Rolling Daily Updates (June 2024)
June 28, 2024
Croatia Airlines Selects AFI KLM E&M For A220 Support
AFI KLM E&M has signed a new partnership with Croatia Airlines covering a range of component support services for its Airbus A220 fleet, including repairs, access to a dedicated pool of spares and logistics support.
Olympic Air Signs Pratt Engine Maintenance Deal
Aegean Group subsidiary Olympic Air has signed a seven-year engine maintenance contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada for scheduled maintenance of 28 PW127M engines powering its 13 ATR passenger aircraft. The deal covers engine overhauls and hot section inspections.
June 26, 2024
Bulgaria Air Picks AFI KLM E&M For Component Support
Bulgaria Air has selected AFI KLM E&M to provide component support for its Airbus A220 fleet, including provision of OEM parts, on-site technical services, component repairs and access to spare parts inventory.
GA Telesis Promotes New Digital Innovation Head
Jason Reed has been promoted to president of GA Telesis’ Digital Innovation Group, where he will lead efforts around new technologies, including what the company says are artificial intelligence-based systems. Reed was previously president of GA Telesis’ Flight Solutions Group, where he spearheaded digital initiatives to improve efficiency, safety and customer experiences.
June 25, 2024
Chromalloy Names New CEO
Parts specialist Chromalloy has announced Chris Celtruda as its new president and CEO. Celtruda has held several leadership roles in the aerospace industry, most recently as CEO of coatings specialist Valence Surface Technologies. Previously, he served as CEO of Kellstrom Defense, a provider of products and services for the aerospace aftermarket. He replaces Brian Costa, who is retiring after more than seven years in the role.
Werner Acquires A319 For Teardown
Werner Aero has acquired an Airbus A319-100 aircraft for teardown. The aircraft was last operated by Air India and is currently at the facility of Ascent Aviation Services in Marana, Arizona awaiting to be dismantled for spare parts.
June 24, 2024
SmartWings Implements eTechLog8
SmartWings Group has transitioned to Conduce’s eTechLog8 electronic logbook solution to eliminate paper-based technical logbook processes. It is using the technology under approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic and it plans to obtain approvals across other SmartWings Group air operator certificates in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.
June 21, 2024
Croatia Airlines Picks TP Aerospace For A220 Wheel Services
TP Aerospace has signed a new MRO service agreement with Croatia Airlines to support wheels on its Airbus A220 aircraft. TP Aerospace will provide services from its new facility in Brno, Czech Republic.
Aerotec Europe Holding Acquires Aviationscouts
Aerotec Europe Holding has acquired aviationscouts, a reseller and service provider for used components and spare parts for aircraft interiors. Thomas Bulirsch will remain aviationscouts’ CEO. As part of the transaction, aviationscouts will also acquire 100% of the shares in B2L, a company specialized in upcycling used aircraft parts and accessories.
June 20, 2024
Barnes Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada Partnership
Barnes Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada signed a long-term extension of a repair services agreement under which they will partner on MRO of complex parts used in aero-engine cases, rotating components, shrouds and seals.
Lufthansa Technik Opens New Tokyo Warehouse
Lufthansa Technik has opened a new warehouse to store components at Narita International Airport in Tokyo. The facility will initially serve its customers in Japan, but in the future it plans to extend the service to customers in other countries within the Asia-Pacific region.
June 18, 2024
AAR Expands OTTO Distribution To APAC
AAR has signed an agreement with OTTO Engineering to expand its distribution of OTTO’s electromechanical switches, grips and joysticks to the Asia-Pacific region. AAR already distributes the products in the Americas.
Skymark Signs CFM56 MRO Deal With SR Technics
SR Technics has signed a five-year general terms agreement with Japanese carrier Skymark Airlines to maintain its CFM International CFM56-7B engines. SR Technics has maintained Skymark’s fleet of Boeing 737-800s for the last six years, and the new agreement will extend the relationship through May 2029.
June 17, 2024
Condor Opts For Digital Dent Mapping
German leisure airline Condor has entered a collaboration with 8tree and AMROS Global for dentCHECK mapping of Boeing 767 slats.
Skyways Technics, Diehl Aviation Partner On Component Maintenance
Skyways Technics and Diehl Aviation have signed an agreement to cooperate on maintenance of aircraft structural components. Skyways Technics’ Hungarian facility will receive access to Diehl Aviation Hungary’s two autoclaves in Nyirbator to support specific repairs on structural components.
June 14, 2024
Kuehne+Nagel Constructing New Dubai Fulfillment Center
Kuehne+Nagel has broken ground on a new e-commerce fulfillment center in Dubai near Al Maktoum International Airport which it says will function as a hub for trade across the region. The facility is expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of 2025.
WestJet’s Tentative AMFA Agreement Stalls
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) union representing WestJet’s aircraft maintenance engineers and other TechOps employees did not ratify the tentative agreement reached last month with the airline. WestJet President and COO Diederik Pen said in a statement released by the airline: “The tentative agreement was fair, offered substantial improvements and would have made them the best paid aircraft maintenance engineers in the country.” Pen added that WestJet plans to meet with AMFA to determine next steps.
June 13, 2024
Embraer Inaugurates Dallas MRO Facility
Embraer has inaugurated a new MRO Services facility in Dallas that will support Praetor, Phenom and Legacy aircraft. It says the facility will have two maintenance lines and increase its total workforce by 25%.
