BOISE, Idaho, July 13, 2022—Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) announced that ASU veteran Tony Tsantles was promoted to FAA Part 135 Director of Operations.
“Tony has led the ASU training team through many successes worldwide. They have included the award and performance of multiple FAA training contracts, ongoing training with the Irish Air Corps, and unmatched custom training for air medical, law enforcement, and firefighting aircrews in the Treasure Valley’s diverse terrain,” said ASU Vice President of Aviation Operations Kip McDermott. “With more than 20 years of experience operating with night vision goggles, as both a crewmember and pilot, Tony has brought professionalism and expertise to our team and our customers, ensuring the safe and effective use of NVGs.”
The FAA mandated and approved position is critical in overseeing part 135 operations, including night vision training and aircraft maintenance. In his new role, Tsantles will bring valued know-how to the leadership team and lead new aviation initiatives as ASU continues to evolve.
Before joining the ASU here in Boise, Tsantles spent over twenty years developing his credentials in the U.S. Army. He spent nearly half of that time as an instructor, both as a crewmember and pilot. This unique background of functioning in both instructor roles has given him the ability to adapt quickly in civil instruction, particularly where he’s training pilots and crewmembers collectively, including EMS, law enforcement, and select groups. His Army career, spanning two decades, allowed the capability to work with two Army workhorse aircraft, the UH-1H “Huey” and UH-60A/L/M “Blackhawk,” both of which employ rather complex systems that prepared him well for the dynamic civil industry he now manages. Having spent much of his time in the military—11 years—in EMS, he is quite familiar with the challenges that can affect our civil EMS pilots and crews. Although he’s no longer being asked to fly in combat, with two trips overseas as a MEDEVAC pilot, he’s certainly ready for the new challenges ahead.
“I guess it’s rare to catch me speechless, but I may be just that. I love this organization and what we stand for; the core of what we believe is genuinely centered around the safety of aviators and crews,” said Tsantles. “I want to acknowledge our history with reverence and continue to focus on the future with partnerships in training, education, and culture.”
In recent months, Tsantles has spearheaded several educational engagement initiatives, including two such events, the Air Medical Transportation Conference and Heli-Expo trade shows.
Later this month, Tsantles will be instructing several courses at the Airborne Public Safety Convention in Reno, Nevada, from July 27 to 29. The sessions include a technical presentation on Spatial disorientation and NVGs with co-presenter Tyson Phillips of AT Systems Friday, July 29 at 11 a.m. and an education session at 3:30 p.m. on NVGs—Keeping it Cloud Free. ASU will also host a happy hour at ASU booth 322 on Thursday, July 28 noon to 4 p.m. See more APSCON details here.
Being able to see in the dark has revolutionized the way helicopters are operated. Emma Kelly talks to some of the companies that provide night vision technology about developments in the field.
Click here to read more from ASU contributors Chad St. Francis, director of military programs, and Daniel Burnham, director of sales, provide insights on topics including white phosphor and weight advantages.
Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU) was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards Operations Inspectors and Aircraft Certification Pilots night vision goggle (NVG) contract while operating fixed-wing aircraft. ASU will provide both initial training and recurrent training to FAA beginning July 1, 2020. ASU initially began training the FAA in 2017, when they were awarded the first fixed-wing training contract. ASU first started training FAA pilots on helicopters in 2007.
The Night Vision Awards committee announced the 2019 recipients of the Night Vision Awards held in Omaha, Nebraska at the Airborne Public Safety Association Conference. Recipients were honored at the CHI Health Center in the Junior Ballroom from 1600 to 1730 on July 18th.
The Night Vision Awards selection committee announced today they are now taking nominations for the 2019 Night Vision Awards Show to be held in Omaha, Nebraska at the Airborne Public Safety Association’s (APSA) annual APSCON conference. Entries will be accepted until June 3. The awards will be presented to recipients on Thursday, July 18 at an awards reception in the CHI Health Center Junior Ballroom from 16:30-17:30 p.m.
Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. (ASU), announced this week that Chad St. Francis has joined ASU as the new director of business development for military programs.
After he served the United States Army for 22 years, Chief Warrant Officer 4 St. Francis, master Army aviator, retired from active duty in 2008. He served in several duty assignments and deployments; primarly as a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter standardization pilot and RC-12P/Q “Guardrail” pilot-in-command. He began his civilian career with Insight Technology, located in Londonderry N.H., as a business development manager. In 2010, Insight Technology, was aquired by L3 Communications and St. Francis took an additional responsibility as an advanced program business development manager. Later in 2014, he was promoted to senior business development manager, responsible for L3 Insight Technology United States Special Operations Command and United States Air Force accounts.
Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. (ASU) and L3 Warrior Sensor Systems recently entered into an agreement, making ASU an authorized Technical Standard Order (TSO) service center and – upon approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – an authorized TSO recovery center. The master service agreement authorizes ASU to market, sell and service L3 TSO-certified goggles domestically to ASU’s existing customer base.
Harris Corporation’s F4949 Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System (ANVIS) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Order Authorization (TSOA) certification. This certification provides the FAA, as well as others in civil aviation, a quick and clear determination that the night vision product is certified for
LONDONDERRY, N.H., January 24, 2017 – L3 Warrior Systems – Insight Technology (L3 Insight Technology) announced today that it has received the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C164a authorization for its M949 Aviation Night Vision Goggle (ANVG). L3 is the first company to receive this authorization, which standardizes quality and safety specifications for ANVGs.
The Night Vision Awards received a record number of entries and gave out a record number of awards at the at the Edge Nightclub inside the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada in conjunction with the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) Annual Convention.