EASA published its Annual Safety Review for the year 2008. The number of fatal accidents involving aircraft registered in Member States of EASA* and performing commercial air transport operations remained at the level of 2007 (three). This number is one of the lowest in the decade and well below the average of six fatal accidents per year. In 2008, 5.5% of all fatal accidents in commercial air transport worldwide occurred with airplanes registered in an EASA Member State.
Garmin AT to install Garmin Model 400W/500W Series GPS-WAAS navigation systems on various Agusta, Bell, Enstrom, Eurocopter, MD Helicopter and Robinson model helicopters, STC SR02232LA
AAR Corp. signed a letter of intent with SuperJet International to become a service center for the Sukhoi Superjet 100. As part of SuperJet’s MRO network, AAR will provide heavy airframe maintenance, modifications, interior and exterior refurbishments, unscheduled maintenance services, line and overnight maintenance, as well as field teams for off-site support.
Blackhawk Modifications amended STC to install a wing-mounted auxiliary fuel transfer tank on various Hawker Beechcraft 65 and 90 models, STC SA10560SC
Interaction is key to effective human factors education, according to some in the technical training business. While computer-based training, or CBT, can reduce costs and make coursework accessible to larger groups of employees, online courses cannot quite replicate the impact of a classroom course with an experienced instructor, says Wolfgang Hobelsberger, training manager for Nayak Aviation Service.
The leadership of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unveiled an expansive cost-cutting program aimed at saving around $8 billion (30 billion sheckel) in military spending. The IDF has now turned to international consulting firm McKinsey & Co. to help figure out where to save money. It is the first time the IDF has opted for this kind of assistance.
LED Pen Lights Streamlight’s FiberWrap fiberglass polymer pen lights come in four high-intensity LED colors. The red, green, white and blue PolyStylus pen lights feature a 5-mm LED designed for shock-resistance and a 100-hour lifetime. Customers can buy the pen lights separately or pick a PolyStylus combo pack that comes with a white LED module and interchangeable red, green and blue modules.
BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul appointed Mark Taylor general manager of ERO Component Repair and Accessories. Taylor has worked for ERO’s H+S Aviation in Portsmouth, England for more than 19 years, including six years overseeing H+S Aviations component repair program. In addition to Portsmouth’s repair program, all U.S.-based component repair activity of Dallas Airmotive and Premier Turbines will report through Taylor.
Elbit Systems subsidiary, Elbit Systems Electro-optics El-Op Ltd. will supply the Israeli Ministry of Transportation with $76 million worth of its commercial multi-spectral infrared countermeasure (C-MUSIC) system, for installation aboard a variety of aircraft owned by Israeli commercial airlines. The system will installed aboard a variety of commercial aircraft owned by Israeli commercial airlines. C-MUSIC is based on Elbit’s MUSIC system for military aircraft, which disrupts missiles fired at aircraft and causes them to veer off course by transmitting a laser beam.
Cirrus Parts by API launched on July 27. API now provides Cirrus customer service centers and owner/operators with supply chain, logistics and spare parts services per a new, exclusive, multi-year services agreement. The contract’s terms provide API support for Cirrus’ 213 authorized services centers and 5,000 in-service aircraft. The arrangement also covers support for the in-development Cirrus Vision SJ50 (formerly known as The-jet), currently expected to enter service in 2012.
Mxi Technologies added a strategic long range planning feature to its Maintenix software. This feature is designed to allow organizations to develop long-term maintenance plans optimized for aircraft availability, check yield and hangar and resource utilization. Contracts Commercial
Swiss International Airlines subsidiary Edelweiss Air extended its contract with SR Technics for Airbus A320 maintenance for an additional three years and three months. The renewal agreement, which extends to March 2012, includes line, light and base maintenance; maintenance operations control; engineering services; component support; engine maintenance and logistics management.OM
Pratt & Whitney Canada has opened a regional service center at Lethbridge, Alberta. The facility, co-located with the manufacturer’s PT6A main production plant, has advanced tooling and component repair capabilities. It performs light and heavy maintenance on PT6, JT15D, PW100 and PW500s, and light maintenance for the PW600 engine series.
MTU Aero Engines of Munich has for long touted its ability to repair aircraft components when possible rather than replace them with new—and presumably costlier—parts. The company credits its engineering skills for the expertise it has developed in this area. Now MTU is working with a partner, GE Aviation, to develop ways to repair all brands of engine components and assemblies and restoring them to as-new condition. The Component Repair Development Agreement is the first such deal formalized with an OEM, says Stefan Weingartner, president and CEO of MTU Aero Engines.
Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services to install a SAGEM integrated cockpit display system and Crossbow attitude and heading reference system on Eurocopter France AS355F1 and AS355F2 helicopters, STC SR02341AKOM
