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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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 first Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) BAE Hawk Mk.51/51A advanced jet trainer undergoing an avionics upgrade by Patria made its initial flight at Jämsä, in late September. The digital glass cockpit and systems upgrade is the second phase of a program launched in December 2006. Finland has 49 Hawk 51s, mostly assembled by Patria in 1980-1985, plus 18 ex-Swiss Hawk Mk.66s acquired in 2007.
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
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
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?
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.
Gulfstream Aerospace won a firm fixed price contract modification for around $10 million to provide continued fleet maintenance support for nine Gulfstream aircraft owned by the Egyptian government.◗
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.
The U.S. Congress was notified Sept. 26 of a possible foreign military sale to France of upgrade kits for four Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS aircraft. Upgrades would include Block 40/45 Mission Computing and Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) Interface, plus enhanced ESM, Mode 5/S Identification Friend or Foe, related spare and repair parts, and other support equipment. With options, program costs could reach $400 million.
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.
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.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress in September of a potential $115 million foreign military sale to Pakistan for the refurbishment and maintenance of eight Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters, plus associated equipment and services. Also included are system integration, spare and repairs parts, including their transportation, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and related elements of logistics support.
3M expanded its PPS Paint Preparation System with a new mini-pressure cup that allows users to mix and spray products from the same container using a pressure-fed gun. The Type H/O Mini Pressure Cup incorporates many of the features of 3M’s 28-ounce size pressure cup. The six-ounce container also is disposable, and it is designed to make the application of gel coats or varnishes easy with high-output air flow from the pressure cup. 3M says the mini-cup is ideal for spot repairs, finishing work and other small touch-up jobs.
