Conferences & Exhibitions April 14-15 Helicopter Safety & Operations Management Forum, San Diego, Calif. April 21 2009 Lean Six Sigma for Military, Grapevine/Dallas, Texas April 21-23 MRO Americas 2009 Conference & Exhibition, Grapevine/Dallas, Texas April 22-23 MRO Military 2009 Conference & Exhibition, Grapevine/Dallas, Texas May 5-6 Forecasting for Airline Pricing & Capacity Planning, Chicago, Ill. May 6-7 Bird Strike Prevention Forum, Chicago, Ill. Contacts
UNISON INDUSTRIES , reissued STC to replace Slick 4000, 4100, 4200, and 4300 and TCM/Bendix S-20, S-200, and S-1200 series magnetos with its Limited Authority Spark Advance Regulator ignition system on various Lycoming O-320 engines, STC SE419CH
Aircraft component suppliers are urging the Department of Commerce to scuttle a proposal that they fear could vastly restrict the shipment of U.S.-built avionics and navigation components. The Aviation Suppliers Association said the proposal “would unnecessarily punish distributors and manufacturers, and cripple trade in avionics commodities without providing any correlative benefit to the U.S.”
Bell Aerospace Services began supporting U.S. Marine Corps Boeing and Sikorsky helicopters as a subcontractor member of a team led by PKL Services of Poway, Calif., that provides selected organizational-level maintenance (Reset) for Lot 3 and Lot 4 of U.S. Marine Corps rotary wing aircraft under a $173 million, multi-year contract. The PKL Services, JK Hill and BellAero team will perform this work on both Lot 3 aircraft (AH-1W, UH-1N, CH-53D/E) and Lot 4 aircraft (CH-46E) at multiple locations worldwide.
The Royal Australian Air Force awarded a C-130J Hercules deep maintenance and support contract on March 11 to a team comprising Australian Aerospace (a subsidiary of Eurocopter), Lockheed Martin and StandardAero. The Team Aero members will maintain and support 12 C-130Js via a $292 million five-year rolling contract with the Defense Materiel Organization.
STA Systems gained recognition by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems as a Boeing MRO center for the CH-47 Chinook engine transmission. The Chinook engine transmission is the first Boeing IDS component set up for repair and overhaul by parent company ST Aerospace. With this approval, ST Aero says it is poised to take on more repair and overhaul work for other components of Boeing military aircraft.
SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING , amended STC to build and install a Simplex Model 316 fire attack system on Eurocopter France AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters, STC SR01074SE
Phoenix Heliparts was appointed as a factory-authorized aircraft sales distributor and service center for Schweizer commercial helicopters, including new and used helicopter sales, MRO and custom refurbishments, supported by in-house parts inventories and technical and engineering capabilities. MD Helicopter also appointed Phoenix Heliparts an authorized service center in support of a contract with the Republic of Korea Army.
Boeing conducted successful functional check flights of two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 737-700 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia for the RAAF’s Project Wedgetail program. During each of the 2.5-hour flights on Jan. 21 and 28, Boeing crews performed functional tests that verified the airworthiness of the aircraft’s systems and structures.
ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE , to install a Rosemount Aerospace 8700C2-3 laptop docking station and electronic flight bag system provisions on Airbus A340 aircraft, STC ST02675CH
GE bought JV partner Teleflex’s shares in Airfoil Technologies International-Singapore Pte. Ltd. for $300 million in early March. Teleflex previously was the majority shareholder with 51%. GE’s motivation in the purchase was to gain a controlling interest in the Singapore business, said representative Rick Kennedy, who said GE wants to be able to expand the business and to protect proprietary repair processes. And, Singapore in particular is an important location for GE, he noted.
EAGLE HELICOPTERS, amended STC to install a SAGEM ICDS 2000 electronic flight instrument system on various Eurocopter France AS-350 and EC 130 helicopters, STC SR01665SE
Flightstar Aircraft Services redelivered a converted Boeing 757-200 freighter for Precision Conversions to new owner Cargo Aircraft Management. The full 15 pallet converted freighter is the 15th 757-200PCF Flightstar has completed for Precision Conversions.
Saudi Arabian Airlines signed a $300 million contract with GE Aviation Services to provide material for the CFM56-5B engines that will power the carrier’s new fleet of 50 Airbus A320s. The exclusive 10-year materials agreement covering 100 CFM56-5B engines, means Saudi Arabian Airlines will use only CFM parts while maintaining these engines, which it plans to service in-house. Avionics/IFE
Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services Co., Ltd. raised the 1,936-ton steel roof of its new hangar at Pudong International Airport. The first phase of construction will create a two-bay, 50,000-sq.-meter hangar and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Boeing Shanghai was established in June 2006, as a joint venture of Boeing, Shanghai Airport Authorities and Shanghai Airlines.
SriLankan Engineering, which had a partnership with Emirates in the past and has carried out heavy checks for Emirates and Pakistan’s private carrier Airblue, has been marketing itself in the region as an alternative to India. Sri Lanka is an ideal location given its short flying time from India, slot availability and low labor costs. However, GMR insists that it is no competition.
Trimble designed its new, all-in-one tablet computer to be rugged and fully functional in any setting. The Yuma can be used as a hand-carried computer, mounted on a pole or tripod for data collection, secured in a vehicle-mount or connected to an office docking station with external monitor, printer and other desk peripherals.
Japan Airlines parent JAL Group plans to integrate its four maintenance subsidiaries : JAL Narita Aircraft Maintenance Co., Ltd; JAL Tokyo Aircraft Maintenance Co., Ltd; JAL Engine Technologies Co., Ltd; and JAL Aviation Technologies Co., Ltd. The integration is to take effect on Oct. 1, although details of what changes this will mean for the group’s maintenance business aren’t spelled out.
DRB AVIATION CONSULTANTS, to install an executive interior and reduction in maximum zero fuel weight from 28,814 lbs. to 28,279 lbs. on Dornier 328-300 aircraft, STC ST10933SC
ARMSTRONG AEROSPACE, amended STC to install a Honeywell RESCU 406AF emergency locator transmitter system on Boeing 747-400, -400D and -400F series aircraft, STC ST01742CH
