The mnemonic “PEAR” calls attention to the primary considerations in human factors management and risk mitigation, write developers Dr. William B. Johnson, chief scientific and technical advisor for human factors for aircraft maintenance systems for FAA, and Dr. Michael E. Maddox, senior scientist for Cary, N.C.-based HumanCentric Technologies.
Keystone Helicopter Corp. , amended STC to install a Maxviz enhanced vision system (EVS-1000) on Sikorsky S-76A, S-76B and S-76C helicopters, STC SR02035NY
British company Fire Fighting Enterprises offers a new type of optical beam smoke detector equipped with a motorized auto-alignment feature. The detector can be retrofitted, said Peter Bangham, a press representative for the company. Bangham said that the devices are designed to need minimal wiring compared to normal “point” detectors, since one beam unit can safely cover an area that would need 15 point units. Fire Fighting Enterprises Ltd, 9 Hunting Gate, Hitchin, Herts, U.K. SG4 0TJ
Basil Barimo, Air Transport Association Vice President, Operations & Safety
Even as the United States experiences the safest period ever in commercial aviation, ATA member airlines strive to achieve continued improvement. The low-hanging fruit was picked long ago, and the next harvest requires a tall ladder. Voluntary safety programs such as the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) are the rungs of that ladder and are secured in place by collaboration among airlines, labor groups and the FAA.
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
ICG received FAA approval for its in-house repair station, which will allow it to repair parts covered by its Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) authorization at its Newport News, Va., facility.
The joint FAA-ATA annual Inter-national Symposium on Human Factors in Maintenance and Ramp Safety saw its 20th anniversary this September in Orlando. Speaking at the conference, Nick Sabatini, associate administrator of safety for the FAA, called attention to improvements made in the field of human factors since the first meeting two decades ago.
Iberia Maintenance and SR Technics signed a reciprocal engine and components services agreement—the first engine services agreement between the two companies. SRT will do MRO for the CFM56-5C engines that power Iberia’s Airbus A340-300s, and Iberia Maintenance will repair and overhaul components from various aircraft fleets for SRT. Iberia also signed an MoU with GE Aviation, to make Iberia the preferred regional fulfillment center for CFM56-5A MRO in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
PATS Aircraft , amended STC to install provisions for a two forward/two aft Cell Auxiliary Fuel System in the forward and aft cargo compartment of Boeing 757-200 series aircraft, STC ST02423NY
Western Skyways , reissued STC to install Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-VB engines in place of existing Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-EB engines on Cessna 401B, 402B, 402A and 401A helicopters, STC SA09007SC
Reductions in refurbishment and upgrades of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) long-serving F/A-18A/B Hornets, with potential cost savings of over $400 million, recently were announced. Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said on Sept. 4 that extensive work by the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) and the Defense Materiel Organization (DMO), indicates that fatigue in the fuselage center-barrel structure of the RAAF’s Hornets is less developed than originally anticipated.
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.
Pratt & Whitney Canada inked an 11-year fleet management program deal with JetSuite, a private jet charter company. P&WC will maintain its charter fleet of PW617F-powered Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft, including scheduled and unscheduled engine maintenance and engine trend condition monitoring.
JKL Components Corp. introduced a new line of LED boards intended as replacement upgrades for both incandescent and first generation LED wedge based lamps. The 12V Flatwedge LED line is available in T13/4 (12VDC) and T31/3\4 sizes (12V AC/DC) and have a warm white color output with a Kelvin temperature of 3300K.
October’s Upgrades/Retrofits referred to OGMA - Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, S.A., by its former name, Oficinas Gerais de Manutenção Aeronáutica.
Learjet , to install the Universal Avionics Systems UNS-1B Plus flight management system software upgrade and Rockwell Collins DME-42 system upgrade on Learjet 35A (C-21A) aircraft, STCs ST00018MC-D and ST00017MC-D
GKN Aerospace modified an autoclave to incorporate a hot bonder, allowing the company to carry out “hot bond box” repairs within the autoclave. This new repair method applies heat only to the damaged area of the part to minimize distortion, reduce turnaround times, cut energy and tooling costs, and make use of standard production materials rather than the more expensive ones required by lower-temperature repairs, according to GKN.
Empire Aero Center will perform heavy C checks on at least 20 Airbus A320s for JetBlue Airways beginning early next year under a new contract. The MRO has been doing lighter C1 and C2 checks for the carrier this year.
The National Aviation Co. of India Ltd. and the EADS plan to create an MRO joint venture at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The facility will become part of the Airbus MRO Network. The $40 million JV would like to start operating next year and launch business with Airbus airframe maintenance. It could add other aircraft, such at ATR, capabilities later, as well as component MRO.
Nomad Aviation picked Inmedius’ S1000D publishing suite management, authoring and publishing modules to manage its technical content and support its S1000D and ATA iSPEC 2200 projects. Contracts
Shannon Aerospace completed D checks on two Philippine Airlines Airbus A320s as part of the airline’s summer maintenance schedule. The PAL contract was undertaken by SAL via a Lufthansa Technik Philippines request, underlining ongoing synergies at work within the Lufthansa Technik Group.
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
