U.S. Airways picked Goodrich to refurbish the thrust reversers on its CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320s. The custom-tailored program is set to last through 2012, and it also provides initial exchange units. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
BorescopesRus offers both portable and tool cart-mounted borescopes, recently picked by Premier Turbines and Dallas Airmotive for inspection operations. Both models are designed to be easy to use and compact with cost-saving features. The portable model is equipped with a handheld display and a shoulder carried, battery powered light source. It also features VPU built-in recording capability and should be suitable for inspections far away from light sources or in difficult to access situations.
Iberia Maintenance refitted its maintenance hangars for painting new and overhauled aircraft for Iberia and other carriers. The first aircraft inducted into the 2,900-sq.-meter space was a Saudi Arabian Airlines 757-200, followed by a Ural Airlines Airbus A320.
Air Force officials issued a Time Compliance Technical Order (TCTO) in October requiring immediate inspection and repair of fatigue-related wing cracks in USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. This affects about 130 of some 400 operational Air Force A-10s with thin-skin wings installed during original Fairchild Republic manufacture, and is required to ensure their continued operational safety. Later A-10s have thicker-skinned wings.
A J Walter Aviation and private Danish airline Jet Time signed a five-year , power-by-the-hour agreement under which A J Walter also will maintain a consignment stock in Copenhagen.
AAR Corp. elected Donald J. Wetekam an officer of the company. Wetekam is group VP of AAR’s maintenance, repair and overhaul segment and oversees its domestics and international MRO business.
Delta G. Design , issued STC to install an EMS Technologies SATCOM AMT-3800 High Gain Antenna and DLNA on Boeing 757-200 series aircraft, STC ST10920SC
The Australian Safety Transport Board will take a closer look at a flight control system component in investigating the uncommanded pitch-down event experienced Oct. 7 by a Qantas Airbus A330 flying from Singapore to Perth.
Duncan Aviation added Scott Mehlhose to its Battle Creek, Mich., engine service sales team, where he will work in Pratt & Whitney, GE CF34 and Honeywell APU products. Mehlhose previously was engine lead technician for P&W engines.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems , issued STC to modify existing Inmarsat systems to enable future implementation of Swift Broadband capabilities on McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft, STC ST10686SC-D
The Helicopter Association International named its 2009 “Salute to Excellence” award winners . HAI’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Award was given to David Vogel, senior technical representative for American Eurocopter in Grand Prairie, Texas. Its Aviation Repair Specialist Award was given to Jeffery L. Peabody, a maintenance technician with Air Logistics of Alaska, in Fairbanks.
O&M: Bedek opened new hangars in July. Are they primarily for passenger to freighter conversions, or do you plan to do heavy airframe work there, as well?
Man Lift Engineering’s new scissor lift is designed specifically for use in hazardous locations such as aircraft painting, oil and gas processing, and dust explosion locations. It measures 32 ft. tall, with a 99.5-in. by 68-in. platform and 1,200-lb. capacity. Other standard features include a 3-ft. roll out, extendable deck and a battery condition indicator. Optional features comprise: Three-way bump protection, a movement alarm, 3/8-in. lines for air to the platform, a 250-amp hr. battery and a 40-amp charger.
Because this is our last issue of 2008, I figured I’d use this space to review the highs and lows of the year, and maybe look ahead to 2009. Turns out, Kerry Lynch and Bill Burchell both beat me to the punch. In Washington In Action, starting on p. 17, Kerry does an excellent job outlining the issues that the incoming Obama administration will face in 2009.
Airbus Americas added Tom Anderson , recently of Virgin America, as SVP, Airbus North America Customer Services. He will report to Airbus Americas President and CEO Barry Eccleston and succeeds Francois Mourareau, who is retiring after nearly 40 years with Airbus.
Pratt & Whitney Engine Services , issued STCs to install Pratt & Whitney Engine Services hybrid aircraft data acquisition systems and data transmission units on Cessna 560 and 560XL and Raytheon 400A aircraft, STCs ST00279BO, ST00278BO, ST00277BO and ST00276BO
The Federal Aviation Administration outlined a schedule for a final rule that would change certification procedures and identification requirements for aeronautical products and parts. The rule would standardize requirements for production approval holders to issue airworthiness approvals for aircraft engines, propellers and other parts, as well as mandate marking all parts and components. The Production and Airworthiness Approvals notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was released in October 2006, and the comment period extended through February 2007.
On Oct. 3, Congress received Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification of a possible $250 million foreign military sale to Taiwan, to upgrade four Grumman E-2T 2000E AEW aircraft to Hawkeye 2000 configuration, with associated equipment and services. Taiwan had previously purchased four E-2Ts in 1996, and is updating these aircraft to meet the same configuration of the most recent 2004 deliveries of two E-2 Hawkeye 2000Es. Prime contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corp.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft Customer Services and Support opened a regional support office at Garching , near Munich. The facility is Bombardier’s first customer support office in Europe.
AAR Corp. is carrying out mods on six Allegiant Air MD-80s at its Will Rogers World Airport facility in Oklahoma City. Work on the first aircraft began in October.
Royal Jordanian Airlines will implement TRAX Maintenance’s EVO application, a suite of software that manages technical records, materials management and production. TRAX says the Amman-based airline is the second Middle Eastern carrier to pick its software this year.
