Swiss-AS will provide its Amos MRO software to Transaero Airlines, the second Russian airline to choose the software. The implementation project is planned to last 14-16 months. Transaero will use Amos' interface landscape that links the software to Boeing toolbox functions, which allows for electronic transfer of taskcards between the programs. Swiss-AS added 11 new customers from Europe, Asia and the Americas in 2011. Training
Lufthansa Technik Malta is installing its third new first-class cabin in a Lufthansa Airbus A340-600. The airline plans to convert to the luxury cabins in its 24 A340-600s by 2015. The turnaround time for installing the seats—which are the same as on Lufthansa's Airbus A380—is 15-20 days, says Lufthansa Technik spokesman Wolfgang Reinert. However, the MRO says that the airline has chosen to build the interior installation into planned maintenance layovers to avoid grounding the aircraft for longer than necessary.
AMR Corp. is shedding 13,000 jobs under a restructuring plan that is seeking some $2 billion in annual cost savings and a further $1 billion in improved sales. The cost cutting includes more than $1.25 billion from labor, while the remaining $750 million or so will come from debt restructuring, grounding of older aircraft and revised supplier contracts, according to AMR CEO Tom Horton.
Boeing is a founding member of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, formed in 2006. Since 2004, the company has been researching and developing ways to recycle composites, starting with carbon fiber reinforced plastic from F-18 aircraft and then scrap from the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. More than 50,000 lb. of carbon fiber are used to construct each 787 airframe, most of which should be salvageable at the end of its life.
Mubadala Aerospace's European MRO facilities are sold out for the next five years, says James Stewart, group CEO. “We do very little work on the spot market” at SR Technics' facilities in Switzerland and Malta. “In the Middle East, we're moving toward longer-range contracts because they're a better deal for us and for our customers,” he says. He also thinks there is definitely overcapacity in the airframe MRO market, which is why SR Technics did not expand its hangars in Malta as originally planned.
When an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER completed a Los Angeles-Auckland flight in December, it was the first time an airline operated under 240-minute extended operations (ETOPS). But the new 240-minute limit is no longer the edge of the envelope, as a 330 minute time is now poised to become the new ETOPS gold standard. That's because in November Boeing received type design authority from the FAA to offer a 330-minute ETOPS “option” on the GE90-powered 777 family.
Goodrich and Hawaiian Airlines have signed an extensive to its existing Prime Solutions nacelle maintenance agreement to support the airline's fleet of 18 Boeing 717-200 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce BR715 engines. The existing nacelle flight hour agreement provides MRO services, management of spare parts, rotables and dedicated Goodrich technical support. The extension will increase Goodrich's existing support to include three aircraft that Hawaiian Airlines introduced into its fleet beginning in October.
PAS Technologies has selected Amy Hoage as VP business development. Hoage will develop business strategy and development for PAS' North American commercial aerospace business.
Jordanian Aircraft Maintenance Co. Ltd. (Joramco), the former Royal Jordanian Airlines maintenance division that was spun off as an independent company in 2000, is weighing the addition of Boeing 787 maintenance capability. Royal Jordanian plans to take delivery of its first 787 in about a year, according to Joramco CEO Simon Tate, and the maintenance company would like to support it, but needs to find other 787 operators needing maintenance support to justify the investment.
Chromalloy's Windsor, Conn. engine component repair station received an approved organization exposition certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. The certificate allows the Chromalloy turbine repair station to provide component repairs, including FAA approved designated engineering representative repairs for All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.
Quantum Composites, the engineered structural composites business of The Composites Group, obtained AS 9100C:2009-01 quality certification, along with ISO 9001:2008 compliance. The certificates cover the design and manufacture of the trademarked engineered structural composites design of compression molded components and related tooling as well as the fabrication of molded composite prototypes.
When approving ETOPS extensions, the reliability of the propulsion system is the primary focus of the regulators. Central to that is the demonstrated engine inflight shut-down rate (IFSD), which must not exceed specific thresholds.
Era has received a type certificate from the Interstate Aviation Commission to use its equipment in wide area multilateration and height measurement applications within Russia and 12 former USSR states.
Snecma Morocco Engine Services (SMES) has been certified by EASA and the FAA to carry out MRO services on the CFM International CFM56-5B engine. SMES is a jointly owned subsidiary of Snecma.
GKN is a global engineering business with operations in more than 30 countries, employing more than 42,000 people. Its aerospace operation is a major supplier of complex composite structures and focuses on the three major product areas of aerostructures, propulsion systems and transparencies in addition to specialty products. In November, GKN partnered with Airbus, AgustaWestland, Rolls-Royce, Umeco and Vestas to open the 8,500 sq. meter national composites center in the U.K. GKN is a founding member of the U.K.'s national composites network, launched in 2005.
Turkish Technic has joined Airbus' worldwide MRO network. Airbus established the network in March 2005 and has since worked with its members to establish performance benchmarks for maintenance efficiency. The MRO also signed an agreement with 328 Design to work on interior modification projects. Engines
Universal Avionics has entered into an agreement with Air Creebec to fit its entire Bombardier Dash 8 fleet with its wide area augmentation system/satellite-based augmentation system flight management systems and terrain awareness and warning systems. Mid-Canada Mod Center, an authorized dealer for Universal Avionics, will undergo the conversion. Parts/Components
Lufthansa Technical Training has posted a selection of more than 250 open courses and seminars on its website. Now these offerings are available to individual participants in the online training finder at www.ltt.aero for viewing and booking requests.
U.S.-based leisure carriers Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines are exceptionally profitable but couldn't be more different in their aircraft acquisition policy and operating philosophy, including route selection, flight frequencies and aircraft utilization. Those factors affect their maintenance modus operandi, although both outsource heavy maintenance.
Energy Performance Lighting near Madison, Wisc., specializes in lighting efficiency projects for all types of facilities. It strives to provide a return on investment of 30-40% for its customers by using high-quality lighting products and tailoring lighting solutions to the task at hand. In one case study from a hangar lighting project for the Wisconsin Dept. of Military Affairs, EPL helped the customer achieve an annual cost savings of $19,100 and a carbon dioxide reduction of 411,800 lbs. per year.
Larson Electronics' high-power LED light, HAL-PRM-150W-LED, is approved for hazardous locations and can replace 400 watt metal halide bulbs. This light produces 14,790 lumens in a 60 degree flood pattern. The units are rated for 50,000 hours of life. It features a rugged aluminum housing, fitted with 30 Cree XPG LEDs, corrosion resistant hardware and hinged tempered glass door. It is ingress protection rated IP65 and its u-shaped trunnion mount allows technicians to easily mount the light on walls and flat surfaces.
Mxi Technologies has implemented its Maintenix aviation maintenance software for Airod. The Malaysian MRO has chosen a comprehensive footprint that covers maintenance planning, execution, engineering and materials functions.
