Triumph Group acquired the assets of Kongsberg Automotive’s aviation segment, which produces cable control systems for commercial and military aircraft. The acquired business, located in Basildon, U.K., and Heiligenhaus, Germany, will operate as Triumph Controls-U.K., Ltd. and Triumph Controls-Germany, GmbH and will join the Triumph Aerospace Systems Group. Facilities
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
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.
EMTEQ ENGINEERING, to install an EMTEQ seat warmer system in Hawker Beechcraft B200, B200C, B300, B300C, 200, 200C, 200CT, 200T, B200CT, B200T, 300 and 300LW series aircraft, STC SA03669AT
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
Eurocopter plans to open a second service center in Hong Kong to serve customers in Asia-Pacific, where the helicopter maker says 1,264 Eurocopter helicopters currently are in service. The center, called CSC Asia-Pacific, will be operated by Helicopter CSC and local staff.
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.
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.
Carlo Gavazzi Computing Solutions’ ATR enclosures are designed to protect commercial off the shelf circuit cards from damage in hazardous or extreme environments, and its new 715 series incorporates new features to better resist vibration, very high or low temperatures, humidity and contaminants.
U.S. Naval Air Systems Command’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program office (PMA-271) reported formal acceptance of the first upgraded Boeing E-6B Mercury from Rockwell Collins and L-3 Integrated Systems Group at the latter’s Waco, Texas, facility. Navy E-6B aircraft are used to conduct both the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) and U.S. Strategic Command Airborne Command Post missions, providing reliable and survivable communications between the president, secretary of defense and U.S. strategic forces.
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.
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.
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.”
Last December, Turboméca and the Turkish Ministry of Defense signed a contract to establish a Level 4 repair center for the French company’s Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines that equip some 50 Eurocopter Cougar helicopters operated by the Turkish Army since the 1990s. This new facility is based at Eskisehir, in the Tusas Engine Industries governmental repair center. Turkish Turboméca customers, mainly operating military equipment, also benefit from availability of an Ankara-based field representative.
An American Airlines Boeing 767-300ER completed its first revenue flight with Aviation Partners Boeing blended winglets installed at the airline’s maintenance base in Kansas City, Mo. American expects to modify all of its 767-300ERs by 2011, and already has installed winglets on its 124 Boeing 757s and 77 Boeing 737s. American Maintenance Services also will install 767, 757 and 737 winglets on other Aviation Partners Boeing customers’ aircraft at its facilities in Tulsa, Kansas City and Fort Worth.
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.
Pratt & Whitney’s Columbus, Ga., engine center finished the first retrofit of an IAE V2500-A5 engine to the V2500 SelectOne engine. It says benefits of the retrofit include 1% lower fuel burn and corresponding lower emissions, less noise and lower overall operating costs. The V2500-A5 engine (V10301) belongs to US Airways and has been in service for about 11 years.
A nearly two-year-old law is prohibiting the Federal Aviation Administration from awarding certification to any new foreign repair station applicant. Now, a potential new law could prevent existing foreign repair stations from renewing their certification.
