Ineffective Or Inadequate Maintenance Control: * Airworthiness data that is ambiguous, incorrect or conflicting * Airworthiness directives and other mandatory tasks that have been incorrectly or improperly controlled * Component robbery: e.g. inadequate control of parts removed from one component or aircraft to be fitted to another * Configuration control: e.g. inadequate control of the design or build standard of the aircraft or component such that it remains within the approved Type Design Standard
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where do we go from here? Unless you've been visiting your in-laws on another planet, you've probably read and heard a lot in the past few months about the problems at FAA, within the airline MRO world, and in the relationship between the agency and the carriers it oversees. Southwest has a $10.2 million fine hanging over its head. American grounded hundreds of MD-80s and cancelled thousands of flights.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Adobe made free downloads available on its website to upgrade 3D CAD translators for Acrobat 3D Version 8. With the upgrade, Acrobat 3D can support many major 3D CAD file formats. Atlas Air, Royal Jet and transavia.com implemented TRAX USA's EVO application, the latest version of its TRAX Maintenance software. transavia.com started implementing the software and is scheduled to complete it by early 2009, said Anthony Bustos of TRAX. With the Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet agreement, 68 airlines now have implemented TRAX.
Northrop Grumman won an award from the U.S. Naval Aviation Systems Command for the phase two upgrade of its APR-39 radar warning receiver integration program for the Navy's CH-53K fleet.
APEM Components, a manufacturer of industrial switches, offers the MT series, recommended for applications requiring a sealed, ergonomic electrical interface, such as radio remote controls or other portable, hand-held devices. The series features an environmentally sealed toggle switch that can function as a rotary or rocker switch, APEM said.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association brought W. Casey Kinosz on board as manager of operations. Kinosz will support the organizations work in safety, risk analysis and accident investigation.
MRO unit costs, which have been declining for the past several years, are expected to spike upward in 2008, driven by higher labor rates in many parts of the world, including China, and only moderate capacity growth. As a result of these and other factors, worldwide spending on commercial jet transport maintenance, repair and overhaul will increase a surprising 10.2 percent, from $41 billion in 2007 to $45.1 billion this year, according TeamSAI, the consultancy that produces O&M's annual MRO Forecast with fleet data provider Ascend, Ltd.
