The MRO Top 10: Feb. 2020 Roundup

February 26, 2020

Interview: Why AAR’s Chief Sees Lots Of Runway

Joe Anselmo, Lee Ann Shay

Labor shortages, the MAX crisis, technological enablers and lucrative opportunities: John Holmes, the president and CEO of aircraft maintenance powerhouse AAR Corp., talked about all that and more with Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-In-Chief Joe Anselmo and Chief Editor, MRO Lee Ann Shay at the company’s headquarters outside Chicago.

Read the full article here.

AFI KLM E&M Performs Well In Difficult Year For Parent

Alex Derber

Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance made good on its solid start to 2019 by finishing the year with an operating profit of €260 million ($281 million), €46 million higher than its 2018 result.

Read the full article here.

Retirement Uptick Will Restock Used Engine Parts

Sean Broderick

After several years of lagging aircraft retirements, there are signs that an expected wave of removals is imminent if not underway, which will provide much-needed used-parts feed for several popular engine platforms.

Read the full article here.

While Arconic And PCC Continue Castings Dominance, A New Rival Rises

Michael Bruno

Before production of Boeing’s 737 MAX was halted and the aircraft type grounded, aerospace manufacturing had only one real bogeyman: investment casting, the metal-forming for engine blades and other aircraft parts.

Read the full article here.

Rolls Is Prepared For A Decade-Plus Of Trent 900 Support

Sean Broderick

The imminent end of Airbus A380 production combined with a soft secondary market sets up an interesting product-support story for suppliers. While some operators are cutting back, others plan to keep flying the A380s they have, which will create ongoing demand for maintenance.

Read the full story here.

Airline, MRO Leaders Talk Tech

Lee Ann Shay

When it comes to implementing drone inspection, using virtual reality and launching 3D printing operations in their hangars, several airline and MRO leaders expressed interest, and caution, about emerging technology at Aviation Week’s MRO Middle East Summit.

Read the full story here.

Pratt Pursues MRO Automation

Alex Derber

Engine companies’ position at the forefront of technological change in the MRO sector has been highlighted by Pratt & Whitney’s latest revelations about its aftermarket operations in Asia.

Read the full article here.

The Coronavirus' Impact On MRO

Lee Ann Shay

Airlines around the world have suspended operations to parts or all of China to try to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a “public health emergency of international concern” because of its spread to 18 countries outside of China as of Jan. 31.

Read the full article here.

United Prioritizing Flexibility In Major CFM56 MRO Deal

Sean Broderick

United Airlines is emphasizing flexibility in its next major narrowbody engine overhaul contract, seeking CFM56 support vendors that can handle both full overhauls and quick turns as well as eyeing more alternative-part usage, two of the airline’s executives told AeroEngines Americas attendees. 

Read the full story here.

ST Engineering Wins Major New Business

Alex Derber

Singapore Technologies Engineering has celebrated a hugely successful 2019 for its aerospace business, which saw full-year orders more than double.

Read the full story here.

With signs of an expected wave of removals imminent, AFI KLM EE&M performing well in a difficult year and AAR’s CEO predicting lucrative opportunities, it has been an interesting month for the MRO industry. Take a look at our roundup of the biggest stories in February.