Qantas finished deploying Mxi’s Maintenix software for its first three A380 aircraft . Its A380 Fast Track implementation is phase one of Project Marlin, which will implement Mxi’s Maintenix software across the Qantas fleet. Qantas operates more than 130 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, and it has 17 more A380s on order.
Mubadala Development Co. acquired a controlling share of SR Technics on April 21, buying out Istithmar’s 30% share, for total ownership of 70%. Dubai Aerospace Enterprise continues to hold a 30% share in the company. Facilities
GKN Aerospace and German laser technology specialist SLCR Lasertechnik (SLCR) intend to develop automated laser technology that will provide improved repairs to composite structures, faster and at a lower cost. The companies are working on an automated laser process to replace the time consuming, manual grinding of composite surfaces currently used to prepare them for bonded repairs. The new process removes damaged material, leaving the remaining material fibers and resin intact.
To compile our biennial Top 10 lists, we survey dozens of airframe MRO providers around the world, and we rely completely on their integrity in providing accurate, relevant numbers. We ask only for their civil aircraft airframe maintenance man-hours—excluding component, engine, line maintenance and any other related aftermarket man-hour figures. For example, we queried PEMCO World Air Services, the commercial arm of the former PEMCO Air Group, but not Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc., which emerged from the split-up of the group with all of the military work.
IFF test modes 1, 2 and TACAN now come standard on Aeroflex’s IFR 6015 ramp test set. The battery powered, portable test unit should be compact, lightweight and weatherproof to test aviation transponder modes 1,2,3A/C/S including European Elementary and Enhanced Surveillance, TCAS I, II and Military E-TCAS, TIS and DME/TACAN. New capabilities allow the 6015 test unit to emulate several different TACAN test sets, including AN/ASM-663, AN/ARM-184 and Bradley 2650 and 2655.
Champion Aerospace, reissued STC to replace Bendix S4LN-20, -21, -1209 or -1227 model magnetos with Slick model 4250 and 4251 magnetos on various Textron Lycoming O-235 engines, STC SE888GL
STS Holdings changed its name to STS Aviation Group in April, and rebranded its service divisions to include the STS name. STS Services was renamed STS AeroStaff Services; ATR Line Maintenance, which STS Holdings acquired in May 2006, now is STS Line Maintenance; and MOS Engineering, acquired in 2007, now is STS Engineering Solutions. Parts and supply chain management business STS Component Solutions retained its name. Training
Northwest Aerospace Technologies, to remove existing inflight entertainment overhead monitors and install new Imagik 17-in. LCD bulkhead and overhead monitors in Boeing 757-200 aircraft, STC ST01982SE
SR Technics appointed André Wall COO and member of its group executive board, effective May 15. Wall joined SRT from Jet Aviation in Zurich, where he was COO. Prior to this, Wall served as president and CEO of MTU Maintenance in Berlin for three years.
IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group picked AAR Corp. to provide the cargo system for its soon-to-launch 767-300 conversion program. AAR will manufacture the system, which will be installed in the aircraft IAI Bedek is converting from passenger configuration to its General Market Freighter configuration, at its Goldsboro, N.C. facility.
AFI and KLM E&MTotal revenue (FY 2007/2008): €2.86 billion External customer revenue: €969 million Income: €63 million Employees: 15,000 Network of line stations worldwide: 151
The crash of an Indonesian air force C-130 transport aircraft in East Java in May drew attention to Indonesia’s efforts to modernize its military fleet. The May 20 crash killed at least 101 people, including two on the ground. About 110 troops and family members were on board, headed to Iswahyudi air force base from Jakarta.
The Federal Aviation Administration is delaying by two months an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that would require FAA certificate holders, including repair stations, to incorporate Safety Management Systems (SMS). New International Civil Aviation Organization standards took effect in January, calling on member states to require SMS. FAA has filed a “difference” with the ICAO requirement while the agency develops rulemaking. The ANPRM is expected to seek industry input for applying SMS regulations to a cross-section of industry.
Lufthansa Technik Malta launched widebody overhaul services in April with Livingston Energy Flight, which will send its Airbus A330s to the new hangar complex for the work through September. Lufthansa Technik Sofia opened its second line for Boeing and Airbus base maintenance with the April arrival of an Ural Airlines A320.
Ameco Beijing’s board of directors named Hu Yuliang general manager to succeed Chai Weixi, whom Air China appointed general manager of Air China Technics.
Midcoast Aviation, amended STC to install a cabin interior arrangement, passenger oxygen system and emergency lighting on Bombardier CL-604 model aircraft, STC ST02543CH-D
Miro Technologies received Frost & Sullivan’s 2009 European Defense Logistics Product Line Strategy Award for its insight into customer needs and product demands.
L3 Communications Aeromet, amended STC to install a Dual Universal UNS-1D flight management system on McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 series aircraft, STC ST01513AT
Northrop Grumman redelivered the U.S. Air Force’s first B-2 Stealth bomber equipped with a new radar, following installation of radar hardware developed by Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems under contract to the OEM and prime contractor. The Air Force plans to equip several operational B-2 aircraft with the new radar as part of the system development and demonstration phase of its B-2 radar modernization program. It will carry out more field tests with these aircraft to gather data in support of future fielding decisions.
