Bump a catering truck into the fuselage and you will put a dent in a metal airframe. The damage will be visible, and the consequences clear. Not so with composites. A low-velocity impact that would produce easily detectable surface damage on a metal aircraft could wreak invisible havoc inside a composite structure. Increasing use of the new materials in exposed primary structures such as fuselages is making detecting such damage more crucial. (See this month's Viewpoint, p. 80, for more on composite damage.)
SR Technics extended its existing agreement with Air Arabia to continue providing component support for its 13 Airbus A320 aircraft for six more years. The integrated component solutions contract covers component exchange, maintenance, repair and logistics for Air Arabia's A320 fleet, which is set to grow to 30 aircraft over the contractual period. It further includes setting up a dedicated component consignment stock in Sharjah, UAE.
Current halon-based fire suppression systems only are designed for use in cargo compartments because the chemical is harmful to humans. To increase passenger safety, Life Mist Technologies and Pacific Scientific HTL/ Kin-Tech Division have developed an acoustic water mist/nitrogen technology to replace existing aircraft fire suppression systems with a solution that is more people- and environment-friendly.
Honeywell secured an agreement with AirAsia to supply its 131-9A auxiliary power unit and APU maintenance for the Malaysian carrier's recent order of up to 125 Airbus A320s. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2009 through 2013. The 131-9A, which is an option on all of the A320 family aircraft, is in use on more than 1,400 aircraft operated by 90 customers, according to Honeywell.
CFM International won a firm fixed price contract for $22.6 million to manufacture F108 turbine rotors, at a quantity of 44 each. All funds have been obligated. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., was responsible for the contracting activity.
Pemco World Air Services named Kevin Casey president of the company. He previously was president of its cargo conversions division. Patrick Stewart, previously with Texas Aero Engine Services and American Airlines, was named COO. In addition, VP of commercial operations in Dothan, Ala., Dennis Johnson, assumed the same VP position at Pemco's new Tampa facility. Shane King will take Johnson's place as director of production- Dothan.
Cascade Aerospace landed a three-year contract to perform heavy checks on WestJet's fleet of Boeing 737NGs. Cascade expects to complete 32 heavy checks for WestJet by the end of 2010. WestJet's fleet currently comprises 75 Boeing 737-600s, -700s and -800s, and the airline has another 33 -700s and -800s on order, according to Ascend's CASE database.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack fighter will likely continue operating until at least 2030, according to a recent review issued from Langley AFB, Va. The U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, which has been flying since originally produced by Fairchild Republic from 1975 to 1984, is an aging airframe but still highly effective. The current official USAF Thunderbolt II inventory comprises: Active force, A-10/OA-10, 143/70; Reserve, A-10/OA-10, 46/6; Air National Guard, A-10/OA-10, 84/18.
Little changed in the FAA regulatory front as several rules remain in progress. The Office of Management and Budget extended its review of the final rule requiring incorporation of flammability reduction means into existing and new aircraft. The fuel tank flammability proposal was published in November 2005 and the comment period ended in May 2006. The final rule was sent for OMB review in February.
People attending the Farnborough International Airshow can see what aircraft recycling is all about, thanks to a big demonstration project organized by the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) and members Air Salvage International, P3 Aviation and WINGNet. Witness Air Salvage disassembling the fuselage -- from removing the interiors, recycling the plastics and tagging the reusable parts. See the harvested parts at P3 Aviation's parts management display.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Global Sustainment was awarded a $142.48 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity multiple award contract to exercise an option for the P-3C sustainment, modification and installation program. Work will be performed in Greenville, S.C., and is expected to be completed in June 2009. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., was responsible for the contracting activity.
April 17 marked the opening of a component repair business by Boeing Australia Ltd, a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary, in a new AUS$10 million ($9.583 million) facility at Melbourne Airport, Victoria. The new business will maintain, repair and overhaul a wide range of components for commercial and military aircraft, ranging from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A/B Hornets.
The dynamics of the helicopter MRO industry are changing. As more operators deploy their equipment for longer stretches at increasingly greater distances from home bases, the focus of maintenance is shifting increasingly to field repairs.
AAR, surrendered STC to install a Brownline lower lobe cargo system on Boeing 747 aircraft, STC SA3381WE AeroMech Inc., one-only STC for non-group approval for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum for a Lockheed Martin 1329-25 aircraft, STC ST01360SE AeroNautique, to install interior cabinets/components, including a guest lavatory, closet assembly station 400, RH galley, LH galley pantry, lounge area cabinets, guest bedroom, master bedroom, master lavatory and associated pocket doors, on Boeing 737-700 series aircraft, STC ST10826SC
Honeywell Aerospace plans to sell its Consumable Solutions (HCS) unit to Florida-based B/E Aerospace in a $1.05 billion cash and stock deal announced June 9. Rob Gillette, Honeywell president and CEO, said in a statement that the consumables unit, formerly known as the Hardware Products Group, no longer fits with Honeywell's strategic focus on more advanced technologies.
BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul added Martin Maly as regional sales manager for its international sales team, which represents Dallas Airmotive, H+S Aviation and Premier Turbines. Maly is to represent ERO's OEM-authorized service on 21 product lines, covering central and Eastern Europe and Russia.
An Airbus A320-233 operated by El Salvadorian carrier TACA International Airlines overshot the runway at Honduras' Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport on May 30, crossing onto a busy street and slamming into an embankment. TACA Flight 390 was en route from San Salvador to Miami, and was making an intermediate shop at Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the country's capital.
Rockwell Collins announced Denny Helgeson, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems since 2002, will retire this fall. Greg Irmen, formerly senior director, Boeing programs, was appointed Helgeson's successor. effective May 19. Hegelson has been with the company for more than 33 years and will continue to report to Kelly Ortberg, executive vice president and COO of Commercial Systems, as vice president and general manager-special assistant until September.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) has introduced a bill in the Senate that, if approved, would greatly increase FAA oversight of foreign repair stations specifically and of outsourced maintenance generally. Co-sponsors of the bill, The Safe Aviation Facilities Ensures Aircraft Integrity and Reliability Act (SAFE AIR) of 2008, or simply S.3090, include Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).
Bell Helicopter received FAA's Organization Designation Authorization, which allows an ODA unit within the OEM to act on behalf of the FAA as a certification and airworthiness office. Bell worked for two years to gain ODA.
Eaton Aerospace Operations named Eric Alden director, customer support. Prior to joining Eaton, he was regional aftermarket director for Honeywell for Europe/Middle East /Africa.
The European Aviation Safety Agency this summer will take another step forward as the primary aviation authority in Europe as it releases proposals that will allow the agency to establish regulation of aviation operations, flight crew licensing and validation of third-country operating licenses.
Executive Jet Management's Michelle Schopp, director of technical services, received the U.S. FAA's "Good Friend" award, honoring her ground-breaking work on the electronic flight bag program.
Flight Safety Foundation and AviAssist Foundation will work together on improving aviation safety and security in the East and Southern Africa region. Maintenance and engineering issues could be included. The agreement gives AviAssist access to Flight Safety Foundation's aviation safety information, including best practices and materials, and AviAssist brings 10 years of security expertise to the partnership.
Argosy International named Louis Maresca president and COO. Prior to joining Argosy, Maresca held senior positions at GLS Corp., Great Lakes Chemical and GE Plastics.
