_Overhaul & Maintenance

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.

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.

AirAsia plays a big role as Malaysia makes a pitch for a larger share of the MRO work in Asia.

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.

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.

BEIJING—The Chinese call it “daxing tumu,” being keen on large-scale construction. It seems that wherever one looks in this country someone is building a mighty new bridge, office tower, airport, freeway or aircraft hangar, more physical capital for the roaring economy.

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

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.

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

AFI KLM E&M and Lybian operator Afriqiyah Airways have resumed their cooperation after a year hiatus in their contract due to political events. The 2008 contract between the two entities has been reactivated following an amendment signed in November. The agreement continues to involve pool access and component repairs for the Libyan carrier's A320 and A330 fleets. It also includes maintenance checks on these aircraft. Afriqiyah's fleet parked at the Tripoli International Airport had been damaged during hostilities.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Investors examine where to infuse capital in MRO, especially in the Middle East and Asia.

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.

AFI-KLM E&M performed C checks, repainting and modifications on two Boeing 737-800s for Air Lease Corp. The aircraft have been delivered to their new lessees, Caribbean Airlines and Transaero Airlines. AFI-KLM E&M did the work at its facilities at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. AFI KLM E&M had less than a month after Air Lease Corp.'s initial request to prepare for the arrival of the aircraft.

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.

Sometimes an organization can be doing everything right by the book but still have lots of room for improvement.

AirLiance Materials CEO David Sisson retired at the end of 2011 and Roscoe Musselwhite, who has played a pivotal role in the company since close to its inception, is now president and CEO. Musselwhite most recently was chief operating officer and executive VP.