The future of the U.K.'s Defense Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) is looking grim following a U.K. government review of its armed forces requirements. Only one of its four businesses will be retained by the U.K. Ministry of Defense, while the other three face closure or perhaps new ownership. DARA's CEO Archie Hughes spoke to Bill Burchell, O&M's European Editor (Commercial), about managing the challenges imposed by this transition. O&M: What is your strategic plan for DARA's future?
Pratt & Whitney won a $25.9 million U.S. Navy contract to repair 11 line items used on the J52 engine that powers EA-6B aircraft. Pratt & Whitney also will provide manufacturing, engineering and technical support to the Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville with a goal of improving monthly output. Work should be finished by July 2008.
Singapore Aero Engine Services Ltd. (SAESL) celebrated its fifth year of operation in January. During that time, SAESL, a joint venture between SIA Engineering Co., Rolls-Royce and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Ltd., has overhauled 500 Rolls-Royce Trent engines.
Northwest Airlines awarded AAR Aircraft Services a contract to perform heavy maintenance and interior modifications on five Boeing 757s. AAR's Indianapolis facility will perform nose-to-tail heavy maintenance checks on the 757s that Northwest previously stored and are reintroducing to its fleet. AAR plans to finish the work by August.
In September, Gulfstream Aerospace delivered its first ultra-long-range special-mission G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning aircraft to the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD). Apart from its endurance, the large-cabin G550 was chosen in 2003 for IMOD's AEW surveillance system, for its overall performance, safety, reliability and low operating costs.
L-3 SPAR Aerospace received a military supplemental type certificate for the avionics upgrade program it is doing for the Hellenic Air Force C-130 B and H aircraft. The avionics upgrade is part SPAR's Herc 2020 life-extension program.
Boeing dedicated a facility in Oklahoma City to provide readiness capabilities and upgrades for the U.S. Air Force E-3 airborne warning and control system fleet.
Business jet maker Gulfstream Aerospace continues to be unsuccessful in its quest to block New York-based CAMP Systems International from using Gulfstream maintenance manuals for a maintenance tracking service. A U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court ruling permitting the maintenance tracker to use Gulfstream's maintenance manuals without permission. The lower court twice rejected Gulfstream's arguments, but stated that its decision was a "reasonably close call."
SAKOR Technologies, Inc., introduced the MicroDyne series of small motoring dynamometers, which the manufacturer says are ideal for a wide range of automotive, military and aerospace testing applications. The dynamometers are capable of testing all types of small rotary devices, such as motors, pumps, generators and compressors. The Microdyne is a fully functional, four-quadrant dynamometer engineered specifically for low power applications. Versions are available in sizes from 100 watts to five kilowatts. SAKOR Technologies, Inc., 2855 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864.
Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering signed a main landing gear MRO agreement with Messier Services U.K. for four A321-231 aircraft. The deal goes through June.
Flying the Friendly Skies may be United Airlines' old motto, but it could be the mantra for environmental efforts going on throughout the aviation industry. Reducing noise and emissions are some of the skyward efforts, but making ground-based aftermarket operations more Earth friendly are growing, too.
Rolls-Royce won a $25 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the Navy Air Systems Command to exercise an option for logistics support, technical engineering support services, and spare engines and associated parts for the U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J AE2100D3 turboprop engine and R391 propeller. Work should be completed in November.
Southwest Airlines selected AAR Corp. to perform heavy maintenance and install winglets on some of its Boeing 737-300s. The work will be performed at AAR Aircraft Services -- Indianapolis. Under terms of the three-year deal, AAR will operate one nose-to-tail line of heavy checks starting in January 2007. The winglet installation will entail two lines, each operating for 16-18 months, also starting in January, AAR said.
Rockwell Collins received a contract to upgrade the Royal Thai Air Force's fleet of C-130s with an integrated commu- nications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management package. The avionics, part of Rockwell Collins' Flight2 avionics system, will be included in six RTAF C-130s. Rockwell Collins and TAI will install the avionics on the first two aircraft, and then TAI will install the remaining four.
DSM Somos announced the commercialization of NanoTool, the third generation of Somos ProtoComposite materials. DSM Somos is a leading developer of sterolithography (SL) resins for the rapid prototyping industry. NanoTool allows for faster processing and reduced finishing requirements, which quickens part production, because it is heavily filled with non-crystalline nanoparticles. According to the manufacturer, NanoTool has a flexural modulus of 10,500 MPa, a heat deflection temperature of 260 degrees C and linear shrinkage of less than 0.001 inch.
M7 Aerospace has introduced a new potable water system supplemental type certificate modification for Gulfstream III Model 1159A business jets. The STC replaces potable water systems originally installed on some GIII aircraft. The M7 STC replaces a bleed air pressurized water tank with a new, non-pressurized 20-gallon tank to provide hot and cold running potable water in the aircraft's galley and lavatory. New system provides water flow from an on-demand electric pump and includes a new water quantity indicating system.
ACE Aviation Holdings' ACTS plans to acquire 80 percent of Grupo TACA's maintenance division, Aeroman. The deal is scheduled to close during the first quarter.
The FAA and EASA recently issued important -- and much needed -- clarifications regarding human factors training requirements. The resulting clarity may surprise some, notably U.S. repair stations with EASA 145 certificates.
Honeywell added all RE100 series auxiliary power units to its e-Engine website troubleshooting service called SpotLight, which uses field service reports, maintenance manuals and troubleshooting experience to lead users to the most relevant answers based on their problem.
JetBlue awarded a new Airbus A320 heavy maintenance contract to Empire Aero Center based in Rome, N.Y. as that MRO waits for a decision by the new board of SR Technics regarding a Memorandum of Understanding it signed with SR Technics to take a 60 percent stake in Empire Aero. JetBlue plans to send 12 Airbus A320s to Empire this year for C checks. Air Canada Technical Services and TACA Aeroman also provide heavy maintenance services to JetBlue.
Five years ago FAA released the first substantial rewrite of repair station regulations since the early 1960s. That rewrite of Part 145 came after years of meetings, debate and controversy. Parts of the proposed rule change generated so much opposition that FAA opted for a two-pronged approach -- release the majority of the rewrite in a comprehensive rulemaking and issue a second part later to tackle some of the thornier issues.
EmpowerMX Consulting Services Group named Ric Anderson as a senior consultant. He will be responsible for aircraft maintenance program studies and training efforts. Anderson most recently was director of maintenance and materiel for the Air Transport Association.
ACROHELIPRO GLOBAL SERVICES USA, to install dual Rockwell Collins FDS 2000 flight displays, dual AHS 3000 attitude and heading on Sikorsky S-61 helicopters AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING CO., to install tail rotor hub assembly on MD Helicopter 369 models ARINC, to install avionics systems on a Raytheon Aircraft A200 AVIATION PARTNERS, to install winglets, associated changes in wing and aileron structures and related system changes on British Aerospace Model BAe125 Series 800A and 800B airplanes
