In the MRO world, configuration management (CM) is, as the name implies, the control of the parts that make up an assembly. When used to help determine the economics of repair, CM could be described as a tracking mechanism for new, repaired or re-engineered parts. First developed in the 1950s by the U.S. Department of Defense as a technical management tool, CM is used by OEMs and larger MROs to track the operational performance of a part.
In the old days, repair facilities would take on just about any job to keep the revenue stream going. But, today, MROs are more discerning, carefully considering whether a repair or engineering solution is in their best interest. Some companies have an assortment of ways to determine the various costs associated with a repair: research and development, engineering, regulatory, expediency and labor costs.
Universal Air Repair received FAA repair station certification with limited accessories ratings. The Cordova, Tenn.-based subsidiary of Universal Asset Management specializes in fuel, hydraulic and electrical accessory repairs and nickel cadmium battery overhaul. Training
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center 402nd Maintenance Wing won the 2008 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Effectiveness Award in the Depot category for its work from Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2008, including its response to the worldwide grounding of the F-15 fleet in the fall of 2007. Airframes
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.
Boeing Defence U.K. announced the establishment of a new operation focused on British helicopter technical support. The resulting Boeing U.K. Rotorcraft Support company is part of the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems business unit, involving the Chinook Through-Life Customer Support program and the AH-64 Apache Integrated Operational Support program.
Honeywell International, reissued STCs to install a flight management system and electronic flight instrument system on various McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft and Boeing 747 aircraft, STCs SA3970NM, SA3969NM, SA3487NM and SA2488NM
SR Technics plans to close its MRO operation at Dublin Airport , where it does airframe base and heavy maintenance, landing gear and APU overhauls, and line maintenance. The Feb. 12 announcement came just weeks after SR Technics confirmed that it was losing the Dublin facility’s remaining primary load customer, Gulf Air. The Bahrain-based airline opted to terminate early a five-year, $750 million full support contract announced in March 2006.
A British Airways CityFlyer BAE 146/Avro RJ100, made by BAE Systems, crash-landed at London City Airport on Feb. 16, after its nosewheel failed upon landing, British Airways confirmed. The flight, BA8456 from Amsterdam, had 67 passengers and five crew members on board. All were evacuated via emergency slides, and a small number of minor injuries were reported, the airline said. ◗
Jet Aviation Basel announced the retirement of Elie Zelouf, effective Feb. 1. Zelouf, most recently in charge of key customers, has been with Jet Aviation for more than 40 years. He will continue on in an advisory role.
One Sky Aviation, to install a fixed-mounted Forward Vision Model 100 enhanced vision system, including an under-wing conformal fairing with sensor, a detached electrical box and a glareshield mounted dedicated display monitor, on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft, STC SA02329AK
Saab received a SEK 550 million ($67 million) contract from the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) for program management, product maintenance, support, flight testing, pilot equipment and simulators to support the Swedish Air Force’s (SAF) Saab JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft. Work on this contract should be completed this year, but Saab is expected to continue further Gripen support and development for the SAF.
Designed Metal Connections offers a new series of miniature end fittings and tooling that should be simple to use to create a leak-free metal-to-metal seal. DMC’s miniature end fittings can be used to design a mechanically attached, lightweight, flareless and reconnectable end fitting system for aircraft fluid systems.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Shangri-La Industries hosted a green business leadership roundtable at Avjet’s Burbank facility to explore ways governments and businesses can better support practice sustainable s. “Our goal was to facilitate a discussion with leaders from the political, business and environmental world where they could share challenges and start a dialogue as to how we meet those challenges,” said Tim Donovan, Shangri-La’s COO.
Two new personal flashlights from Streamlight are designed to be super-bright, lightweight and durable. The lithium-powered devices should be compact, with a nylon polymer casing and high light output for use in a variety of industrial and personal settings. An LED model and a xenon incandescent bulb model are available.
Conferences and Exhibitions March 11-12 Defense Technology & Requirements Conference, Washington, D.C. March 18-19 Aircraft Data Management Forum, Phoenix, Ariz. March 26-27 ADS-B Management Forum, Washington, D.C. April 14-15 Helicopter Safety & Operations Management Forum, San Diego, Calif. April 21 2009 Lean Six Sigma for Military April 21-23 MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition, Dallas, Texas April 22-23 MRO Military Conference, Dallas, Texas Contacts
Recently, a congressional hearing contained discussions surrounding the topic of voluntary safety reporting programs that are used in collaboration between the aviation industry and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Basically, there are three major programs: Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Programs, Aviation Safety Action Programs and Flight Operations Quality Assurance Programs. However the focus of late has been on Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAPs).
If you have any questions as to the worth of the A-10 Thunderbolt II (a.k.a. Warthog), just ask the soldiers in Wanat, an impossibly mountainous region of Afghanistan. They were fighting for their lives this past July. U.S. Air Force A-10s and other craft flew into a river valley near the place and laid down withering fire, helping hold back the opposition until U.S. troops could evacuate their wounded. Absent the rugged, “low ‘n slow” Hog, what was a very bad day for these men could have turned out far, far worse.
The French Defense Procurement Agency (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement, or DGA) has confirmed initial deliveries of production Dassault Rafale F3s to the French air force (AdlA`) and navy (Aéronavale) from early 2009. Qualification of the full standard F3 multi-role version of Rafale combat aircraft was announced on July 1, 2008. Earlier Rafale F2s, operated by AdlA since June 2006 and Aéronavale since May 2008, also are being upgraded to similar standards.
Performance-based logistics (PBL) and lean maintenance are transforming the MRO business. At the same time, these new maintenance and business strategies have the potential to bring MRO supply chains in line with other industries that rely on supply chain technologies for coordination with suppliers as well as extensive parts tracking and record-keeping requirements, like automotive manufacturing and the pharmaceutical industries.
BBA Aviation named Gary K. Boekenkamp VP, marketing, acquisitions and strategic business development for its Legacy Products Group. Boekenkamp most recently was VP of strategy and business development for BBA Aviation Flight Support Group. He now is based in Chatsworth, Calif., and reports to Jim Gerwien, president of BBA Aviation Legacy Products Group.
