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).
Three Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy RERP test aircraft successfully completed developmental flight tests, which paves the way for redelivering the three aircraft (one former C-5A and two C-5Bs) to the U.S. Air Force in support of operational test and evaluation, due to begin in late 2009. The three heavy-lift transports participating in the U.S. Air Force’s Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) underwent tests for performance verification of the propulsion system, utilities and sub-systems, flight controls, airframe and avionics systems.
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;
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.
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.
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
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
Maintaining the Boeing F/A-18 represents a $100 million product line this year for the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, which plans to churn out about 110 Hornets, including 45 planned maintenance intervals (PMIs), 15 center barrel replacements and 10 crash or battle damaged repairs—the rest will be field site repairs and modifications.
SH&E added Andreas Britz and David Hinderland as new principals. Britz joins the aviation consultancy’s technical services area in New York, following 25 years at Lufthansa Technik. Hinderland, who spent 19 years with Southwest Airlines, will join SH&E’s Boston office.
: Boeing received an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, fixed price U.S. Department of Defense contract totaling $42 million in August. This will provide the Radar System Improvement Program capability to be installed in the five Royal Saudi Air Force Boeing E-3A AWACS airborne early-warning jet aircraft. This effort supports foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia, for which $27.3 million has so far been obligated.
Batteries and an on-board charger come standard with eTug, an electric alternative to gasoline-powered airport ramp and maintenance facility vehicles. The customizable units have 20,000-lb. towing and stopping capacity, equivalent to five fully-loaded baggage carts. Manufacturer eTug LLC points out that this should fill most operators’ needs. Other gas-powered tugs can offer 5,000 lbs. draw bar pull (for 50,000 lbs. towing capacity), but few things on the ramp require it, say the makers of eTug products.
Virgin Blue signed a six-year GE OnPoint agreement to cover the maintenance and overhaul of all CFM56-7B engines it operates, along with those of its international carrier Pacific Blue. The agreement is valued at up to $300 million.
Composites are paving the way for weight savings in the aviation industry, a hot topic at the moment given fuel prices. Ranging from small and thin components, such as wiring, to the backbones of large modules like lavatories and galleys, manufacturers make use of various composite formulas to take weight off the aircraft. Weight saved serves as a valuable marketing tool, and advances in composite technology are keeping pace with the price-per-barrel.
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
SR Technics signed an agreement with Avtrade Ltd. to support a range of Honeywell auxiliary power unit (APU) components fitted to various Airbus and Boeing types. Under it, SR Technics will provide maintenance and loan services to Avtrade for the APUs at its Dublin facility, which is equipped to service Honeywell GTCP 85, 131-9A/B, 331-200/250 and -350 series and 660 series APUs. SR Technics also announced a component support agreement with Airbus, covering 19 leased A330s operated by Singapore Airlines.
Northrop Grumman received a U.S. Navy contract on Aug. 12 to upgrade Grumman E-2C AEW&C aircraft for Egypt’s Hawkeye foreign military sales program. Under this $38 million contract, the six Egyptian Air Force E-2Cs will be refurbished and upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 (HE2K) configuration, with upgrades to the radar, mission computer, tactical mission-system displays and navigation systems. Aircraft modification work will be performed at Northrop Grumman’s St.
ST Aerospace completed its MD-11 passenger-to-freighter conversion program for UPS with the Sept. 3 delivery of the 38th MD-11 BCF. ST Aviation Services (SASCO) carried out the conversion program, which began in April 2001, for UPS. SASCO has redelivered 58 MD-11 BCF aircraft to various airlines to date.
Flightparts is establishing a facility in Xiamen, China . Flightparts Xiamen Component Services is to have full capabilities to overhaul narrowbody landing gear, hydraulic, pneumatic and flap components for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. It should receive China Civil Aviation Authority approval by December, and expects to receive U.S. FAA approval by the second quarter of 2009.
For shipping share parts and other valuable mobile assets, Storopack developed FOAMplus, an integrated system that produces custom-sized, protective foam packing material. The system’s central machine, the FOAMplus Bager, measures about 80 cm-by-80 cm at its base and is 200 cm tall. It attaches to two 200-liter metal barrels, which contain polyol and an isocyanate. The machine can be preprogrammed so that the dose of foam components it dispenses fits perfectly into a film bag.
Northstar Network received a follow-on order from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for 28 shipsets under the P-3 Service Life Extension Program, supplementing the initial award for six ship sets for the six Norwegian Planes. Northstar says the follow-on award will be worth about $4 million in additional revenue over the next year.
This summer’s Farnborough International Air Show saw the introduction of a new line of adjustable actuators from U.K.-based Meggitt. The new, motor-controlled modulating actuators feature a closed-loop regulator, which should detect flow, pressure and temperature via sensors. This should produce a high degree of fine-tuning to meet required measurements. Because the system is programmable, it also should allow engineers to change test valve parameters in line with performance requirements on a laptop, making redesign work unnecessary.
Boeing’s San Antonio military aircraft maintenance, modification and upgrade facility earned an ISO 14001 certification, and is the company’s first Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) site in 2008 to validate its environmental management system. Boeing is working to have all of its major manufacturing facilities certified to the ISO 14001 standard by the end of the year. Four other Boeing facilities—Exmouth in Australia; Everett, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and Salt Lake City—already have achieved the certification.
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.
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.
