Semler Industries says it shipped the first potable water cabinet designed to meet the needs of the Airbus A380. Semler said the A380 typically will have to carry more than 525 gallons of water to meet the passengers' drinking requirements. Because of that large volume, ground staff will need to fill the water quickly from a single point. Semler said typical water systems deliver 10 to 12 gallons per minute, which was too slow, so it delivered the SIFF-3000-A380 portable water cabinet that delivers 25 gallons per minute.
Lockheed Martin will upgrade radar capabilities for the reconnaissance version of the Japan Air Self Defense Force's fleet of F-15 aircraft, from a new JASDF contract announced on June 19. As part of a Japanese-led team, Lockheed Martin will equip selected F-15s with external advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pods.
PSA Airlines awarded Honeywell a contract to maintain the APUs on its CRJ-200s and provide Integrated Service Solutions for APUs and avionics on the US Airways Express operator's CRJ-700s through 2017.
A new Ministry of Defense (MoD) contract worth at least £34 million ($68 million), announced in June, commits BAE Systems to providing supply-chain support for new Harrier GR.9 V/STOL combat aircraft avionics through 2014. The Harrier Component Support Package (HCSP) contract not only involves service support of seven major avionics items, but also continues supply of more than 4,000 other components at significant savings over current levels.
Mxi Technologies announced that Thales selected its Maintenix software for maintenance management of its inflight entertainment systems. Maintenix also is in production support now for the first F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Figher aircraft.
JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Ministry of Transport revoked domestic carrier Jatayu Air's operating certificate following a second round of safety and maintenance audits of the country's air carriers in June. In March, the agencies conducted the first audit on 48 airlines with none getting a clean slate, including flag carrier Garuda. In the latest audit, Garuda was the only airline that passed the test, moving up from Category II to Category I, while Jatayu Air's rating in Category III did not change.
The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense hangs its ability to acquire new technologies on its ability to cut costs and run aftermarket sustainment of systems more effectively. MoD is working to service multiple aircraft from a single hub facility, looking for commonality and efficiency in maintenance, repair, overhaul and reset expertise. In the U.S., lifecycle sustainment is the buzz word, coupled with performance-based logistics contracts. Italy follows the U.K. model, and Canada blends the two with heavy reliance on prognostics and diagnostics.
The Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, intended to streamline certain FAA functions -- such as issuing STCs and PMAs and approving repair data -- by more broadly delegating authorization approval to industry is picking up steam. By the end of August, FAA will have conducted three training sessions, more than a hundred firms will have applied for ODA status, and the agency should be close to awarding the first ODA delegation.
An independent maintenance audit carried out by Fokker Services Asia Pte. Ltd. on seven Fokker 50s and five De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters operated by Malaysian low fare carrier Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) has revealed that half of the fleet are not airworthy. The 12 aircraft previously operated by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) were handed over to FAX on July 31, 2006. The latter took over operating the Rural Air Services (RAS) in the east Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah from MAS the following day (Aug. 1) under the rationalization of domestic services.
easyJet awarded a 10-year OnPoint Solution service agreement worth up to $1 billion to GE Aviation for the maintenance and overhaul of CFM56-5B and -7B engines powering the carrier's 192 A319s and 32 737-700s.
Exostar appointed Richard Addi as its chief financial officer. Addi joins Exostar from Data Systems & Solutions, a technology venture founded by Rolls-Royce and Science Applications International Corp.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are in the throes of final negotiations over a comprehensive aviation bill that will set the stage for the future of the national aviation system. The bill would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next four years, renew the aviation excise taxes or adopt some other funding mechanism to pay for FAA's costs, and address a number of other issues, including some that directly affect repair stations.
Eurocopter was awarded an Assessment Phase (AP) contract by the U.K. Ministry of Defense in June, for a Life Extension Program for up to 35 of the RAF's fleet of Westland/ Aérospatiale SA 330E Puma HC.1 helicopters. The program will be based on comprehensive upgrades, including new Turboméca Makila engines, digital avionics and glass cockpits, plus new communications, navigation and defensive systems.
TIMCO Aviation Services is partnering with MacAulay-Brown and Kellstrom Defense Aerospace to offer a C-130 center wing box rehabilitation program. The modification should extend the service life for a C-130 for 35,000 more baseline hours without recurring fatigue inspections or flight restrictions.
Pemco Aviation Group said the U.S. Air Force said three companies are bidding for the new KC-135 programmed depot maintenance contract, which starts in FY08, according to Pemco spokeswoman Doris Sewell. She said the Air Force is due to award the contract by the end of August. KC-135 maintenance is a "bread and butter contract" for Pemco's Birmingham facility, which has serviced the Air Force aircraft for about 35 years, she said. Boeing also is one of the bidders.
The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) list of most wanted safety improvements is considered by many to be the gospel in terms of pinpointing the most prominent risks in aviation (and other transportation modes) that warrant industry attention. It's interesting to note, however, that aviation items on NTSB's list usually get there because they were central in the cause of a disaster, and they're most often removed based on what FAA (or industry) does about them.
Royal Brunei Airlines selected a long-term TotalCare service agreement as part of the agreement for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power four Boeing 787-8s it is leasing.
Euravia Engineering & Supply Co. won a Royal Air Force contract to provide reduced cost of ownership for Garrett GTCP165-1A APUs on Sentry E-3D aircraft. The Sentry Integrated Project Team will support the APU until the Sentry reaches its out of service date in 2025.
