Fleet Readiness Center Southeast won the Shingo Bronze Medallion for Excellence in Manufacturing for its EA-6B aircraft depot level maintenance program.
Turkish Technik and Goodrich signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture, Goodrich HABOM, in Istanbul to perform nacelle work for Turkish Airlines and carriers in neighboring regions. The companies anticipate opening the 43,000-square-foot facility at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in 2009.
Jet Aviation Basel has signed completions contracts and letters of intent for two A340s, four Boeing Business Jets and three Boeing 787s to be completed through 2014. It also has begun construction of a new 9,600 square meter widebody hangar, scheduled for completion in the first half of 2008.
Lufthansa Technik has signed technical and component support contracts with Jazeera Airways, a growing Kuwaiti carrier, and Abu Dhabi-based Maximus Air Cargo. It will support the CFM56-5B thrust reversers on Jazeera's five A320 family aircraft as well as the 30 additional A320s it has scheduled for delivery through 2014. Maximus Air Cargo's two A300-600s will receive component support for over 500 different part numbers of LRUs, as well as engine and APU-related components, from Lufthansa Technik.
COVER STORY: Latin American MRO A burst of activity in Latin America is giving the Asia/Pacific MRO market a run for its money. Embraer Expands Executive Jet Service Centers, 34 Departments From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 14 Christophe Bernardini, Sabena technics Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 19 Human Factors 22 International Safety & Regulatory Briefs 24
Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners signed a five-year, $20 million exclusive contract with Turkish carrier Sun-Express to maintain the PW2037 engines that power four Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
1200 G STREET, N.W., SUITE 900, WASHINGTON, DC 20005 PH: 202-383-2431 FAX: 202-383-2440 O&[email protected] EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Frank Jackman, [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR Lee Ann Tegtmeier, [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR Elyse Moody, [email protected] PRODUCTION MANAGER Ron Brown, [email protected] PRODUCTION DIRECTOR William F. Halfpap, [email protected] EUROPEAN EDITOR (COMMERCIAL) Bill Burchell
IGG Component Technology recently launched ObsServe, a component monitoring service designed to identify components at risk of obsolescence and to recommend appropriate solutions. "It's far more of a service than just software," said Lloyd Francis, Aerospace & Defense manager, IGG. "It's taking the next step, basically."
SAN FRANCISCO -- Applying Lean industrial practices to the aviation MRO business is a practical yet challenging proposition, according to the industry consultants and front line staff who participated in the AVIATION WEEK Management Forum "Lean and Six Sigma for MRO" held here in early October.
Sikorsky Support Services was awarded a $121 million modification to a previously awarded Navy contract to exercise an option for contractor logistics support services for T-34, T-44 and T-6 aircraft.
Messier Services France inaugurated the re-organized military operational unit at its Molsheim, France, facility. By reorganizing the factory, the company aims to better align services and improve efficiency, a Messier Services representative confirmed. Messier Services France does not necessarily hope to expand the scope of its military work through this organization, but rather to lower costs and increase efficiency for its current military customers.
British Airways selected Rolls-Royce Trent engines to power up to 61 of its new long-haul aircraft, including 12 firm and seven option Airbus A380s and 24 firm and 18 option Boeing 787s scheduled for delivery from 2010. The deal includes a TotalCare contract tailored to BA's requirements and could be worth in excess of $5 billion.
Yingling Aviation has developed a maintenance plan to accomodate the new Continuous Inspection Program for Cessna Model 441 Conquest II aircraft. It recommends that both FAR Part 91 and Part 135 operators comply with a series of supplemental inspection documents now being incorporated into an expanded phase inspection program with a compliance deadline set for Sept. 1, 2008.
US Airways chose Lufthansa Technik Tulsa to support the thrust reversers of its Airbus fleet. Under the new, five-year contract, Lufthansa Technik Tulsa will maintain the thrust reversers of US Airways' 102 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus aircraft.
Trends in military maintenance training parallel those on the civil side. Hands-on training devices are giving way to virtual trainers, which often are desktop versions, said Bob Wuestner, senior director, Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Systems, Military Systems. Desktop trainers not only are less expensive than traditional hands-on trainers and enable distance-learning capabilities, but they "also offer a safe training environment where students can freely make errors without any potential damage to a vehicle, trainer or themselves," he said.
The philosophy of aviation maintenance training is changing -- radically. As Jeff Roberts, CAE group president of innovation and civil training and services said, "First and foremost, it has to be line oriented. It has to be operationally and practically grounded. Two: it has to have a tremendous amount of troubleshooting capability to facilitate the return to service," which should increase aircraft reliability numbers and reduce aircraft downtime.
Preaching the benefits of safety management systems (SMS) is easy. Convincing skeptics that the programs -- done right -- are worth their effort in time and money is another matter. Nothing speaks to fence-sitters and naysayers like real-world examples. Thanks to a new report out of the airport world, we have a fresh batch.
Piaggio Aero Industries selected the NORDAM Group to install executive interiors on Piaggio P.180 Avanti II aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2008.
Maritime Helicopter Support was awarded a $7.3 million firm-fixed-price requirements contract from the Naval Inventory Control Point for performance-based logistics support for phase 2(A) Navy H-60 items for SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60S and MH60R aircraft. Work should be complete in Dec. 2008.
Jet Craft plans to incorporate a solar power system into its second facility in Henderson, Nev. Scheduled to open in 2009, the facility is designed to have an executive terminal and two 35,000 square foot hangars, one dedicated to its aircraft management and charter operation large enough for eight to 10 business aircraft and another for Jet Source's avionics and aircraft maintenance operation.
Nov. 6 RFID Milan, Milan Nov. 6-8 MRO Europe Conference & Exhibition, Milan Nov. 27-28 VLJ West, San Diego Nov. 28-29 A&D Finance Conference Feb. 12-13, 2008 Defense Technology & Requirements, Washington, DC April 15-16, 2008 AVIATION WEEK Interiors, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. April 15-17, 2008 MRO 2008 Conference & Exhibition, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. April 15-17, 2008 MRO Military 2008 Conference & Exhibition, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Contacts
The Boeing Co. was awarded a $49.2 million foreign military sales contract, including options, by the U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to upgrade Link 16 secure jam-resistant digital data link systems aboard Saudi Arabia's fleet of five E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
