Phoenix Air Group, reissued STCs to install an electrical system and a Chrysler Pentastar Aviation auxiliary generator adapter assembly on Gulfstream G-159 aircraft, STC SA1699GL and SA1681GL
Bluebird Cargo will operate the first Boeing 737-400 Bedek Special Freighter Configuration aircraft , which it is leasing from General Electric Commercial Aviation Services. Bluebird, based in Iceland, already operates three 737-300BDSF aircraft. The 737-400 is the 39th passenger to freighter conversion performed by IAI, which holds supplemental type certificates from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, the European Aviation Safety Agency and the FAA.
Women engineering majors make up only 20% of undergraduate students in the U.S., and the dropout rate among women, especially freshmen women, far outweighs the rate among male students. According to National Academies of Engineering data, only 40-60% of entering engineering students go on to earn an engineering degree—and women tend to fall on the lower end of that range. To support women engineering students, new programs provide tutoring and academic support, extracurricular and internship opportunities, and scholarship funding.
Delta TechOps secured more than $200 million in extended work for Global Aviation Holdings subsidiaries World Airways and North American Airlines. This is the third such service extension with the two airlines, TechOps says. The contracts cover component repair, inventory exchange programs, drop-in A and C check inspections, time and material engine maintenance for World’s Pratt & Whitney PW4000 and GE CF6-80C2 engines, and exclusive provision of repairs for North American’s Honeywell 331-200 APUs.
Precise Flight, to install high intensity discharge aviation lighting and the L3 infrared camera system on various Bell 206 and 407 models, STC SR01980SE
The Safran Group’s Microturbo has 4,000 APUs and Gas Turbine Systems in operation on Dassault Falcon 20s and Rafales, Bombardier CL415s, BAE Hawk 200s and Aermacchi M346s, as well as on NH Industries NH90s and Eurocopter EC725s. A new e-APU for business aircraft and helicopters has been selected for two models and made its first test-bed run on Dec. 31, 2008. Microturbo’s network supports all its APUs and offers cost per hour contracts. The company has seen no decline in APU usage because its APUs mainly serve military aircraft and helicopters.
Dana Stanley doesn’t wear earplugs or steel-toed boots to work anymore, but she fondly remembers the days when she did. “I didn’t want to leave the flight line,” she said, explaining that she worked for more than a decade as a production manager before becoming chief of quality, safety and environmental for the 402nd Maintenance Wing at Robins Air Force Base.
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
Qantas cut 500 more management positions in mid-April, to slash costs and streamline the airline. CEO Alan Joyce said a statement that Qantas wants to avoid redundancies but is exploring alternatives to further cuts, such as part time work, various types of leave and other tactics. He said the the group’s diversified business portfolio and financial management have “cushioned” the impact of market conditions on its business. “Taking further action on costs and capacity will ensure we can continue to benefit from these strategies,” Joyce said.
Averitt Air appointed Kevin Whitmore service manager of in-house technical support for all Bombardier Learjet aircraft, including Learjet40XR, Learjet45XR, Learjet60XR and classic Learjet aircraft. Whitmore joins Averitt Air from Bombardier’s field service division.
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.
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
Duncan Aviation completed its first Embraer Phenom 100 paint job in March. Its facilities in Battle Creek, Mich., and Lincoln, Neb., offer paint and line maintenance services for the aircraft and have been authorized service centers for the Legacy 600, Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 since 2006. Duncan also expanded its capabilities for helicopter components, and became an authorized service center for Honeywell mechanical components.
Air India extended its engine maintenance contract with SR Technics to include CFM56-5B engines for its Airbus A320 fleet, which currently consists of 27 of the type but should grow to 43 by 2010. SR Technics has been maintaining Air India Express’ CFM56-7B engines that power the carrier’s Boeing 737-800 fleet since May 2007 under a three-year contract. The extended contract expires in May 2010 but contains an extension clause for two additional years. SR Technics is maintaining the engines at its Zurich facility.
