Bringing a new aircraft into service is a carefully orchestrated process that blends precision, training, and real-world operational readiness within the regulations of various aviation authorities. Josh Dodd, COO of Avionco was recently quoted stating “Our Entry Into Service (EIS) support for the Bombardier Global 8000 is designed to ensure that every pilot not only understands the aircraft but is fully prepared to operate it with confidence in live environments”.
Working with Josh Dodd and Pilot, Lis-Marie Ager at Avionco our team had this to say:
Here’s a look inside our most recent EIS process making a new Global 8000 operational for its new owner.
Setting the Stage: Landing Training
Airport Selection
As this new owner will operate their Global 8000 under EASA, Landing Training is required before other steps in the EIS process.
Our team, working with the manufacturer (Bombardier), our pilot training partner
(AeronautX) and the new owner, first selected an airport or airports from which to depart and land to complete that aspect of training and familiarization.
To do this, we look at many factors: evaluating runway length, approach procedures, traffic density, and available services. The goal is to create an environment that supports learning and operational realism to prepare pilots for safely handling the new jet.
Aligning the Team: Preflight and Risk Briefings
All aspects of our process from Landing Training to Entry Into Service completion involves repeated focus on these 3 key steps at each stage.
- Preflight Briefing – Covering aircraft status, weather, routing, and operational objectives for the flight.
- Risk Management Briefing – Identifying potential threats (weather, traffic, pilot workload) and establishing mitigation strategies.
- Procedures Briefing – Reviewing specific aircraft procedures, callouts, and expectations for each phase of flight.
In addition to having a clear understanding of the aircraft’s mission and how it will be used, these briefings are critical for pilots and instructors to be aligned on expectations and decision-making frameworks for each stage.
Once Landing Training is completed successfully, we begin to focus on the “Fly Away”, or that moment when control of the aircraft is handed over for operational service.
Building the Plan: Flight Coordination
With the groundwork preparation complete, the team moves into detailed flight planning. This includes:
- Routing and altitude selection
- Fuel calculations
- Coordination with Air Traffic Control (ATC)
- Scenario planning to incorporate training and mission objectives
At this stage, the entry plan becomes real. Every detail is aligned to ensure the flight delivers both operational value and training depth.
Execution: Flying the Global 8000
With EASA Landing Training completed, now comes the most visible and most important phase of the EIS process – the flight training itself.
Under the guidance of Avionco instructors, pilots learn to operate the Global 8000 in real-world conditions. This is where we turn knowledge into actual experience. Pilots execute departures, enroute management, approaches and landings, reinforcing systems understanding, situational awareness, and confidence.
It’s critical that each pilot masters every aspect of the Global 8000’s capabilities. This flight training is done over a 14-day schedule (following Landing Training, in this case).
Once complete, everyone pauses for a moment to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishment. For every pilot this is a significant milestone in their career, and for every owner it means they will soon be skyward in their new asset.
Entry Into Service requires a significant investment of time, training, expertise and expense marking the beginning of operational capability.
Documentation and Certification – Nothings Finished Until The Paperwork is Done!
The final phase of EIS ensures everything is formally recognized and recorded:
- Completion of all required paperwork
- Submission to the Approved Training Organization (ATO), such as AeronautX
- Filing with the appropriate aviation authority
- Issuance of the official Type Rating
Once complete each pilot is fully certified to operate the aircraft and it can now “Fly Away”.
At Avionco, we are proud of our role in making the Bombardier Global 8000 operational. It takes exceptional partners, people, precision, discipline and expertise at every step – and that’s exactly what we deliver.
About Avionco
Formed in 2000 by Mike Dodd and Josh Dodd, Avionco is a premier aircraft services provider, purpose-built to serve aircraft owners whose business and lifestyle needs require impeccable service and efficiency in everything they do.
Josh Dodd, COO, leads day to day operations with a team of dedicated senior management professionals delivering a complete suite of flight management services including Pilot and Crew selection, In-Flight and Ground Operations, Safety and Compliance, and Entry Into Service (EIS). Learn more at www.avionco.com