IAI and GECAS Begin First B777-300ERSF P2F Conversion
Israel Aerospace Industries has begun the structural modification phase in its first Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger to freighter conversion in partnership with GECAS. The freighter conversion, which will include installing a new cargo door, replacing and strengthening the aircraft floor, installing reinforcements near the cargo door opening and modifying electrical systems, is expected to take approximately 130 days.

Aeropeople Gets CargoLogicAir Line Maintenance Contract
CargoLogicAir has appointed Aeropeople to manage its line maintenance operations at East Midlands Airport in the UK. Aeropeople has previously supported the British cargo airline a various locations, including London Stansted Airport.

New Alaska Airlines VP of Maintenance
Alaska Airlines has named Donald Wright as its new vice president of maintenance and engineering. Wright joins the company after recently retiring from United Airlines, where he served as vice president of maintenance operations. He replaces Constance von Muehlen, who was appointed Alaska’s chief operating officer earlier this year.

Lufthansa CityLine Picks StandardAero for CF34-8C Support
StandardAero has been selected by German airline Lufthansa CityLine to provide support for the GE Aviation CF34-8C turbofan engines powering its fleet of MHI RJ Aviation CRJ900 regional jets. Under the exclusive seven-year agreement, StandardAero will provide services from its overhaul facility in Winnipeg, Canada and will qualify its European field service team in the Netherlands to support the engine type.

Magnetic MRO Signs Chemical Consignment Agreement
Magnetic MRO has extended its agreement with Aerospheres UK, a distributor of chemicals, paints, adhesives, sealants and composites in support of commercial airline and MRO operations worldwide. The new agreement will see Aerospheres materials stored in Magnetic MRO’s own stock in Tallinn, Estonia, which the MRO says will drastically decrease delivery time.

Oriental Air Bridge Rolls Out TRAX eMRO Software
Japanese charter airline Oriental Air Bridge has implemented TRAX eMRO software to manage maintenance activities on its fleet of Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. The software will enable it to access documentation and data, view assigned maintenance tasks and receive real-time updates on maintenance work.

HEICO Completes Machining Company Acquisitions
HEICO’s Flight Support Group has completed its acquisitions of Ridge Engineering and The Bechdon Company. Ridge Engineering performs tight-tolerance machining and brazing of large-sized parts for aerospace applications and Bechdon performs precision machining, fabrication and welding services for aerospace and defense.

LHT Offers Connectivity STC for Chinese Aircraft
Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is now offering an inflight connectivity solution on Airbus A320 family aircraft through a Supplemental Type Certificate validated by the Civil Aviation Authority of China, based on the China-EU Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement. LHT says it can support connectivity upgrades in less than four days using the solution, which includes China-specific adaptions of Honeywell hardware and aircraft specific material kits.

Mainblades Drone Inspection Milestone
Mainblades performed an outdoor automated drone inspection on an Airbus A330 in cooperation with Fokker Techniek B.V., TrueNoord and the Dutch Drone Centre Aviolanda. It says this is the first time that a drone has autonomously inspected an aircraft outdoors at an airport in Europe.

CAE Expands Maintenance Training Capabilities
CAE has expanded its maintenance training capabilities through the integration of GlobalJet Services, a maintenance training provider for the business aviation and helicopter segments. CAE says the tuck-in acquisition will expand its capabilities by increasing its aircraft platform addressability for maintenance training.