The grounding, temporary or permanent, of about 1,000 commercial jets will have a major impact on part markets over the next year. Shedding Boeing 737 Classics and MD-80s from major fleets will trim demand for parts, relocate repair work and reduce at least some part prices. The groundings will accelerate the shift of inventories toward asset managers and leasing companies, especially global ones. Cash must be available and shrewd judgments made to exploit opportunities and control exposure.
Gulfstream Aerospace , to install airplane interiors on GIV-X and GV-SP aircraft, STCs ST03576AT-D, ST03577AT-D, ST03566AT-D, ST03586AT-D, ST03583AT-D and ST03584AT-D
Spirit AeroSystems opened a new MRO repair station at its European headquarters in Prestwick, Scotland. It initially will focus on engine nacelles and components for Boeing 737NG and 777 aircraft.
McDonnell Douglas won a $5.5 million indefinite delivery indefinite quantity technical service firm fixed fee price contract to support additional efforts for the Aircraft Survivability Product Improvement Kit improvement for the Longbow Apache Program-AMCOM. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
Avionics Support Group , to install Wingspeed XLINK Iridium communication management systems and a single navAero tBagC2 electronic flight bag on Boeing 727-200 series, STC ST03588AT
Aero Dynamix , to install night vision imaging system/night vision goggles and cockpit lighting on Eurocopter Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MD Helicopter 369E, 369FF and 500N helicopters, STCs SR09526RC and SR09528RC
StandardAero and Silverhawk Conversions formed a pact to extend their STC portfolios to each other’s organizations. This adds the option for engine upgrades to StandardAero’s overhaul and repair capabilities for King Air C90 and E90 airframes. Instead of a traditional overhaul, StandardAero now can give customers the option to upgrade existing PT6A–20, -21 or –28 engines to new PT6A-135A engines. Avionics/IFE
The Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office received an $18.1 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to exercise an option for engineering and logistics services for MV-22 Total Life Cycle logistics support.
CORENA Holding named Toralf Johannessen CEO , filling the position after co-founder Steen Hansen decided to step down after almost 30 years in the post. Johannessen formerly was CEO of CORENA Norge.
Jet Aviation signed an MoU with Vnukovo Invest to form a joint venture that will triple the Zurich-based company’s footprint at the Moscow airport. Jet Aviation Vnukovo plans to move into a 32,827-sq.-ft. hangar close to the large Moscow Vnukovo-3 FBO next year, where it will offer support for Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft. Facilities
Duncan Aviation was named the first Raisbeck Propeller Service Center, which allows its Lincoln, Neb., modification center to service all Raisbeck Quiet Turbofan Propellers, part of the EPIC Performance Packages.
The Phasor platform of ultrasonic flaw detectors from GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies allow users to choose a fully integrated device or pick a unit that can be upgraded as inspection needs change. The Phasor XS is a portable ultrasonic phased array flaw detector that offers the highest level of resolution and probability of inspection in the product line, according to its manufacturer. GE’s mid-level solution, the Phasor 16/16 Weld, provides both phased array and conventional capabilities, as well as full-color image scans that can be stored as JPG files.
Crownair Aviation acquired RoigWest Maintenance , an aircraft maintenance and support center at Van Nuys Airport , and West Coast Jet Services, at McClellan Palomar Airport (CRQ). The latter will do business as Crownair Aviation-CRQ.
Lufthansa Technik Switzerland launched in Basel , where the MRO will support regional aircraft for Swiss Air Lines and other customers, in addition to larger VIP versions of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family, from its 500-employee facility at Basel Mulhouse airport.
Certain Pratt & Whitney PW2037 engines should be removed from service for recurring inspections to prevent possible uncontained engine failure, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged in a letter to FAA on Oct. 16. The NTSB recommends FAA enact regulations that: • Require that Pratt & Whitney PW2037 engines be removed from service for inspection of the 2nd stage turbine hubs when they have accumulated significantly fewer hours and/or cycles than the incident engine (10,880 hours and/or 4,392 cycles).
Rolls-Royce signed a long-term CorporateCare agreement with private investment management firm Berwind. The deal covers support for Berwind’s BR725-powered Gulfstream G650, which is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2012. Rolls says it has signed 150 new CorporateCare deals to date. Another first for Rolls: the first Trent engines entered service in Latin America, equipping Avianca’s first of 10 Bogota-based, Trent 700-powered Airbus A330s.
Embraer opened a hangar at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, in Mesa, Ariz., dedicated to servicing Phenom 100, Phenom 300, Legacy 450, Legacy 500 and Legacy 600 aircraft.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Sept. 9 of a possible foreign military sale to Finland of an F-18C/D Mid-Life Upgrade Program, plus associated equipment and services. Total value, with all options, could reach $406 million.
Boeing plans to acquire San Diego-based Tapestry Solutions, a services and software systems provider. The deal, which was expected to close at the end of October, would integrate Tapestry Solutions within Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems Global Services & Support segment.
Glynn Williams has been an owner, advisor and partner in various aerospace companies, including MROs, for over 25 years. He is president and CEO of Navhouse Corp., a Bolton, Ontario-based company that repairs inertial navigation systems. His private equity company, Reliance Aerotech of Toronto, purchased Navhouse in June 2006 from Northstar Aerospace (Canada) Inc.
West Star Aviation broke ground on a new facility near Columbia, S.C. The site will house a 37,500-sq.-ft. hangar and an office/shop complex for corporate aircraft maintenance, avionic and modifications services. It’s slated to open in the second quarter of 2009. IT
Take a money-losing MRO, add the sudden departure of its CEO and the loss of business, and the rumors start flying like plates at a Greek wedding. Example: the company is up for sale, desperately seeking partners or about to go out of business. Such was case with Montreal-based ExelTech Aerospace, whose CEO Derek Nice resigned this summer as chairman and CEO. Also finding the exit was CFO Roland Blais.
Pratt & Whitney named Todd Kallman president of its newly formed Commercial Engines & Global Services organization, which encompasses former Commercial Engines, Global Service Partners and Global Material Solutions. Kallman has headed P&W’s commercial engines business since 2006. Matthew Bromberg, former VP and GM of Global Material Solutions, now is VP, product line management for Commercial Engines.
Thales was selected in mid-September by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA), to upgrade electronic intelligence (ELINT) systems in France’s Transall C-160G Gabriel intelligence aircraft. The system provided by Thales allows the interception, analysis, decoding, recording and processing of signal intelligence (SIGINT). Beginning in 2011, the Transall Gabriel’s optimized system will meet technical requirements to protect naval and air combat platforms against current and future threats.
