No one seemed to notice, but in January 2014 privately owned Innova Aerospace, a firm specializing in jet aircraft maintenance, bought Sabreliner Aviation, a firm dedicated to maintaining and modifying the aging fleet of North American and Rockwell Sabreliners. Five months ago, Innova bought Sierra Industries of Uvalde, Texas—a company known for its concentration on Cessna Citation modifications. And by last month, Innova had added the Skyway Group, a collection of Texas-based general aviation maintenance, charter, sales, and engineering providers, as well as Innova Composite Helicopters to its portfolio.
Innova officials were on hand at the National Business Aviation Association convention to publicize several new initiatives. One involves a program to re-engine and modernize Beech King Air C90-series airplanes. Perhaps the most ambitious part of this program is a newly developed partnership plan with Sierra Industries to upgrade C90s with 800-shaft-horsepower GE H80 turboprop engines.
Another initiative would make Sabreliner the exclusive launch partner supporting certification, installation, and service work for Honeywell Aerospace’s Bendix/King division’s AeroVue integrated flight deck offering for Beechcraft King Air C90-series airplanes, as well as the Cessna Citation product line, including the Citation 550 Bravo and Citation 560 series.