A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

Completion services provider and helicopter operator Metro Aviation of Shreveport, La., is showcasing three recently completed helicopters here at Heli-Expo: an Airbus EC145e; a Bell 407GX completed by Metro subsidiary Paradigm Aerospace (PAC); and a “like new” refurbished 16-year-old EC135P1.

 


The EC135e, dubbed the “e-lite,” on display represents the first completion of the new aircraft model, a utility version of the EC145 platform featuring a simplified avionics system. The Bell 407GX is the first aircraft completed by its PAC subsidiary that Metro will operate, in this case for Tampa General Hospital.

 


The EC135P1, which Metro calls “Sweet 16,” had accumulated 7,700 flight hours before the refurb and belongs to First Flight of Melbourne, Fla. Metro will conduct a presentation about the aircraft at the company’s booth at 1 p.m. today.

 


Bolstering its claim to being the world’s most comprehensive air-medical completion center, the company also notes that it’s currently completing its 75th EC145, which is also North America’s first EC145T2.

 


Metro also added an AS350 to its flight training center in Shreveport. The center already has a FlightSafety AS350 level 7 flight training device (FTD) and an EC135 level D full-motion simulator. The facility will add a Frasca Bell 407/GX FTD this summer.

 


Metro is also showcasing news of smaller scale developments with big impacts. With ADS-B compliance gaining more attention, Metro recently obtained an STC for ADS-B installation in a fleet of AS350B3s, while PAC recently received certification for an ADS-B OUT installation in an Airbus EC135 owned by Metro Aviation and operated by PennStar Flight.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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