Safran and 3M Partner on Cleaner Aircraft Interiors
Safran and 3M Partner on Cleaner Aircraft Interiors Safran Cabin and 3M have partnered to design cleaner aircraft interiors, with 3M designing technology to enhance cleaning and protect features of aircraft cabin equipment and Safran certifying the technology. The solutions, which can be either permanently embedded into aircraft interior surfaces during manufacturing or applied to upgrade existing interiors, are expected to be available in 2021.

Hutchinson and Singapore Component Solutions Partner in Asia-Pacific
Hutchinson has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore Component Solutions to work jointly on the development of their component repair offering in the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore Component Solutions will be appointed as Hutchinson’s only approved repair station in the region and both companies will combine their capabilities to offer service solutions starting in early 2021, including engine and APU vibration isolation systems, engine component repairs, cabin interior and composite and structural repairs.

Azul Preps for More Potential Cargo Conversions in 2021
During its 3Q2020 results call, Azul announced that if passenger demand lags in 2021, it plans to convert more Embraer E195s into cargo. The airline has already performed four cargo conversions on the aircraft type—including the world’s first E195 adapted dedicated cargo aircraft—and it has a project in place to increase to as many as 10 cargo conversions next year.

Rolls-Royce Opens New Service Center to Grow Gulfstream Support
Rolls-Royce has opened a new customer support facility in Savannah, Georgia adjacent to the new Gulfstream Service Center East, which it says will strengthen its Gulfstream on-site support. The 62,000 ft.2 facility will house an on wing services repair facility, a powerplant completion center and warehouse under one roof and Rolls-Royce expects it to be fully operational by the end of this year.

Jet Aviation Completes Fan Case Modification Milestone
Following its authorization from Pratt & Whitney to modify fan cases on PW307A and PW307D engines installed on Falcon 7X and 8X aircraft, Jet Aviation has delivered its first fan case modification on a 7X in Basel, Switzerland. The modification entailed exchanging the engine ducts to prevent or repair delamination and was provided as part of a scheduled C check.

L2 Aviation Gets Approval for B767 Connectivity Installations
L2 Aviation has received FAA STC approval for Honeywell JetWave Ka-band system installations on Boeing 767 aircraft to provide high-speed internet connectivity. It prepared kits at its headquarters and installers from its Remote Avionics Modification Service team were able to mount a fuselage antenna on a 767 at the customer’s location.

Embraer Preps for HEPA Installations on ERJ 145s
Embraer has released a service bulletin that allows ERJ 145 operators to install high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to increase passenger safety and prevent potential transmission of viruses on board. The kits for the first 70 aircraft are being assembled and should be delivered by mid-December. It expects to complete the same initiative for the ERJ 135 and 140 soon. HEPA filters are already available on Embraer Executive Jets and standard on E-Jet, E-Jet E2 and Praetor 500/600 family aircraft.

Meggitt PLC Signs Air Asia SMARTSupport Contract
Meggitt PLC has signed a two-year SMARTSupport aftermarket contract with Air Asia for the supply of safety restraints and fire detectors to its existing Airbus A320 fleet. The total contract is valued at around $1 million.

MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Completes Expansion
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai has completed its facility expansion, which adds 13,600 m2 and increases capacity by 50% to 450 shop visits per year. It says teams will begin moving into the expansion starting this month and the shop will ramp up initially to full capacity as market demand increases post-COVID. Despite the pandemic, it says it is back to operating at nearly 100% and it just completed its 3,000th engine.

Asia Pacific Aerospace Grows T700 Support
Asia Pacific Aerospace has renewed its T700 MRO Provider Agreement with GE Aviation for another five years. Asia Pacific Aerospace says it is now exploring new ways to support T700 operators, including investing in its engine and module rental/exchange pool. It plans for customers to be able to access individual modules, engine accessories and LRUs on the shelf by the first quarter of 2021.
 
LOTAMS Performs B787 Mods for Air Austral
Polish MRO LOTAMS has completed maintenance work on a Boeing 787-8 for Air Austral, including structural modification of the windows in the crew cabin, modification of cabinets in lavatories, modification on the landing gear, control systems lubrication and reading from aircraft recorders. The work took place over the course of six days at LOTAMS’ technical base in Warsaw in mid-November.