AviationManuals, a provider of aircraft operations manuals and safety management system (SMS) software, acquires Maximum Manuals LLC of Carlsbad, CA. 

FlightSafety International announces that Willy Vargas has been promoted to director of Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean. He is responsible for FlightSafety’s training sales and business development activities in the region.

Duncan Aviation announces that Travis Grimsley is the new manager of Customer Service at the company’s Battle Creek, MI, facility. Grimsley’s promotion follows a series of roles with increasing levels of responsibility since he started at Duncan Aviation as a line service representative in 2005. 

West Star Aviation announces FAA approval of its Lear 60 Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) STC. West Star teams with Universal Avionics and TrueNorth Avionics to offer this new FANS solution for the Lear 60.

Chairman of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) board of directors, Andrew Priester (president and chief executive officer, Priester Aviation, Wheeling, IL), announces at the fall board meeting that Martin Hiller (owner and partner, Marathon Jet Center, Marathon, FL) will continue to serve as president of NATA. In addition, the board promotes NATA senior vice presidents, William Deere and Timothy Obitts. Deere will now serve as executive vice president of Government and External Affairs. Obitts will now serve as executive vice president of Operations and Business and will continue to serve as general counsel. 

Elliott Aviation, a Garmin retrofitter, announces its STC-certification on a Garmin ADS-B Out & In solution for the Beechcraft Premier I and IA airframes. The STC provides a cost-effective alternative to current available solutions and can be completed with only five days of downtime.

The technique of transient balance saves money by reducing the overall duration of the fan balance process. Just recently available to the flight line incorporated in a battery-operated analyzer, the method reduces technician time, engine run time and customer returns and complaints for recurring noise problems.

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), announces that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted supplemental type certification (STC) for the G5000 avionics suite in the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP aircraft. The G5000 modernizes the cockpit, increases aircraft utility, offers significant weight savings and provides operators with a solution to fulfill global Next Generation airspace initiatives. Additionally, the G5000 upgrade offers lower cost of operation and solves parts obsolescence with zero-time avionics.

FlightSafety International announces that Bryan King has been promoted to manager of the HondaJet Learning Center in Greensboro, NC. He assumes this responsibility from Eric Dixon who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Following an in-depth audit conducted by ARGUS International Incorporated (ARGUS) in April, Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc. (Pentastar) successfully renews its ARGUS Platinum Rating. Pentastar’s operations have been Platinum-rated since 2006.