MRO News Briefs, Nov. 8-14, 2020

Gameco Signs Agreement with SF Airlines Co. Ltd.
Gameco has signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement with Chinese cargo airline SF Airlines Co. Ltd. The agreement covers aircraft overhaul, line maintenance, component repair, engineering services, technical training and parts manufacturing in Shenzhen, China.

TAG Aero and ITS Partner on APU Support
TAG Aero and ITS have signed an agreement to support the Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320 market with Honeywell 131-9B and 9A APU solutions. The companies’ combined efforts will provide solutions for 131-9 series maintenance, leases, flat-rate exchanges and outright APU sales.

Services Revenue Down for Embraer, but Recovery Underway
Embraer has reported that revenue at its Services & Support segment fell 28.4% year-on-year to $212.9 million in the third quarter of 2020, representing 28.1% of consolidated revenues in the quarter compared to 25.3% in the third quarter of 2019. It says executive jet flight activity continues to show a strong recovery and spare parts sales have been increasing gradually due to customers returning to operations.

Finnair Enters E190 Parts Agreement
Finnair has selected AerFin’s BeyondPool component FlightHour-Agreement, signing a long-term contract to support its fleet of 12 E190 E-Jet aircraft.

FL Technics Picks Up Engine Contracts
Just weeks after announcing Part-145 regulatory approval, FL Technics Engine Services has signed the first contracts for annual re-preservation and further long-term storage within its new facilities for two CFM56-3C1 Engines.

Aeroplex Begins Construction on Budapest MRO Hangar
Aeroplex of Central Europe has started construction on a new aircraft maintenance hangar at Budapest Airport, which is set to open in early 2022. The more than 8,000 m2 (26,246 ft.2) hangar will be able to accommodate one widebody or four narrowbodies simultaneously and Aeroplex says it will enable it to accommodate and maintain code E widebody aircraft.

VAS Signs A330 Disassembly Contract with Hi Fly Airlines
VAS Aero Services has announced an agreement with Hi Fly Airlines to manage the disassembly on one of its Airbus A330 aircraft and associated engines. The airframe teardown will be conducted by Tarmac Aerosave and its two Pratt & Whitney PW4000-100 engines will be disassembled by SR Technics. The used serviceable material will be marketed and placed through VAS’s worldwide parts network.

Caerdav Launching Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship Program
Independent UK MRO Caerdav is launching an aircraft maintenance apprenticeship program in 2021. It will partner with South Wales-based college Coleg Y Cymoedd to offer a three-year course that features both classroom study and hands-on work at Caerdav’s MRO facility in St. Athan. Applications for the course will begin in January 2021 and it is initially planning to recruit 10 apprentices to begin the course in September.

IATA Reports Preighter Boom
In its Air Freight Monthly Analysis, IATA has reported that as of Oct. 2020, approximately 2,500 passenger aircraft have been adapted into “preighters” to transport in-cabin cargo. It says these preighters are being used to cover the shortfall of global freight capacity, which is down 25.2% year-on-year compared with a 42% fall at the peak of the coronavirus crisis.

HAECO Americas Establishes AWAM Chapter
Female team members from HAECO Americas have established the first North Carolina chapter of nonprofit organization the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM). According to the new AWAM chapter’s president, Tammy Biddix, it was established as a way for HAECO Americas to reach out to girls and women and introduce them to the aviation industry.