Bell Helicopter Textron plans to test condition-based maintenance technologies it is developing with partners Honeywell International and Goodrich Corp. to support the U.S. Army by the end of this year. The program, conducted with the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, aims to help Army Operations Support and Sustainment (OSST) transition to a condition-based maintenance philosophy with new diagnostic, prognostic and system health assessment technologies, according to Bell.
Pratt & Whitney Canada launched the second phase of expansion at its Halifax, Nova Scotia, facility -- part of an investment altogether worth $45 million, the company says. The first phase, begun in 2006, saw new manufacturing equipment installed in Halifax. Sub-assembly of engine components also began there. The current phase of investment will include building a modern engine assembly line and test cell at the facility. The PW617 engine will be the first to be assembled and tested once production begins, P&WC says.
Boeing returned the second C-130 avionics modernization program (AMP) aircraft, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for continued testing and software upgrades. The aircraft, assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing, 165th Airlift Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, was in Kentucky for a comprehensive inspection and its first defensive systems check.
MUMBAI -- In an economy ready to take off, one would hardly expect runways -- which should be secure areas -- to face animal incursions, but this is becoming a common occurrence in India. At the end of March, a Kingfisher ATR 72-500 on takeoff to Hyderabad from Bangalore's HAL airport collided with a stray dog. The landing gear was destroyed and the aircraft suffered extensive structural damage. International and domestic flights to Bangalore, the silicon valley of India, were rerouted, causing chaos to schedules.
The shortage of licensed engineers remains a growing issue because many airlines have cut their apprenticeship schemes. As a result, the process of gaining an aircraft engineer license has grown quite tortuous. In the U.K. today, any would-be aircraft engineer would have to self-fund his or her way through college and then do the required modules at a recognized university. Following that, she or he would need to find a company to provide them with work experience -- so those who want a career in aircraft engineering have to be very determined.
A new microsite allows customers to build, customize and demonstrate GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies' Everest XLG3 Videoprobe, a video borescope system. The microsite can be accessed at www.xlg3.com. All XLG3 parts, features and software can be added on for a 360-degree virtual demonstration, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies says. Using the "Build Your Own XLG3" and "Virtual Demo" features, the company says customers can configure and get a feel for a custom system.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense in March, ITT Avionics of Chandler, Ariz., is being awarded a modified firm fixed price contract for $78.17 million. This requirement is for Foreign Military Sales of the ALQ-211(V)4 Advanced Integrated Defense Electronics Warfare system for Pakistan. This electronic warfare system will be used on Pakistan Air Force Fighting Falcons being procured under separate acquisition by the F-16 program office.
Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek Aviation Group delivered its 34th Boeing 767-200 Bedek Special Freighter Configuration (BDSF) aircraft to Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), following conversion from passenger to freighter configuration. The aircraft is the first of four that CAM has on order for conversion by Bedek.
The National Business Aviation Association's Forum for Enhanced Reliability and Maintainability Standards (FERMS) slowly is gaining traction in the business aviation community. Since being rolled out in January 2006, the Web-based tool has provided business aircraft manufacturers and operators with real-time information about aircraft maintenance and performance.
Iberia will inspect, maintain and repair components for Ljubljana, Slovenia-based Aurora Airlines' fleet of three current MD-80 aircraft, plus the two others it soon expects to receive, under a new contract.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance received authorization from Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau to carry out Boeing 747-400 base maintenance in Amsterdam, making it the first European company, and only the second outside Japan, to be authorized for the work, according to the MRO. Authorization applies to aircraft registered in Japan.
Iberia Maintenance signed a five-year contract with Spanish carrier Air Europa to repair and maintain the CFM56-7B engines that power Air Europa's fleet of 33 Boeing 737-800s.
Pratt & Whitney's Global Material Solutions received an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) covering three CFM56-3 fan module life limited parts. The three parts -- the fan disk, booster spool and fan shaft -- are the first of 19 CFM56-3 LLPs for which Pratt & Whitney is developing STCs. The OEM expects the three additional STCs covering the remaining 16 LLPs to be certified by mid-year, according to Matthew Bromberg, vice president and general manager, Global Material Solutions.
Circor Aerospace appointed Hangxin Aviation Engineering Group as an authorized repair center for its hydraulic, pneumatic and fuel system control valves in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy recently reported availability problems with its BAE Sea Harriers, from spares shortages and attrition of its original fleet of 23 single-seat FRS.51s acquired from the U.K. by 1983, some of which are currently undergoing local systems upgrades. Fewer than 15 Sea Harriers now are thought to be in current IN service. The contract for limited Sea Harrier upgrades signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) in March 2005, is expected to be completed by 2009, according to a recent statement by India's Defense Minister Shri A.K. Antony in the Lok Sabha.
Hawker Beechcraft's Support Plus program celebrated its fifth anniversary with the enrollment of its 500th aircraft customer. The program, introduced in 2002, provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services, including components and consumables, at a fixed cost per flight hour, and is available for new and in-service aircraft.
Canada-based Flying Colours picked Audio International to exclusively supply the AI Select digital cabin management and inflight entertainment system for its CRJ Execliner conversion program.
Jazeera Airways plans to offer OnAir inflight mobile phone and PDA service, including voice, SMS and GPRS, beginning this year. OnAir service, based on Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband system, is to be retrofitted on Jazeera's six Airbus A320s currently operating on routes in the Middle East. The 24 A320s it has on order are to be line-fitted with the system.
Triumph Instruments has begun offering avionics repair capability for Honeywell/Sperry, Collins and most other Flux Detector brands at its FAA Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 and JAR-145 aircraft repair facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Round Rock, Texas.
COVER STORY: ERP For MRO: An Alternative Perspective MROs interested in software to integrate information systems, illuminate operations and improve planning, coordination, and effectiveness can choose from many ERP options. Departments From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 14 Tay Kok Khiang, ST Aerospace Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 19 Human Factors 24 International Safety & Regulatory Briefs 26
Zirconium dioxide, also known as the zirconia of costume jewelry fame, has long been used as a ceramic coating for engine components because of its low thermal conductivity. With a protective, 250 micron-thick layer of it, metallic components can perform in the intense heat of aircraft turbine engines, which spikes at over 1,000º C during takeoff. Damage to a component's coating, however, compromises its ability to withstand intense temperatures; sand is a common culprit.
