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
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.
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
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.
BAE Systems received two contracts worth £119 million ($170 million) from the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) to provide additional support for in-service Tornado and Harrier aircraft under a strategy known as CAPS (Commodity Availability Procurement Strategy). Under CAPS, the current Tornado availability contract (known as ATTAC) has been amended to include an availability service to support key primary warning and defensive protection equipment for RAF Tornado GR.4 and Harrier fleets.
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.
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.
As fire seasons lengthen and wildland fires become increasingly destructive, the availability of airborne assets is becoming more critical. For Neptune Aviation, assuring the readiness of its aerial tankers has resulted in one of the most comprehensive in-house maintenance capabilities, specifically focused on the total support of a unique, aging aircraft.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
The growth and diversity of Latin American carriers, their increasing aircraft fleets and growing financial strength are expected to continue to spur an expansion of maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in the region, despite the current economic downturn. While MRO activities in Latin America date to the beginning of the air travel age, in large part because travel times to the U.S., where aircraft were being produced, were so great, there has been a spate of activity in recent years.
Heroux-Devtek will overhaul the landing gear of the U.S. Navy’s P-3 patrol aircraft under a contract signed on March 12. The two-year agreement guarantees a certain number of component repairs and includes a three-year extension option. If the option is exercised, the work would be worth C$37 million to Heroux-Devtek. The U.S. Navy operates 170 Lockheed Martin P-3C aircraft.
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.
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
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.
