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
A J Walter Aviation will provide rotable component support for Czech Airlines’ Airbus fleet from Prague, under a seven-year, power-by-the-hour contract that went into effect March 1. Czech plans to phase out its Boeing 737 fleet over the course of the contract as it adds 16 additional Airbus aircraft, for a total of 33 Airbus aircraft by 2016. The contract initially will cover the two A321s, eight A320s and seven A319s in Czech’s present fleet. AJW also will support up to 54 A320s for Mexican airline Volaris under a power-by-the-hour alliance with Montreal-based Aveos.
Freedom Aero Services received FAA certification as an approved repair station. The Lincoln, Calif.-based MRO specializes in electrical aircraft components, electronic accessories and instruments for business jets and helicopters.
Gulfstream installed its 50th Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display . It began offering the system, which was developed with Honeywell Aerospace, in February 2008.
ARINC Inc. formed ARINC Technical Services (ATS) a new business designed to provide skilled field personnel and other technical support for customers from its base near Carlyle Group subsidiary ARINC’s primary military aircraft service center at Oklahoma City, Okla.
AVIATION PARTNERS, amended STC to install winglets, wing structural reinforcement and related system changes on Boeing 767-300 series aircraft, STC ST01920SE
General Dynamics Aviation Services expanded its fleet of mobile support vehicles for AOG services. The vehicles are equipped to support aircraft jacking, engine changes, troubleshooting and repairs, and they can be used to transport a range of replacement parts.
