Precision Conversions has successfully re-delivered the third full 15 cargo position Boeing 757-200PCF freighter to Cargo Aircraft Management, a wholly owned leasing subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group. The aircraft was previously operated by United Airlines as a passenger aircraft and powered with Pratt & Whitney engines. The aircraft will be leased by Cargo Aircraft Management to Capital Cargo International Airlines. Flightstar Aircraft Services in Jacksonville, Fla. accomplished the conversion.
Vision Technologies Aerospace has entered into an agreement with Pratt & Whitney to invest a 50.1% stake in EcoServices for a purchase consideration of $33.3 million. Vision Technologies Aerospace holds the aerospace companies of Vision Technologies Systems, the U.S. headquarters of ST Engineering. Pratt & Whitney will retain the remaining stake and EcoServices will become a subsidiary of VT Aerospace following the investment. EcoServices will provide EcoPower Engine Wash services under this agreement. The transaction is anticipated to close in March.
For years, the supply chain was looked upon as a necessary evil. Manufacturing, warehousing and transportation were part of the cost of doing business, not what drove a company forward. That is no longer the case. Every organization in every industry, including the aviation aftermarket, is challenged to do whatever it is they do better, faster and cheaper. Supply chains are no longer just overhead—the best companies view them as a competitive advantage.
Oakenhurst Aircraft Services has opened a dedicated oxygen system workshop at its headquarters in Rayleigh, U.K. Oakenhurst is adding this repair station to other oxygen systems repair and overhaul shop in Boryspil, Kiev, to keep up with increasing demand. The new workshop will provide repair and overhaul capabilities for fixed oxygen systems, portable oxygen systems, oxygen masks, regulators, smoke hoods and passenger service units. The workshop will provide hydrostatic testing and repair and overhaul as required.
TP Aerospace hired Jack Torielli as its regional sales manager in North and Central America. Torielli previously held multiple positions at Tracer Corp. and will spearhead the sales effort for TP Aerospace's new offices and warehouses in Las Vegas.
Aircelle Ltd. has appointed Alan Hood as its managing director. He succeeds Andrew White, who has moved to another position within the Safran Group. Hood joined Aircelle Ltd. in May 2006 as finance director.
Jet Midwest Technik signed a multi-aircraft contact with a foreign airline to perform C checks, painting and other maintenance on MD-80 aircraft at its Kansas City maintenance base. Jet Midwest continues to add heavy maintenance and modification capabilities for MD-80 and all series of Boeing 737 aircraft.
PAS Technologies has appointed Tom Hutton as CEO. Hutton comes to the position with more than 25 years of aerospace experience in operational and executive roles. Most recently, Hutton served as VP of Pratt & Whitney's Global Service Partners. Phil Milazzo will continue to serve as the company's president and will lead PAS' business development and customer relationship activities. PAS Technologies also appointed Ronnie Ali to be general manager of its Miramar, Fla. facility, which produces platings for engine and landing gear components.
Emirates-CAE Flight Training announced that flydubai will be the launch customer for its new training center for pilots and maintenance technicians, set to open in the third quarter at Dubai's Silicon Oasis commercial park. Flydubai has signed a multi-year exclusive training services agreement with the center for next-generation Boeing 737 training. The facility will include four full-flight simulator bays, with plans to expand to up to 10 bays. The simulators will replicate the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft families.
Optimized Systems and Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce, has signed a contract with flydubai to support the airline's fuel conservation initiatives and to assist in European Union emissions monitoring, reporting and verification. This is the first time that flydubai has implemented a fuel management system.
Taikoo Spirit AeroSystems, a composite joint venture of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. and Spirit AeroSystems, has completed overhauls on four CFMI CFM56-7 thrust reversers for a major mainland Chinese operator. The turnaround time was 16 days on the project. Avionics/IFE
By Dr. Stefan Weingartner, President, Commercial Maintenance, MTU Aero Engines
The commercial engine maintenance market is in a state of flux. There are new materials, new technologies and increased outsourcing by airlines. This transformation is set to continue for many years. Known market parameters are losing significance as new ones appear.
Skyteam MEMBERS: Aeroflot, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines DAILY FLIGHTS: 14,500 DESTINATIONS: 926 in 173 countries
Qantas says the Airbus A380 that was badly damaged following an uncontained engine failure in November 2010, VH-OQA, is finally due to return to service in March. The cost is covered by insurance. The repairs are being carried out at an SIA Engineering Co. (SIAEC) facility in Singapore. A team of up to 40 Airbus employees is doing the work, with support from Qantas Engineering and SIAEC. Repairs began in May 2011, and are expected to cost A$135 million ($139.75 million). In early 2011, Qantas said the aircraft would fly again by the end of that year.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (Haeco) and its subsidiary Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co. (Taeco) have acquired a 49% of shares that SR Technics holds in Shanghai SR Aircraft Technics Co. The company has been renamed to Shanghai Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Services Co. (STA) and will provide line maintenance services at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. TAECO and the new company will work together to provide line maintenance services for customers. The company has three shareholders—Haeco, Taeco and Shanghai Foreign Aviation Service Corp.
FindanIA.com Inc. has launched a new web site, www.FindanIA.com. The global website is dedicated to helping aircraft owners, aircraft maintenance facilities and technicians find FAA certified airframe and powerplant maintenance technicians with inspections authorizations. The site's parent company also specializes in placing contract FAA certified inspection authorities oversees at FAA repair stations.
Complying with the mantra “serve your customer” mostly likely is second nature to you. Sure, some customers are much harder to deal with and satisfy, but aviation MRO is a service business and, first and foremost, a safety business.
StandardAero announced today that it has signed an exclusive maintenance agreement with Slovenia's Adria Airways for its Honeywell RE220 and GTCP36-150RJ auxiliary power units. Adria Airways, the flag carrier of Slovenia, operates four Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft fitted with the Honeywell RE220 APUs and six Bombardier CRJ100/200 aircraft fitted with GTCP36-150RJ APUs. StandardAero will perform this work at its Maryville, Tenn. facility, which has delivered more than 5,000 APUs since the program's inception in 1995.
The European Commission (EC) has published a roadmap for implementing a pan-European safety management system that, in theory, leverages existing state-level initiatives and suggests ways to create broader efforts to link them together.
AeroTurbine, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Lease Finance Corp., has entered into an exclusive three-year supply chain agreement with Czech Airlines Technics to support pool access for CFMI CFM56-5B line replaceable units. Czech Airlines and Holidays Czech Airlines will use the parts for their fleets, and other third party customers will have access to these components.
Etihad Airways selected the GEnx-1B engine to power 10 additional Boeing 787 aircraft and has signed a 15-yaer OnPoint solution agreement for engine MRO. Etihad also ordered two GE90-powered Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. The list price for the GEnx and GE90 engines plus the OnPoint agreement is valued at more than $900 million over the life of the agreement. Etihad Airways has finalized engine sale and lease back deals worth $367 million with Mubadala Development Corp.'s Sanad Aero Solutions and Ireland's Engine Lease Finance Corp. (ELF).
Rolls-Royce Singapore established a regional training center and a research center next to its engine assembly plant at Singapore's Seletar Aerospace Park. This research center is focused on “life management planning,” mostly non-destructive testing of engine parts in service with airline operators. The purpose is to ascertain if the engine parts and materials are performing as intended. Predicting the future wear and tear of engine parts and the related maintenance costs is vital if Rolls-Royce is to profit from its power-by-the-hour maintenance programs.
