ExelTech Aerospace founding CEO Derek Nice resigned from the company in early September, and was replaced on an indefinite interim basis by veteran MRO executive Robin Wohnsigl. Nice was chairman and CEO at the time of his resignation, and he previously had been president and CEO, as well as a director. He founded the company in March 2000 in a management buyout of the maintenance business of InterCanadian Airlines. CFO Roland Blais also planned to leave ExcelTech at the end of September.
Kenya Airways awarded IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group a 10-year, $100 million contract for CFM56-3 and -7 engine overhaul and support. The exclusive agreement covers 26 engines that power the airline’s fleet of a dozen Boeing 737-300s and 737NGs.
In 1902, the Wright Brothers approached nearly a dozen automobile and gasoline engine manufacturers looking for help building an engine for the first powered airplane. Orville and Wilbur Wright, however, were rebuffed. The brothers then turned to Charles Taylor, the mechanic who ran their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. Taylor took on the task and provided the engine that opened a new chapter in history—controlled flight.
Tdata released IApproach Pro OnDemand Regulatory Service, the latest in a line of complete FAA regulatory libraries on CD-ROM. Tdata’s OnDemand service provides customers four update CDs per year, delivered at the operator’s discretion. Customers can simply request their update CDs by phone, mail, fax or at Tdata.com, the company says. Tdata, Inc., 60 Grace Dr., Powell, OH 43065
Northrop Grumman won a firm fixed-price U.S. Air Force contract valued at more than $250 million over four years to provide contractor logistics services to U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps C-20 aircraft. Northrop Grumman and teammates M7 Aerospace, Savannah Air Center and Rolls-Royce North America will provide depot maintenance, contractor operational and maintained base supply, flight line maintenance and field team support of the C-20 at five primary Main Operating Bases (MOBs), both in the U.S. and at overseas locations.
Northrop Grumman named John A. Macel, Jr. VP of international operations for its technical services sector. Macel comes to Northrop Grumman from ITT’s systems division, where he served as VP of international business development. It also named John J. Chino VP of programs to succeed David H. Barakat, who plans to retire later this year. Chino has been with Northrop Grumman since 1971, and most recently served as deputy, SVP and general manager of its electronic systems sector. He was to assume the new role Sept. 15, reporting to Wes Bush, company president and COO.
Subject: Airworthiness Directives 1) FAA should retain the right to ground any plane not in compliance with an AD. Inspectors should not be required or expected to conduct any type of risk-assessment before taking action; 2) FAA should provide timely information about new AD requirements, in advance of compliance dates, to all relevant FAA field offices, and work with airlines to iron out questions. Subject: Voluntary Disclosure Programs
SOURCE: DOT August 2008 Report The Federal Aviation Administration pushed back the timeline slightly for two final rules—the long-awaited rule establishing more parameters on digital flight data recorders (DFDR) installed on Boeing 737 aircraft and a regulation establishing limits and maintenance programs to prevent widespread fatigue damage.
: Boeing announced the successful first flight of a McDonnell Douglas (K)DC-10 enhanced with Boeing’s twin flat-panel Cockpit Upgrade Program (CUP). A flight crew from the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Boeing and Fokker Services completed the four-hour inaugural sortie of the aircraft at the Fokker facility in Holland on July 22. The RNLAF has a May 2005 contract with Fokker Services and Boeing to upgrade three aircraft: two (K)DC-10 air-refueling tankers and one DC-10 transport. Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled this fall.
An enhanced memorandum of understanding signed in late August by the civil aviation authorities of Hong Kong and Singapore will allow for mutual recognition and approval of aircraft and engine maintenance. A previous MoU signed in December 2004 recognized aircraft component maintenance. The two authorities estimate more than 75 MRO companies will benefit from the enhanced agreement.
MADRID—It’s easy to get depressed about the current state of the airline industry and the impact it could have on the MRO world. In early September, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted that the world’s scheduled carriers would suffer a combined net loss of $5.2 billion this year and $4.1 billion in 2009. IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani said that record fuel prices and falling passenger and cargo traffic continue to “poison” industry profitability.
For those of you operating in the U.K., the CAA mandates that all AOC operators and associated approved maintenance organizations have a Safety Management System (SMS) in place from Jan.1, 2009, forward. Baines Simmons is holding a three-day course on developing, implementing, measuring and managing an SMS. Baines Simmons says the course is to cover: • Identifying and mitigating unwanted business losses; • Performing meaningful Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment;
General Dynamics plans to acquire Jet Aviation for $2.25 billion. The companies expect to close the deal by the end of the year. General Dynamics plans to retain the Jet Aviation and Midcoast Aviation brands, and operate them, at least initially, as a third prong of its aerospace business (the others being Gulfstream Aerospace and General Dynamics Aviation Services).
Jet Repair Anywhere formed a strategic alliance with Blue Star Jets , to help Jet Repair Anywhere clients avoid maintenance-related delays via Blue Star’s fleet of 4,000-plus aircraft.
Austrian inaugurated its Vienna Aviation Campus on Sept. 15, which now co-locates technical, commercial, flight attendant and pilot training. Austrian said training will increase in quality and decrease in cost because of centralized training activities. IT
Mxi Technologies makes sophisticated maintenance planning software that doesn’t use aircraft performance data as such. But the motivation for its technology runs parallel to those that do.
Britain’s BAE Systems recently received several support packages worth more than £4 million ($7.66 million) for the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), to maintain the operating capabilities of its Hawk advanced jet trainers and light ground attack twin- and single-seat aircraft. The RAFO received four two-seat Hawk Mk 103s from 1993, followed by a dozen single-seat Hawk 203s from 1994, supplementing 22 SEPECAT Jaguar combat aircraft and five two-seat trainer versions operated since 1977.
AeroMech, amended STC for group Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum approval for Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 Westwind Astra aircraft, STC ST01141SE Aero Union, amended and reissued STCs to install a 2,000-gallon fire retardant system on Erickson Air-Crane S-65E, S-64E and CH-54A helicopters, STCs SR01192LA and SR01192LA Aircraft Technical Development dba Aerocon Engineering, to install a cabin interior noise reduction kit on Boeing 757-200 series aircraft, STC ST02157LA
Greenwich AeroGroup named Gerald Goguen EVP in mid-September. Goguen will be responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic initiatives, both in the U.S. and internationally, to drive organic growth and acquisitions. He joins Greenwich from Dassault Falcon, where he most recently served as SVP of global customer relations and business strategy.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Aug. 1 of a possible foreign military sale to Australia of follow-on support for Boeing F/A-18E/F combat aircraft, plus associated equipment and services. Total value, with all options exercised, could reach $1.5 billion.
Goodrich Corp. Chairman, President and CEO Marshall O. Larsen talked about the company’s proposed joint venture with Rolls-Royce on engine controls and other aftermarket business issues during a wide-ranging interview with AVIATION WEEK Senior Business Editor Joseph C. Anselmo at the company’s Charlotte, N.C. headquarters. Excerpts follow.
Embraer’s new spare parts warehouse in China was certified by the ANAC , Brazil’s civil aviation authority. The certification enables technicians at the facility to issue spare part airworthiness certificates through the facility’s own quality system. The facility is expected to decrease supply chain turntimes in the region.
