As airlines transition to a new generation of software-driven aircraft while continuing to fly older models with outdated electronics, industry concern is rising that avionics issues are a growing source of AOG (aircraft on ground) situations.
As interior mods pick up, demand for aircraft exterior painting keeps pace. Many companies in the U.S., Europe and beyond want to expand their hangars to attract more paint work.
S-TEC Corp., reissued STC to install HeliSAS stability augmentation system and autopilot on Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 and AS-350B, B1, B2, B3, BA and D helicopters, STC SR02345LA
“If you stick to a reactive approach, you could miss opportunities.” Andy Clifton, Rolls-Royce's manager of sustainable development in design, was referring to integrating end-of-life aircraft planning into initial product design when he said these words at the Aviation Suppliers Association's conference in July. But these words apply to almost every aspect of the aftermarket.
LMI Aerospace named Ryan Bogan COO. Bogan comes to the position after assuming the role of CEO of LMI's wholly owned subsidiary D3 Technologies. Bogan will oversee the operations of LMI's aerostructures and engineering services segments.
Composite structures have been around for decades, but the last few years have seen explosive growth in their use and development. Forthcoming jets like the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 boast that at least half their airframes are constructed from these advanced materials, compared to with just 11% on the Boeing 777 or, to go way back, just 1% on the early 747-100. Composites have taken a foothold in large, primary structural areas—for instance, the Learjet 85 will have both its fuselage and wing built primarily from carbon composites, the first business jet to do so.
The International Bureau of Aviation (IBA) has named James Uniacke as head of asset management to grow its portfolio of managed aircraft. Uniacke joins IBA after 23 years in the aerospace industry working with companies such as Focus Aviation, BAe Systems and Short Brothers.
A recently proposed federal regulation may ease the export process for aircraft parts. A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) released July 15 aims to shift thousands of parts from the restrictive U.S. Munitions List (USML) managed by the State Department to the Commerce Control List (CCL) managed by the Commerce Department.
Ethiopian Airlines has gone live with Mxi Technologies' Maintenix software for its Bombardier Q400 and Boeing 777-200LR fleets. It is working on rolling out the software across the remainder of its fleet.
The Universal Avionics dual UNS-1Fw Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) flight management system is installed in the DC-9 for primary navigation and LPV capabilities. The global positioning system WAAS/satellite-based augmentation (SBAS) subsystem provides navigation and is certified to FAA's Technical Standard Order-C146c, Class Gamma 3. It also meets operational approvals for minimum performance specifications for navigation in the North Atlantic Track airspace.
Marilake Aerosystems, the U.K.-based avionics and instrument repair company, has appointed James Wilson as business development manager. Wilson comes to Marilake after serving in a sales and business development role at Beagle Aerospace.
Are British Airways Engineering and Iberia pursuing any component contracts together, like you did for Thomas Cook Airlines? Are you going after all types of operators that have a joint fleet?
EmpowerMX signed a software-as-a-service licensing agreement with NS Aviation for the FleetCycle Execution Suite-MRO Manager product. NS Aviation offers maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft.
More than 250 aircraft have been painted with Mankiewicz Coatings' basecoat/clearcoat system, which is OEM-approved Airbus, ATR and BAe and undergoing the certification process for Bombardier, SAAB and Embrear models. The system also is approved by Boeing for all aircraft coming in for maintenance and overhauls. The dry-to-tape time for the basecoat/clearcoat product is two hours, which reduces painting time on most liveries by one to two days when compared with high solids technology. www.mankiewicz.com
American Airlines is becoming the first carrier to install automatic identification technology (AIT) on civilian aircraft by attaching contact memory buttons on replaceable structural components, such as doors, stabilizers, rudders and elevators. Doing this will allows the carrier to more efficiently monitor the components' individual history because the high memory capacity buttons, about the size of a dime, automate data collection, which can save labor costs and improve data accuracy.
American Fuel Cells and Coated Fabrics Co., amended STC to install an Amfuel internal auxiliary fuel system completion kit on Sikorsky S-92A helicopters, STC SR02298LA Ancra International Corp.
AAR officially opened its Miami wheel and brake services facility in August. It will offer commercial, military and regional aviation customers with wheel and brake repair, rebuilding and inspection for all major aircraft types. “We've grown our wheel and brake services business from fewer than ten employees only a year ago to 30 employees today,” says Pastor Lopez, GM of AAR Landing Gear Services.
Aero Dynamix, amended STC to install night vision goggle compatible lighting system on Bell 407 and Eurocopter France AS-350B2 and BA helicopters, STCs SR09350RC and SR09335RC
Turkish Technik signed a five-year, total APU support agreement with SunExpress Deutschland for its fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The contract includes spare APU support, repair and overhaul and field service. The maintenance will be done at Turkish Technic's Istanbul maintenance facility. SunExpress Deutschland started operations in June with three Boeing 737-800s and plans to receive three more in 2011.
The European Commission's ambitious aviation occurrence data compilation effort is beginning to bear fruit in both the amount of information being collected and the quality of the reports. EASA's recently issued 2010 Annual Safety Review included an update on the program, known as the European Central Repository for occurrences (ECR).
Aero Dynamix, amended STC to install night vision goggle compatible lighting system on Bell 407 and Eurocopter France AS-350B2 and BA helicopters, STCs SR09350RC and SR09335RC