Leisure Carrier Selects A320 Parts Vendor
Maldives-based leisure airline Beond has selected OEMServices to provide component support for its Airbus A320 family fleet. Under the terms of the agreement, OEMServices will oversee parts availability and provide repair services for the carrier’s A319 and A321 aircraft from Dubai.
June 12, 2024
Eaton, SIAEC Incorporate Malaysian Joint Venture
Eaton and SIA Engineering Company have incorporated their joint venture, Eaton Aerospace Component Services Asia, in Malaysia. The JV will focus on MRO, inspection and testing of Eaton-manufactured components installed on airframe and engine fuel systems and hydraulic systems. SIAEC holds a 49% equity stake in the JV and Eaton holds the remaining 51%.
Beond Selects OEMServices For Component Support
Maldives-based premium leisure startup Beond Airlines has selected OEMServices to provide component support for its Airbus A319 and A321 fleet. OEMServices will provide 24/7 pool access and repair services to Beond from Dubai.
June 11, 2024
Avianca’s A320ceo Wheels and Brakes
Avianca selected Collins Aerospace to provide new wheels and brakes, as well as aftermarket support, for 103 Airbus A320neos over the next 15 years. Collins, an RTX company, already equips and services Avianca’s existing A320ceo and A320neo fleet.
AerSale Opens New Tennessee MRO Facility
AerSale has opened a new 112,000 ft.² facility in Millington, Tennessee which will serve as a hub for its operations in the region. The facility will cater to narrowbody maintenance, modifications and heavy MRO services, as well as component MRO, aircraft storage and disassembly. The location is also near AerSale’s parts distribution facility in Memphis, Tennessee.
June 10, 2024
Greenbriar Equity Group Acquires Sunvair
Engineering-focused component MRO provider Sunvair Aerospace Group has been acquired by Greenbriar Equity Group. Based in Valencia, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma, the group’s subsidiaries include Sunvair, AAIC, Aerospace Plating and Mingo Aerospace. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Jun. 7, 2024
FTAI Aviation Signs V2500 Services Agreement
FTAI Aviation and IAE International Aero Engines have signed a five-year EngineWise maintenance services agreement for V2500 engines, which covers more than 100 full-performance restoration shop visits. FTAI CEO Joe Adams says the partnership will allow it to extend the life of the V2500 fleet and provide “flexible engine power” to its airline customers.
FEAM Plans CVG C Checks
FEAM Aero announced that it plans to begin base maintenance and C check services at its new hangar facility at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the fourth quarter of 2024. Its grand opening for the new facility [https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/mro-americas/gallery-inside-feams-new-cincinnati-hangar] took place March 28.
Jun. 6, 2024
EVA Air Plans Panasonic Avionics Installations
EVA Air has signed an agreement to install Panasonic Avionics’ new Astrova seat end in-flight engagement (IFE) and connectivity systems on 54 of its aircraft, including 18 new Airbus A350-1000s and 14 of its existing Boeing 777-300ERs. It will also retrofit 17 of its A321s with Panasonic’s eXW wireless IFE product and add five 787-9s fitted with Panasonics’ NEXT and eX3 IFE.
FLY91 Signs ATR Maintenance Deal
Indian regional airline FLY91 has signed a five-year global maintenance agreement with ATR covering repair, overhaul and pooling services for line replaceable units; propeller availability and repair services; and engineering and on-site support for its growing fleet. The new pay-by-the-hour agreement initially covers two ATR 72-600s and provides a path to increase the fleet to up to 30 aircraft.
Jun. 5, 2024
EasyJet Acquires SR Technics Malta
EasyJet has finalized its acquisition of SR Technics Malta, which was opened in 2022 at Malta International Airport. The six-bay aircraft maintenance facility, which employs more than 400 people, has performed heavy maintenance for easyJet’s fleet for several years.
Setna iO Buys More Aircraft For Disassembly
Setna iO has announced the purchase of five Airbus A319-100 airframes for immediate disassembly. It also recently purchased an A320-214, an A380-800 and a Boeing 767-300ER for disassembly.
Jun. 4, 2024
Volotea Plans Seat Upgrades
Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea has selected Acro Aircraft Seating’s Series 9 seats to retrofit up to five Airbus A319/A320 aircraft in its fleet. It plans to complete the upgrade project by 2028.
More Airlines Choose L-Bins For Cabin Upgrades
Airbus says SWISS and two undisclosed customers have chosen to upgrade their fleets with Airspace L-Bins, a solution it developed in partnership with EFW to increase overhead storage space by up to 60%. SWISS will be retrofitting three of its Airbus A320s and five of its A321s with the new L-Bins.
Jun. 3, 2024
Aegean Airlines Grows Third Party Maintenance Services
Aegean Airlines reported in its first quarter 2024 trading update that it has begun providing heavy maintenance services to third party customers. It reported that its aircraft maintenance revenue grew by 43% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Jet Aviation Gets Drone, AI Inspection Approval
Jet Aviation has received approval from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation to use automated drone and artificial intelligence technology for general visual inspections of aircraft. It began using the technology in 2023 for non-regulated services, such as pre-purchase inspections of external aircraft structure and paint quality checks.