King Aerospace-Arkansas Demonstrates Capabilities with A319 Refurbishment

October 15, 2024

Since 1992, King Aerospace has built an impressive reputation within the corporate aircraft industry for integrity, honesty, timeliness and commitment to Servant Leadership. These attributes recently led a well-known, international travel provider to select the company’s facility at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) for work on their Airbus A319 VIP aircraft.

The A319 arrived at King Aerospace-Arkansas (KA-ARK) in July and is on pace for an on-time delivery after the first of the year. In addition to a scheduled heavy maintenance check, KA-ARK will also thoroughly refurbish the aircraft’s interior.

“King Aerospace is well-positioned to handle maintenance and refurbishments,” says Ron Soret, the company’s senior site manager in San Antonio, TX. “The flexibility in scheduling offered in Arkansas, in particular, allows for better coordination of handling this work during a single visit.”

In his more than 40 years in the industry, Soret has worked on “everything from the Boeing 727 on up to 747,” as well as several Airbus aircraft.

“King Aerospace is a one-stop shop,” he continues. “You can get a new paint job. You can have your interior refurbished and updated with the latest available technology. You can have a heavy maintenance check performed and you can have modifications done. That is extremely attractive for a lot of owner/operators.”

Interior refurbishments for Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJs) often coincide with heavy inspections and maintenance checks. Customers may also choose to revamp the interior of a newly-purchased aircraft to suit their own taste and style by selecting new wood veneers, lighting and valance panels, seat fabrics and floor coverings.

Pete Schneider, King Aerospace vice president for program management and special projects, notes refurbishment offers customers the opportunity to thoroughly freshen their aircraft’s interior while maintaining the underlying structures. “It’s much less invasive,” he adds, “because we aren’t changing the basic layout.”

For example, KA-ARK removed the A319’s aged cabin management system (CMS) and replaced it with modern technology. “We swapped out the old hardwired controls with a brand-new CMS that allows passengers to use their smartphones and iPads to control the cabin environment,” Schneider says. “The new equipment is far more advanced and much easier to use.”

It also saves weight, with lighter control units and fewer wires needed throughout the aircraft. “We were actually able to add a new beverage station to the monument that previously housed the old CMS boxes,” Schneider adds. “The weights are about the same. It’s a relatively minor modification that yields real benefits to passengers.”

Tailoring to Individual Needs

To further appeal to operators seeking to rejuvenate their aircraft, KA-ARK also recently introduced a new Interior Design Studio, providing clients the opportunity to sample the materials, seating and other cabin fittings available for installation in their aircraft.

“Many operators have interior designers who’ve worked on their homes and offices,” Schneider says. “They will define the overall theme, materials, plating and other details. “They might come to us with an existing design, and we work with them to adapt that vision within the requirements of aviation use and regulations.”

That flexibility and “one-stop” service sets King Aerospace apart, Soret notes, and gives the company a competitive edge as several BBJs and ACJs are coming due for maintenance and refurbishment.

“Many aircraft first delivered in 1999-2000 are now hitting their second, 12-year inspection cycles,” he says. “That requires pulling the interior out to conduct detailed inspections of all the internal fuselage skins, the frames, the stringers and the floor beams. It’s the perfect time for owners to also make some changes.”

Schneider adds the company looks forward to continuing its relationship with this international customer, which operates aircraft ranging from large cabin intercontinental business jets to other Boeing and Airbus VIP and VVIP aircraft.

“We are committed to ‘making it happen’ for each and every customer,” he concludes. “That means offering the best value to the customer, ensuring that we meet their schedule expectations and – most importantly – doing so without sacrificing quality and safety.”