Virgin Australia will roll out an IFE system that streams content to passengers' laptop computers and other portable devices via WiFi. Virgin Australia will be using Lufthansa Services' BoardConnect IFE platform, which is to be installed beginning mid-year. The first stage of the program will involve proving flights on a Boeing 737-800. Eventually the system will be on 48 of the carrier's aircraft. Virgin America is also a BoardConnect customer. Parts/Components
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.
Zebra Technologies and Checkpoint Systems have entered in a non-exclusive contract and licensing agreement for RFID solutions. The agreement will bring together Zebra's active location RFID solutions with sensors made by Checkpoint's division OATSystems. The partnership will give aerospace customers increased visibility of their assets across the enterprise. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
TAP M&E Brasil completed a C check of a WhiteJets Airbus A320 aircraft, two days in advance of the contract turnaround time. The services were performed at the MRO's Porto Alegre maintenance base. Engines
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.
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.
What are your priorities for 2012? Wisbrun: We want to get Skyteam to the next level of execution. In 2008 it was decided that a central function should be introduced. I took over six months ago, and my key target is now to drive the membership into more collaboration to get more synergies out of it. The focus is more on getting things done than growing the network. We want to be more focused on customer benefits.
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.
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.
Component Control has announced that Aero-Parts Connections, a supplier of safety and emergency equipment, has begun to use its Quantum MRO and Logistics software to support its new sister company, Aviation Inflatables. Both Aero-Parts Connections and Aviation Inflatables will use the Quantum software to fulfill contracts with Delta Airlines.
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.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance will appoint Ton Dortmans as executive VP effective Feb. 1. He sill succeed Peter de Swert. Dortmans will be responsible for maintenance of the KLM fleet, part of the Air France fleet and all third parties served by Air France and KLM. He will lead a team of about 5,500 employees and will report to KLM President and CEO Peter Hartman. Prior to this position, Dortmans served as SVP operations at KLM E&M.
TP Aerospace Leasing has signed a seven-year agreement with Atlantic Airways for its full service wheels and brakes cycle flat rate program. The MRO will provide component maintenance, pool access, onsite lease inventory and a logistics program to support Atlantic Airways' fleet expansion.
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.
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.
BEIJING—In early 2008, Avic I, as it was then, announced it was setting up an airline that would buy its regional airliners, a move that had many industry watchers perplexed. To any trenchant doubter of China's future in civil aeronautics, it must have seemed that the product, the 50-60-seat MA60 turboprop, was so uncompetitive that Avic I could only sell it to itself.
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.
Leki Aviation has signed a spares distribution, repair and overhaul agreement with Shimadzu Precision Instruments. Leki will provide extended sales and marketing for Shimadzu under this agreement and will put an exchange pool of frequently used components in Copenhagen to support the company.
Qantas unveiled plans for an inflight connectivity system that will be trialed on Airbus A380s. Qantas will debut a streaming WiFi system that it says will be a first for the airline industry. Qantas's inflight connectivity service will be provided by OnAir, using Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband and global satellite-based connections. Passengers can pay via credit card to browse the Internet and access email. The system will undergo trials on six A380s on Los Angeles flights from Sydney and Melbourne, starting in February in business and first classes.
Etihad Airways has put forth 125 maintenance and engineering personnel to participate in Air BP Lubricant's online training academy. This is the largest commitment to the training academy by a single airline. Etihad Airways started using Air BP Lubricant's BPTO 2197 lubricant in 2009 and it says it has reduced the number of oil degradation and coking events to zero with the program. The training tool has a suite of eight modules with different questions on topics such as specifications, servicing and storage.
