Singapore Technologies Aerospace again sits atop our charts with more than eight million man-hours amassed in 2008, but O&M's biennial survey of the airframe MRO market reveals burgeoning competition in the lower ranks and changes in the middle ground. Data points to a shift among top players and illustrates the impact of the down economy on business. Companies interviewed by O&M cited negative market conditions ranging from parked aircraft to loss of major customers and shut downs of major facilities.
Lufthansa Technik Switzerland launched a new VIP cabin interior facility in Basel, adjoining its maintenance hangar there. Its extended portfolio includes technical services for Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Corporate Jets.
Just as MROs tout high quality, safety and turnaround time as imperative elements to successful maintenance, Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings is positioning its full-fledged entry as a commercial aviation paint supplier in a similar fashion. Its Jet Glo Express coating systems, which consists of a pre-treatment, corrosion protective primer and topcoat, is designed to be applied within a few days, last a long time and maintain a vivid appearance, while delivering green benefits.
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.
MORE Co., reissued STCs for Instructions for Continued Airworthiness for various Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine models that define specific maintenance tasks and their associated maintenance schedules, used as a supplement to the applicable Pratt & Whitney Canada manuals, STCs SE00011EN, SE00010EN, SE00006EN, SE00004EN, SE00003EN and SE00002EN
Imperium signed an agreement with Air Dynamics that allows Air Dynamics to resell Imperium’s Acoustocam to its growing base of U.S., U.K. and Canadian customers for inspection and maintenance purposes.
Aircraft ground support and industrial operations may be interested in Haskel International’s new portable high-pressure gas transfer and charging system. The unit is intended for use in military and commercial aircraft ground support, N2 shock absorber charging, accumulator charging, gas transfer, gas calibration, pressure testing and purging applications. Model 87114 can handle inlet pressure up to 3500 psig and maximum rated outlet pressure up to 4,000 psig with any inert industrial gas, and Model 82880, for oxygen, accepts inlet pressure up to 4,000 psig.
A US Airways V2500 engine set a new time on wing record, completing 30,520 flying hours on its first run. This is the third time a US Airways engine has surpassed 30,000 hours before being removed for its first scheduled overhaul, and breaks the previous IAE time on wing record, also held by a US Airways engine.
American and Polish crews delivered the first of five refurbished and upgraded Lockheed C-130E military transports plus spares on March 24, to the Polish air force (SPRP) at Powidz Air Base, for service with its 14th Airlift Squadron. Maj. Gen. William A. Chambers, director of air and space operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, lauded Poland for its support of American and allied forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Poland’s Brig. Gen.
Kelly Aerospace Energy Systems, reissued STC to install the JanAero Devices Division Cycle air conditioning system on various Cessna 310 model aircraft, STC SA775CE
ONE sky Aviation, amended STC to install a fixed mounted Forward.Vision Model 100 enhanced vision system to include an under-wing conformal fairing with sensor, a Detached Electrical Box and a glareshield mounted dedicated display monitor on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 model aircraft, STC SA02329AK
Tunisair Technics selected Messier Services to maintain and overhaul landing gear on 10 of its Airbus A319/A320 aircraft. Messier Services’ U.K. facility is completing the work that will last until 2014. Engines
AeroMech, amended STC to install Innovative Solutions and Support air data display units on various Hawker Beechcraft 125 model aircraft, STC ST01623SE
ExecuJet Aviation Group gained Overseas Territory Aviation Requirements (OTAR) and IS-BAO certification, and ExecuJet Europe extended its airworthiness management status from Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) to CAMO Plus.
Nayak Aircraft Service will offer several support options for the Sukhoi Superjet, according to Sales Manager Friedrich-Wilhelm Wilms. These will include both line maintenance and base maintenance, with structural repair in authorized service centers and technical training once the program is in operation.
Dallas Airmotive signed a five-year engine service agreement with Avantair to repair, maintain, overhaul and provide field service on PT6A-66 engines that power the operator’s Piaggio Avanti turboprop aircraft. Dallas Airmotive has been a PT6 OEM-authorized distributor and designated overhaul facility since 1967.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Customer Service Center Europe appointed Aero-Dienst of Nuremberg, Germany, and Altenrhein Aviation at St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland, recognized maintenance facilities for PT6A, JT15D and PW300 series engines.
Merlyn Products, amended STC to install two Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A-MC engines, or two Merlyn Products IO-540-MX1-MC engines and two Hartzell HC-C3YR-2UF/FC8468( )-6R propellers, on Twin Commander 500-B, -S and –U aircraft, STC SA01212SE
The Obama administration in May unveiled a $16 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2010 that focuses on the Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control system and controller staffing issues. The fiscal 2010 budget sidesteps the funding issue, but only for a year. The administration expects to renew its push for dramatic changes in aviation funding beginning in 2011, the administration budget documents say.
