Alaska Airlines, surrendered STCs to install interior provisions for passenger and/or cargo arrangements on various Boeing 737 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9 series aircraft, STCs ST00086SE, SA79N, SA452AL, SA4323NM, SA28NW, SA337AL, SA101NW and SA3848NM
A new inflight GSM service is designed to give passengers access to voice and SMS communications without requiring operators to install onboard equipment. The system combines services from Skuku and TriaGnoSys. Skuku technology uses SIM card data in ground GSM servers to provide roaming for inflight voice and SMS operations, and TriaGnoSys software allows the Skuku service to work with existing aircraft IFE. The TriaGnoSys and Skuku system uses existing onboard equipment, such as in-seat screens, seat-back phones and Internet, to give passengers access to GMS services.
The Longbow Limited Liability Co., marked the first successful powered flight of the Radar Electronics Unit (REU) configuration of the Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) onboard an AH-64D Apache Block III prototype attack helicopter. The joint venture of Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin’s radar is designed to enable the Apache Longbow to rapidly search, detect, locate, classify, prioritize and engage both moving and stationary targets, while improving power ratios and providing built-in processor expansion growth. Parts/Components
The U.S. Air Force modified a firm fixed price contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. for $14.2 million, to provide additional depot spares and a readiness spares package for the AN/AAQ-39 to support a six ship deployment for the AC-130 gunship aircraft. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio was responsible for the contracting activity.
Gradient Lens Corp. now offers its Hawkeye Pro Flexible Borescopes in two new diameters, 3.3 mm and 4 mm, in addition to its 5 mm product. GLC’s Hawkeye borescopes are designed to provide affordable tooling for quick, reliable visual inspection of combustion chambers, turbine blades, airframe assemblies and other mission-critical parts and systems.
The machines come in a variety of sweeping widths to tackle various jobs. They can be pushed or pulled, with the dual action brushes designed to continuously pick up debris ranging from water bottles and soda cans to wet or dry leaves, rocks or sand, Haaga says. The sweepers feature a quiet design to reduce noise pollution, and unlike a leaf blower, they ingest debris rather than scattering it.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s decade-long effort to update repair station classifications and expand quality systems appears to have stalled once again. The agency indicated that it plans to withdraw a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would overhaul the ratings system for repair stations. The NPRM also would require repair stations to establish a quality program, maintain a capability list, designate a chief inspector and have permanent housing for facilities, equipment, materials and personnel.
Northwest Aerospace Technologies, amended STC to install an Astronics EmPower in-seat power supply system on Boeing 737-700, -800 and -900 series aircraft, STC ST01749SE
Safran plans to start building two plants in Mexico this spring to produce landing gear components and engine parts for its Messier-Dowty and Snecma businesses. The facilities are to be built close to its landing gear repair shop and CFM56 engine overhaul facility in Queretaro, according to Marcelo Lopez, Queretaro’s undersecretary for economic development. The new plants are expected to be ready for production from 2010.
Finnair Technical Services and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines inked a new contract for Boeing MD-11 aircraft maintenance to be carried out this year. It covers eight C check inspections for the KLM aircraft at Finnair Technical Services at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, plus two options for 2010.
Rosemount Aerospace, to build and install dual control collective and cyclic sticks on Boeing 777-200, -200LR, -300 and -300LR series aircraft, STC ST02689CH
GE acquired the remaining shares in its Singapore-based joint venture with Teleflex in late March. Expanding the repair operation’s business and protecting proprietary repair processes spurred the acquisition, GE representative Rick Kennedy said when the deal was made public on March 2. ATI-Singapore initially repaired and serviced CF6 and CFM56 engine family compressor airfoils when it opened it 1998, but it since has expanded to service all GE commercial aviation, marine and industrial engines as well as Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell components.
Lufthansa Technik scored two big wins for its photo-luminescent strips for commercial aircraft. It signed a preferred supplier agreement with Airbus on March 31, making Lufthansa Technik’s Guideline ColourFit emergency floor-path guidance system standard on Airbus’ complete line of aircraft. And, C&D Zodiac, one of the main suppliers for Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft, selected LHT to supply the Guideline ColourFit floor-path marking for use in the 100-149 seat aircraft.
Snecma announced several changes to its management structure. Yves Prete, formerly head of Sichuan Snecma Aero-engine Maintenance in China, now is VP of Snecma’s MRO division. Jean Massot, who had been SVP of Snecma Services since last January, now is VP, Sales & Marketing. Michel Brioude was named VP, spare parts. He most recently was director of commercial engines for Snecma Services. Lydie Guerville becomes VP, improvement initiatives, from her recent post as head of the rotating parts machining production unit. And, Jean-Jacques Orsini now is VP of quality.
Two new LED rechargeable, polymer flashlights from Streamlight offer users C4 LED technology, which should provide two to three times the output of previous LEDs, up to a 50,000-hour lifetime and extreme shock resistance, according to the manufacturer.
Austrian Airlines returned a Boeing 767 to service after TIMCO Aviation installed winglets on the aircraft. It took 25 days to complete the installation on OE-LAE, with the bulk of the time spent strengthening the wing and installing sensors, with only one to two days for actual winglet installation, said Austrian spokesman Michael Braun. Austrian plans to equip a total of four 767s with winglets, with two more potentially getting converted as early as May. Braun said the fourth 767 will get upgraded at its next C check.
Aerotron Air Power, to install upgraded Yaw Damper Servos for rudder flight control on various Boeing 757 and 767 series aircraft, STCs ST03599AT and ST03598AT
Honeywell International, reissued STCs to modify the electrical system and install various electronic and avionic systems on certain Eurocopter, Agusta and Sikorsky helicopters, STCs SH4228SW, SH305NM, SH304NM, SH301NM, SH300NM, SH284WE, SH2224NM and SH2216NM
Bodycote Testing’s European Technology Center in Linköping, Sweden, gained Nadcap approval to test composite materials for the aerospace industry. The laboratory is one of the first in the world to receive approval for this type of testing.
Armstrong Aerospace, reissued STC to install a Honeywell RESCU 406AF emergency locator transmitter system on various Airbus A300B4 aircraft, STC ST01940CH
