Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Aeria Luxury Interiors (Booth H212) is the new name for VIP completions design specialist&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2011-07-01/startups-signal-growing-completion-and-refurbishment-demand">DRB Aviation</a>, which last month was acquired by Singapore’s ST Aerospace group. The deal takes ST Aerospace, which is well established in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work, directly into the market for completing and refurbishing business and private aircraft.


<a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2012-02-14/st-aero-starts-vip-interiors-business">ST Aerospace has an established MRO facility in San Antonio, Texas</a>, where Aeria is headquartered. It is now converting one of its hangars in a VIP completions center there to provide room for its new U.S. subsidiary to grow. The facility, which should be ready to use by May 1, will include shops for cabinetry, upholstery and electrical work.


“We have already provided several quotations [for cabin outfitting projects] and have been shortlisted on two projects,” said Aeria’s completions general manager Ron Soret. The new hangar will be able to house aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 747-400.


DRB Aviation has previously worked on aircraft ranging from Bombardier Learjets to Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJs). “Sometimes we were responsible for the completion from A to Z, sometimes we just worked on design or certification,” company president Don Bell told&nbsp;AIN.


Soret believes that many Asian business aviation customers currently flying on conventional-size business jets, such as Hawkers or Gulfstreams, will progressively move to larger aircraft, such as ACJs and BBJs. In the future, Aeria may also have completion facilities in Asia but Soret estimated this will take “five years or more” to get established.


Meanwhile, in January, ST Aerospace received a license to establish an aircraft repair facility in Guangzhou, China. It is a joint venture with Guangdong Airport Management Corp., which has a 51-percent stake.


The new MRO facility is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2013, performing maintenance, repair and overhaul for Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft. For the most part, these will be airliners, but the operation could also provide support for VIP versions of the aircraft.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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