SUMMIT AVIATION RECEIVES GARMIN BRONZE DEALER AWARD
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup Company, announced that it has received the Garmin Bronze Dealer Award for 2019, which recognizes the top aviation dealers in the Garmin network.
“The Bronze Dealer Award represents a level of sales performance, technical expertise, and customer service that distinguishes your business among other Garmin Aviation Dealers,” said Jim Alpiser, Garmin director of aviation aftermarket sales, in an award notification letter to Summit Aviation.
The award is presented to less than one-third of Garmin’s avionics distributors worldwide.
“We are honored to be among the dealers who received this prestigious award for 2019,” said Frank Reuter, Summit Aviation director of maintenance. “We strive to serve our customers in the best way possible every day and we encourage the utilization of Garmin technology to improve their flight safety.”
Garmin produces a broad range of avionics products, technology, and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and value in the aerospace industry. It offers a robust lineup of solutions for virtually every class and model of aircraft.
SUMMIT AVIATION INSTALLS GARMIN G500H TXI FLIGHT DISPLAY SYSTEM ON MD 520N HELICOPTER
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced that it has been awarded the Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of Garmin’s G500H TXi Flight Display System on MDHI 500N series aircraft.
The latest in electronic glass cockpit instrumentation, the G500H TXi brings increased levels of reliability, adaptability and affordability to helicopter operations. Available in both portrait and landscape options, the system provides bright, crisp touch-screen displays. It allows you to use familiar knobs and/or touch-screen inputs to quickly access the functions, screen views and other flight information the pilot wants to see most prominently.
Summit recently installed the G500H TXi display system on two of Maryland’s Prince George’s County Police Department’s MD 520N Helicopters.
“We are excited to continue in our support of aviation law enforcement,” said Director of Sales and Marketing for Summit Aviation John Gonsalves. “The Garmin G500H TXi Flight Display System is a game changer for the critical services our customers provide every day.”
For mission readiness, the G500H TXi is equipped with a five-color Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System1 (HTAWS), WireAware wire-strike avoidance technology and Garmin HSVT 3-D synthetic vision. The G500H TXi also features multiple video input options, night vision goggle (NVG) compatibility and a graphical map overlay within the horizontal situation indicator (HSI) for most display formats.
Summit Aviation is a Garmin authorized dealer and installer.
SUMMIT AVIATION CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF SERVICE
In 1960, Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United
States, Johnny Cash played the first of his many free concerts behind bars, and
on this day, May 6, 1960, Summit Aviation, the oldest, continuous
operating aircraft company in the state of Delaware was founded by Richard
“Kip” Dupont.
In the
sixty years since its founding, Summit Aviation
has evolved into a full-service aviation center serving both domestic and
international customers including the U.S. Government Department of Defense and
International Military, U.S. Government Non-Department of Defense and Special
Missions, general and corporate aviation, and state and local law enforcement.
It was acquired by Greenwich AeroGroup in 2008.
“Summit Aviation boasts a long history of successfully
serving its customers,” said Vice President and General Manager for Summit
Aviation Ralph Kunz. “We are extremely honored to carry on and expand the
vision that Kip Dupont started with so long ago. We owe our success to
that vision, our dedicated ownership, our customers, and the talented team of
employees that have helped us grow and expand this company since 1960.”
In light of COVID-19, the company plans to celebrate with the
community, customers and employees at a later date.
SUMMIT AVIATION HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced
today it has hired Josh Allen as its new Director of Manufacturing for the company’s
Somerset, Kentucky, location.
A Navy veteran, Mr. Allen most recently served as the PTC
Project Director for Keolis Commuter Services in Boston where he was
responsible for the positive train control (PTC) system across the MBTA
commuter rail network.
“We are extremely pleased that Josh has decided to join our
team in Kentucky,” said Vice President and General Manager of Summit Aviation
Ralph Kunz. “Our manufacturing unit has experienced considerable achievements
over the years resulting in growth in Somerset. Josh will play a vital role in
keeping us on the path to success and continued expansion.”
Mr. Allen served in a variety of increasingly prominent aviation
positions after he left the Navy. Those positions included roles as Program
Manager for Star Aviation in Mobile, Alabama, a Senior Program Manager for
Zodiac Aerospace’s Airbus program and as a Senior Program Manager for Gogo
Aviation in Chicago.
Mr. Allen’s duties with Summit Aviation will commence
on March 8, 2020.
SUMMIT AVIATION HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich
AeroGroup company, announced that it has hired John Gonsalves as its Director
of Sales and Marketing. His responsibilities will include developing new
business relationships, strengthening existing relationships and overseeing the
growth of the company’s fixed-wing, rotor-wing and government/military services
for the company’s Delaware location.
Mr. Gonsalves is a seasoned
sales executive who has served the last 28 years in various sales positions
within Bombardier Aerospace. He most recently served as Bombardier’s Director
of Aircraft Sales for Government Programs covering the United States, Mexico
and Central and South Americas.
