_Overhaul & Maintenance

Elyse Moody
O&M: Your maintenance and engineering department has finished another 737-800 C check. What prompted you to bring this maintenance in-house?

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Airbus picked Rockwell Collins to provide its Dispatch program for full life cycle service for 19 leased A330 aircraft to be delivered to Singapore Airlines next month. Singapores six in-service A380s, plus the additional seven firm and six option aircraft it has on order, also are covered by a Dispatch service plan, per a 10-year contract signed in August 2007. This cost-per-flight-hour deal marked the entry of Rockwell Collins Dispatch program into Asia-Pacific.

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Global Jet Services launched its first e-learning course, Barfield 450 for AMTs. Students can use the interactive program to gain Inspection Authorization and eight hours of FAA Awards Program credits. This particular course teaches the fundamentals of pitotstatic systems; courses in Human Factors Awareness and Aircraft Electronics Technician training will be available in the first quarter of this year. IT

John Fricker
Polish air force (SPRP) aircrews for the first two of five medium-lift C-130E Hercules recently completed 11 weeks of flight training in the U.S., conducted in Nashville, Tenn., by the 118th Airlift Wing, a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Classroom and flight simulator training, as well as maintenance training, was conducted at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Poland is receiving five ex-U.S.

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Jet Aviation Basel opened a 3,300-sq.-meter (35,520-sq.-ft.) hangar extension that will be used for Dassault Falcon completions. Jet Aviation said the hangar was completed in just seven months and cost CHF6 million. The hangar will boost completions and free up space for maintenance in other hangars.

Soloy Conversions , to install a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 series engine with a Hartzell Model HC-B3TF-7A/T10173FN(K)-11R propeller on Cessna 206 and T206H aircraft, STC SA01878SE

Aviation Specialties Unlimited , one only STCs to install a supplemental lighting system on various Eurocopter France AS-350 and Bell 430 helicopters, Several STCs

Conferences and Exhibitions Jan. 21–22 MRO Middle East 2009 Conference & Exhibition, Dubai, UAE Jan. 27–28 Eco-Aviation & Fuel Management Forum, Miami, Fla. March 11–12 DTAR, Washington, D.C. March 26–27 ADS-B Management Forum, Washington, D.C. Contacts Registration Info: Anita Joyce Wright, registration producer, 800-240-7645 in the U.S. or +1 212-904-6344; fax +1 212-904-3334

Mod Works , amended STC to install Vision Micro Systems VM1000/EC100 digital/analog engine instrumentation and caution advisory system on various Mooney, Piper, Tiger, True Flight and Navion aircraft, STC SA01516AT

AeroMech Inc. , amended STC for group Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum approval for Falcon 10 aircraft, STC ST01187SE

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Caribbean Airlines plans to launch a technical apprenticeship program this year to recruit and train maintenance workers, following recent moves to bring MRO back in-house. In July, the Trinidad and Tobago-based carrier finished its first “ in-sourced ” C check on a Boeing 737-800NG, and it finished up a second in late November. [See Interview, p.14 for more on Caribbean Airlines.]

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Lockheed Martin will apply its P-3 Aircraft Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) to Canada’s fleet of CP-140 Aurora aircraft under a newly announced $156 million contract. Ten Canadian CP-140 Aurora aircraft will receive Life Extension Kits consisting of all-new outer wings, center wing lower surface assemblies, horizontal stabilizers, wing and horizontal stabilizer leading edges, and various other items to be installed as needed.

Compiled by Elyse Moody
SriLankan Airlines finished rolling out Miro Technologies ’ AuRa suite of enterprise management and business intelligence maintenance, engineering and materials management modules across its maintenance and engineering department. The implementation process took less than six months after initial evaluations.

STOL Aviation , reissued STC to modify the powerplant installation, fuselage (other than weld assembly), wing flaps and tail wheel installation to conform to the designs of the corresponding installations, assemblies and components of the Interstate Engineering and Type Design Co. Model S-1B2 airplane (Army L-6 XL-6), STC SA622AL

Gulfstream Aerospace , to install a Raytheon (AlliedSignal) AN/APX-100B (V) IFF system on G-IV aircraft, STC ST02746AT-D

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Embraer will implement Quantum Control ’ s enterprise resource planning software for its new U.S. Embraer Executive Jets service centers, set to open this quarter. The OEM also uses Quantum software at its Windsor Locks, Conn., and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., executive jet service centers.

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Embraer will implement Quantum Control ’ s enterprise resource planning software for its new U.S. Embraer Executive Jets service centers, set to open this quarter. The OEM also uses Quantum software at its Windsor Locks, Conn., and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., executive jet service centers.

Compiled by Elyse Moody
M7 Aerospace named Jay W. Trees director of sales and marketing for MRO. Trees previously held senior positions with Avchem, Aerospace Products International, Inc. and ERIKS Aerospace, Inc.

Micro AeroDynamics , amended STC to install vortex generators on wings and tail surfaces on various Hawker Beechcraft 35, 36 and 33 aircraft, STC SA00803SE

Broadcast Microwave Services , reissued STC to install electrically actuated retractable microwave antenna on landing gear skid on various Bell 206 and 407 helicopters, STC SR01866CH

Compiled by Elyse Moody
Embraer will implement Quantum Controls enterprise resource planning software for its new U.S. Embraer Executive Jets service centers, set to open this quarter. The OEM also uses Quantum software at its Windsor Locks, Conn., and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., executive jet service centers.

—Elyse Moody
“Many defense organizations are outsourcing maintenance and modification programs to the industry on availability and capability contracts,” IFS CEO Alastair Sorbie said in a company statement. “The industry has a lot to gain by improving the turnaround times by introducing more sophisticated planning,”

By Frank Jackman
Four years ago, a partnership with PMA maker Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corp. was an important element in Air Canada Technical Services’ strategy as the MRO provider and its parent company, Air Canada, emerged from bankruptcy. In an interview in the December 2004 issue of O&M, Bill Zoeller, then-president of ACTS, cited the relationship with Chromalloy as one of a number of global alliances ACTS was in the process of forming. He went on to say that using Chromalloy-made parts for the GE CF34 engine it had been able to significantly reduce overhaul costs.

Staff
In partnership with Safety-Kleen, Kimberly-Clark Professional offers safe disposal options for its WypAll disposable wipers. It says the disposable wipers are safer than reusable ones, which can contain traces of oil, grease and heavy metals even when freshly laundered. Its disposal methods aim to make using disposable wipers more convenient and more “green.”

John Fricker
Following checks, rectification and upgrade work at the Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., deliveries started in August of four surplus U.S. Navy Sikorsky S-61D-4/UH-3H Sea Kings, plus two recently retired from NAS Pensacola, Fla. They are being shipped to Argentina’s Naval Aviation Command for scheduled completion next March, although two are being supplied as spares sources.