Delta Air Lines has outsourced airframe heavy maintenance and interior modification work to MRO companies overseas, but the carrier has found that the cost savings are getting harder to come by, and there is a lot of time and effort involved in managing relationships with MRO suppliers.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) has been certified as a Part 147 maintenance training organization by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. The Singapore MRO firm says now that it has this certification, its technical training center in Singapore will be able to provide EASA-certified courses covering narrowbody and widebody aircraft.
By Ken Jones ➤ Director of Electronic Data Standards, Air Transport Association
I participated in a recent executive roundtable developed by Aviation Week, hosted by Boeing, and led by United Airlines' SVP Technical Operations Jim Keenan. The theme was “One Step Closer to Data Harmonization.” Participants seemed to intuitively understand that if we as an industry did a better job of data harmonization and data sharing, many of our processes would operate more efficiently, faster and at lower cost. But a couple of common themes emerged: How can we do a better job of quantifying the ROI, and how can we get more buy in from all stakeholders?
Emirates signed a 12-yr. OnPoint services contract with GE Aviation for maintenance and inventory support. The deal covers Boeing 777 avionics, electrical power and mechanical products on Emirates' current fleet and firm orders, for a total of 135 777s.
Lion Air has scrapped its plan to have its MRO business centered on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, citing disagreements with the Manado International Airport airport operator. The airline says the new plan is to have maintenance operations at Hang Nadim International Airport in Indonesia, which has the longest runway in that country.
Delivering value to your customers and really listening to them might require you to do business in a different way. The article on gauging customer satisfaction (pg. 31) describes how several aftermarket companies gain insights about their services and take corrective measures. It's about proactively using your customers' feedback to better serve them. (Coincidentally, a reader suggested this O&M article subject. Thanks!)
Nordam has appointed Brian Schlegel to VP, supply chain management. Schlegel previously served as Nordam's senior VP of support services. Schlegel will lead the aerospace firm's global procurement, inventory planning, transportation and logistics efforts. Mike Bunney has also been added as senior VP, support services. Dave Whitten has been promoted to senior VP, strategy and marketing.
Turkish Technic has signed an agreement with Somon Air for the maintenance of GTCP131-9B APUs and spares support. The MRO will perform the services at its Istanbul facility. Avionics/IFE
Green, lean, flexible. These are the trends propelling the ground support equipment market into the second decade of the new millennium. Impelled by environmental regulation, and motivated by the nonstop need to cut costs, the industry is developing evolutionary products that will alter what we see scurrying about the ramp in coming years. GSE manufacturer JBT AeroTech and a host of other players are moving ahead with initiatives designed to render ground support gear more environmentally friendly.
While fuel burn grabs the big headlines in the battle for market share between the mid-thrust engine makers, it is more often maintenance cost which becomes the real acid test when it comes to decision time.
Turkish Technic has signed a landing gear maintenance services agreement for five Airbus A320 family aircraft with IzAir. The work, which includes landing gear removal and installation as well as overhaul activities, will be carried out at Turkish Technic's Istanbul facility. It plans to complete the overhaul of five sets of landing gear in June 2013. IT
Forrest Gump once quipped “Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get.” The same can be said for the business of repairing aircraft on ground, or AOG. When the phone rings, AOG professionals never know what kind of repair they're going to get or where they're going to go—or whether customs will even let them into the country.
Scandinavian Airlines System has entered into an agreement with Sunrise Asset Management to sell 13 MD82/83/87 aircraft and an additional 12 spare engines. The order is valued at about $20 million and delivery of the aircraft and engines is ongoing and will be completed in Feb. 2013. SAS is phasing out its MD-80 fleet and replacing them with Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320s.
Precision Conversions has announced the continuation of the 757-200PCC Combi program. The 1994 Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 757-200 has been inducted at Flightstar Aircraft Services' facility in Jacksonville, Fla., as part of a deal for two aircraft with the option of up to four from Cargo Aircraft Management.
Volant Aerospace reissued STC to modify aircraft main cabin by installing a standard passenger interior configuration on Boeing DC -9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83) and MD-88 aircraft, STC ST03005CH
Timco Aerosystems opened its new 120,000 sq. ft. aircraft interiors manufacturing facility in Wallburg, N.C. in November. The facility will add capacity to Timco's manufacturing operations in Pacoima, Calif., including assembly of its FeatherWeight seats. Training
Aviation Partners Boeing is a joint venture between Aviation Partners and Boeing. It makes and holds certifications for blended winglets to install on the Boeing 737-300/-500/-700/-800/-900 aircraft as well as the Boeing 757-200/-300 and the Boeing 767-300ER. Airlines that buy retrofit packages from Aviation Partners Boeing receive engineering, tooling, a full deck of installation task cards, on-site technical support as well as 24/7 engineering liaison coverage and AOG parts support.
The Aviation Suppliers Association welcomed Sheri Murray, Air Parts & Supply Co. president and CEO, as a new member of its board of directors. Greg McGowan, Boeing Commercial Airplanes quality leader of product support engineering, returns as a member of the board. Jimmy Wu, Infinity Air president and CEO, also returns.
AAR Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Telair International and Nordisk Aviation Products from Teleflex, Inc. The transaction is expected to generate $225 million of revenue in fiscal 2013. The acquisition will enhance AAR's ability to capitalize on commercial aircraft build cycles as a tier-one supplier to Airbus and Boeing. Telair designs, manufactures and supports cargo loading systems for widebody and narrowbody aircraft. Nordisk designs and manufacturers heavy-duty pallets and lightweight cargo containers for commercial airlines.
GE has collaborated with Michigan State University's College of Engineering to train the next generation of engineers. GE is one of the first corporate sponsors in the university's engineering theme partnership program, which will provide engineering undergraduate students with the opportunity to learn about transportation and issues related to clean technology. The partnership supports lab enhancements, student design competitions, mentorship and tutoring programs and activities like field trips to GE facilities.
Bombardier announced at MRO Asia that it has extended its repair capability for the Trent 700 inlet cowl to Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), which will join Belfast and Dallas MRO facilities in offering the repair. The work will take place at HAECO's component and avionics overhaul center in Tseung Kwan O, near Hong Kong International Airport. Bombardier is the OEM of the Trent 700 inlet cowl.
How are we doing? That's a question many suppliers of aircraft aftermarket services are asking customers today. Finding the answer normally means using surveys, ranging in complexity from simple phone calls to carefully targeted and increasingly customized email or Web-based questionnaires.