“We are delighted to welcome
John to Summit Aviation,” said Vice President and General Manager of Summit
Aviation Ralph Kunz. “John has a keen understanding of aircraft service sales,
and I believe his extensive experience in the aviation industry will help
further elevate Summit’s presence in the sectors we serve.”
Mr. Gonsalves began his sales
career with Bombardier as a Regional Manager covering corporate and commercial
service sales. Within two years he was promoted to the Director of Worldwide Service
Sales staying in that position for ten years until his final position with the
company. His sales experience is extensive, covering corporate, commercial,
special mission, government and military programs both domestically and
internationally.
He undertakes his duties with Summit Aviation
immediately.
SUMMIT AVIATION RECEIVES ACCLAIMED HIRE VETS AWARD
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup Company, announced today that it has received the HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor for 2019 for its efforts to recruit, employ and retain the nation’s veterans.
The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Award is the only veteran hiring award given at the federal level. It recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “applications for the HIRE Vets Medallion Award are evaluated on a range of criteria that include veteran hiring and retention rates, as well as the availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programs, dedicated human resources, and compensation and tuition assistance programs.”
“We are honored and humbled by the opportunity to employ our nation’s veterans,” said Vice President and General Manager for Summit Aviation Ralph Kunz. “We’re grateful for our veteran employees’ service, and Summit will continue doing its part to utilize and develop their unique set of strengths in the workplace.”
The award mentions: “By meeting the criteria required for a Platinum Medallion Award, Summit Aviation Inc. demonstrated a model of patriotism worthy of praise as well as a recognition of the value veterans bring to the workplace.”
Summit Aviation employs 75 veterans of the United States Armed Forces out of 200 overall employees.
SUMMIT AVIATION ENTERS CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH NORTHROP GRUMMAN
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup Company, announced today that it has entered into a new extension of its 2012 agreement with Northrop Grumman to continue building Faraday Cages for the Fire Scout program. Under this extension, Summit Aviation will support the delivery of an additional five Faraday Cages in 2019.
Summit Aviation is responsible for procuring material and tooling, preparing manufacturing planning and quality documentation as well as performing the final assembly. The Faraday Cage is a subassembly installed on the U.S. Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.
“We are delighted Summit has been selected as a partner to support the Fire Scout program,” said Business Development Manager for Summit Aviation Justin Cevette. “Over the course of the contract, working with Northrop Grumman, we have implemented design improvements to enhance manufacturability of the Assembly.”
The Faraday Cages are assembled at Summit Aviation’s manufacturing facility in Somerset, Kentucky.
SUMMIT AVIATION AWARDED OIL TANK SYSTEM CONTRACT TO SUPPORT THE BLUE ANGELS UPGRADE
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced today that The Boeing Company has awarded it a follow-on Oil Tank System contract to support the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team aircraft upgrade, from the F/A-18C/D Hornet to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
In August 2018, the Navy awarded The Boeing Company the contract to configure nine F/A-18E and two F/A-18F aircraft to the standard Blue Angels' aircraft structure and modify to accommodate the team’s unique needs. One of the key items of that installation is the oil tank storage system. Summit Aviation was awarded the first contract for the tank systems in October 2018. The system is employed during the flight to pump a special oil back through the jet’s engine to produce the air show smoke that helps onlookers follow the team’s path through the sky while demonstrating its aerobatic maneuvers.
“The Navy’s Blue Angels are legendary,” said Director of Manufacturing for Summit Aviation Scott Roush. “We are extremely proud Boeing has chosen Summit Aviation to help support this impressive program.”
Summit is providing a total of 18 units through its manufacturing facilities in Somerset, Kentucky and Kernersville, North Carolina.
SUMMIT AVIATION MANUFACTURING ADDS TO ITS SALES TEAM
Summit Aviation Manufacturing, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced today that it has added a Business Development Representative to its Sales team.
Tara Connell most recently served as a Senior Buyer for Honda Aircraft, Major Structures. Prior to that, she spent several years at Northrop Grumman working her way up from an intern, to her final position with the company, as a Major Subcontracts Manager for its USN Fire Scout and Firebird Programs.
Ms. Connell has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from California State University-Fullerton and an MBA from the University of Redlands.
SUMMIT AVIATION HIRES VICE PRESIDENT TO LEAD GOVERNMENT AND DEFENSE SERVICES
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced today that it has hired Lou Karnes as its new Vice President of Government and Defense Aircraft Services.
A military veteran and experienced aviator, Mr. Karnes recently retired after more than 21 years in the U.S. Army where he most recently served as the Product Manager for the MH-60M Special Operations Forces (SOF) Blackhawk.
“We are thrilled to have this exceptional leader, aviator and communicator join our team at Summit,” said Vice President and General Manager of Summit Aviation Ralph Kunz. “Lou brings to the table years of hands-on experience that I believe will help propel our Government Services to the next level.”
Mr. Karnes’ prior experience also includes serving as an H-47 series operational pilot and maintenance test pilot with multiple combat deployments, and more than 10 years as an Army Acquisition Officer with experience as a Government Flight Representative and Chief of Flight Operations at DCMA Boeing Philadelphia and SOF support as a Program Manager.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management, and he also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware.