In mid-July, Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) welcomed a National Audit Office (NAO) report on successful improvements in MRO and logistic support to Royal Air Force Harrier and Tornado combat aircraft during the past six years. These resulted in overall savings exceeding £1.4 billion ($2.8 billion) and helped improve front-line aircraft availability, reliability and capability. Whereas all repairs had previously been undertaken at multiple sites, the MoD has rationalized how it repairs and maintains its jets to achieve significant economies.
AEROMECH, one-only STC for individual approval of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum for a Learjet 36, STC ST01753SE AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT, amended STC to install an Aerocon Engineering Company Crew Stair in the electronic equipment bay of Boeing 767-200 and -300 series aircraft, STC ST01429LA BE AEROSPACE, to install the B/E Aerospace LED indirect wash lights and/ or reading lights assemblies on various Hawker Beechcraft 800 and 850 models, STC ST03438AT
AEI announced it received an STC to convert Boeing 737-400 passenger aircraft to full freighter configuration, to first serve launch customer RPK Capital. The converted freighter, which is designed to hold 10 full 88-inch by 125-inch pallets and a payload of up to 48,000 lbs., will be operated by Flyant Cargo airlines, a subsidiary of Spanish carrier Futura International Airways.
CAE unveiled Presagis, its new modeling and simulation software company. Combining CAE's acquisition of Engenuity Technologies, MultiGen-Paradigm and TERREX with its existing off-the-shelf software team, Presagis is designed to deliver an integrated suite of COTS software.
The Moroccan air force reportedly is the first customer for major Mil-Std-1553B digital avionics and systems upgrades being offered, with French government support, by SAGEM and Thales for long-serving but still potent Dassault Mirage F1 combat aircraft. Morocco has been operating 30 air defense Mirage F1CHs and 20 multi-role F1EHs since 1978, 27 of which are now scheduled for SAGEM/Thales upgrades.
Further reinforcement of the RAF's support helicopter forces is scheduled from the long-awaited mid-June MoD decision to refurbish and upgrade eight Boeing Chinook HC3 heavy-lift helicopters. These have been grounded since completion of their 2001 delivery from Boeing because of U.K. flight-control software integration problems for originally specified special operations roles. MoD funding finally has been approved for their immediate conversion to operational RAF standards for battlefield support helicopter roles.
U.S. Navy won approval for full-rate production of 437 next-generation APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for its fleet of Block II Super Hornet and EA-18G aircraft.
Jet Source's new facility in Henderson, Nev., will have two 35,000 square foot hangars -- one will handle aircraft management and charter, and the other hangar will handle avionics and maintenance.
Boeing signed a GoldCare contract with Rolls-Royce, maker of the Trent 1000 engine that is one of two powerplant options on the 787. Under terms of the GoldCare Material Management agreement, Boeing will provide repair and overhaul for underwing rotable airplane components as an option to Rolls-Royce customers who opt for the OEM's TotalCare program to support their Trent 1000s.
Air France Industries received a full airborne warning and control system (AWACS) maintenance contract from the French Defence Ministry through the ministry's integrated aeronautical material support structure, SIMMAD. The contract covers support for AWACS (except for engine maintenance, which AFI already provides), including: the E-3F airframe, mission system, simulator support, technical management and logistics computer system, maintenance and management documentation, related ground components, transport logistics and engineering support.
The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association has 28 members who annually process about 150 aircraft, 1,000 tons of aircraft specialty alloys and 25,000 tons of aircraft aluminum. AFRA members hope to be recycling 5 tons of carbon fiber daily by 2008.
CAE unveiled Presagis, its new modeling and simulation software company. Combining CAE's acquisition of Engenuity Technologies, MultiGen-Paradigm and TERREX with its existing off-the-shelf software team, Presagis is designed to deliver an integrated suite of COTS software.
Raytheon Co., Electronics Systems, Goleta, Calif., received a $24.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract with Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. The modification will allow Raytheon to exercise an option for 24 full-rate production lot 10 AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver systems for the Royal Australian Air Force, from a foreign military sales program.
Singapore Airlines, launch customer for the Airbus A380, has signed component support contracts with Goodrich and OEMServices in preparation for the aircraft's entry into service this fall. SIA is slated to receive the first of 19 A380s it has on order on Oct. 15 and plans to operate a ceremonial first flight to Sydney on Oct. 25. Regularly scheduled A380 service should begin shortly thereafter.
Lufthansa Aviation Group appointed Aage Dünhaupt European press spokesman from his previous position as director international communications for Lufthansa Technik.
GE Aviation's CF6-80E1 engine, which powers about 140 Airbus A330-200 and -300 aircraft, completed one million takeoffs/landings, or cycles. In mid-2008, the CF6-80E1 will include Tech CF6 program advancements, including a new high-pressure turbine airfoil, which should lower maintenance costs, improve fuel burn and enhance operational reliability.
In early August, Indra Sistemas was granted a two-year maintenance service contract for avionics systems on Rota naval base aircraft and rotary wing aircraft, which include BAe AV-8B Harrier V/STOL fighters and Cessna C550 light jet-transports, as well as Agusta-Bell AB 212, Hughes 500, and Sikorsky SH-3D and SH-60B helicopters. Indra will undertake preventive and corrective maintenance, plus updates, of all aircraft on-board avionics and navigation systems, as well as install its customized Galia integrated logistics management system to monitor the fleet's maintenance.
Textron's Bell Aerospace Services subsidiary received a $4.5 million contract award for U.S. Marine Corps Bell H-1 helicopter support. This is the fourth year of a five-year contract to provide field-level support for UH-1N and AH-1W helicopters of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Air Wings. BellAero, via its BA Support Services business unit, provides turnkey technical assistance and maintenance support teams at numerous field locations throughout the world, including support teams embedded with operational units deployed overseas.
With a tool engineered by Brookhouse Holdings, British Airways Engineering's Fleet Support Facility (FSF) at Heathrow now can perform another costly engine repair in-house. Two years ago, Brookhouse and BA Engineering collaborated to develop a bonding and support tool for damaged GE90 engine D-duct repairs. A similar tool designed to support an inlet skin damaged by a bird strike recently made that repair more convenient and cost-effective as well.
Wright Tool offers two 10-piece 12-point 1/4 in. drive socket sets, both with the patented Wright Drive design, intended to provide more torque with less fastener damage. Number 209, the 12-point standard socket set, consists of 3/16 in., 7/32 in., 1/4 in., 9/32 in., 5/16 in., 11/32 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in. and 9/16 in. socket sizes on a clip rail. Number 210, the 12-point deep socket set, includes 3/16 in., 7/32 in., 1/4 in., 9/32 in., 5/16 in., 11/32 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in. and 9/16 in. sizes on a clip rail. Both sets are made from WrightAlloy steel.
Mxi Technologies announced the addition of an automated line planning feature to its Maintenix aviation maintenance management software. It is designed to generate and schedule a realistic set of work packages, taking routing, part availability and even weather into consideration.
Rockwell Collins appointed Ken Estelle vice president and general manager of Technical Service Solutions. Estelle will oversee Rockwell Collins' network of service centers providing repair and overhaul of aviation electronics, as well as parts management and logistics for commercial, business and military aircraft worldwide.
