and the company also&nbsp;plans to hire nearly 200 more technicians over the next 12 months.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Constant Aviation Now Under Flexjet's Wing for In-house Aircraft Maintenance

Constant Aviation will be folded under sister company Flexjet as the fractional provider's in-house maintenance department.

Constant Aviation Now Under Flexjet's Wing

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