Pratt & Whitney WSK PZL-Rzeszow now has the capability to assemble and test F100-PW-229 engines, which are installed in the Polish Air Force's 36 new advanced Block 52+ F-16C and 12 F-16D multi-role combat aircraft. A recent inauguration ceremony at the Rzeszow facility was attended by Polish national and local government leaders, U.S. government, Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed Martin representatives, and WSK PZL-Rzeszow employees who have contributed to development and implementation of this new capability.
Finmeccanica's Alenia Aermacchi in July signed a contract with the Defense Ministry in Lagos for maintenance and avionics upgrades in 12 MB-339A advanced trainers, operated by the Nigerian Air Force since the mid-1980s. The $84 million contract also includes refurbishing the aircraft, supplying spares, providing technical assistance and training pilots and ground crew.
ST Aerospace Systems signed a five-year agreement with Hamilton Sundstrand to supply maintenance for Hamilton Sundstrand's component spare parts to operators of the Airbus A300, A310, A320 and Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, DC-9, DC-10, MD-11 and Fokker 50 worldwide. The parts include integrated drive generators/constant speed drives, pneumatic valves, air starters, air cycle machines and generators.
SIA Engineering is setting up a joint venture with Indian conglomerate Wadia Group to offer line maintenance for narrowbody and widebody planes at eight major airports in the country. Wadia also owns Indian low-cost carrier GoAir. SIA plans to take a 51 percent stake in the company, with Wadia holding the remaining 49 percent. The companies also said they're interested in offering airframe maintenance and training in the future.
Eurocopter and Gazpromavia signed a maintenance center agreement to provide MRO services for Eurocopter helicopters in Russia. The center will be based on the Ostafievo airport near Moscow.
August 06 9-11 Terrapinn: Asia Pacific Aviation Summit 2006; Brisbane, Australia. Contact: Sean Willis, Terrapinn; +44-2070-921254; Fax: +44-2072-424303 September 06 2-4 CIAS: Canadian Intl. Air Show; Toronto, ON, Canada. Contact: CIAS; 416-263-3650; Fax: 416-263-3838 6-7 FAA/ATA: 18th Annual International Symposium on Human Factors in Maintenance and Ramp Operations; Orlando, Fla. Contact Sherri Brooks, Creative Conference Solutions; 724-601-4646, fax: 724-869-1802; web www.airlines.org
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued two proposed airworthiness directives for Rolls-Royce Trent RB211 engines in early July because the manufacturer reviewed its flight profile monitoring methodology, which originally was based on engine thrust ratings and is now based on standard duty cycles. The new methodology allows for five profiles instead of the previous three. A sixth profile, called "heavy," also was introduced, but life is accrued on flight cycles against a life limit independent of that for the multiple-flight profile, standard duty cycles.
As a result of mission experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, new armor protection against small arms ground fire is being installed in six U.S. Air Force Special Operations Sikorsky MH-53J Pave Low helicopters. The new armor replaces the original protective ballistic blankets. Last year, Pave Low crews discovered they were vulnerable to small arms ground fire. The helicopters' age and contamination from fuel and hydraulic fluid had reduced the blankets' effectiveness in ballistic protection.
The worldwide landing gear MRO market is expected to nearly double over the next 10 years, as the time between overhauls (TBOs) is running out on the huge fleets of aircraft purchased during the buying spree of the mid-to-late 1990s, according to AeroStrategy.
Airbus and Russia's Irkut/ MiG are exploring whether to jointly convert passenger A320s into cargo configuration. For Irkut, the work means moving from parts supply to aircraft conversion. It also may mean new maintenance business once the converted aircraft are deployed. (Irkut currently does not perform any Airbus maintenance.) For Airbus and parent EADS, the deal with Irkut could pave an economical way to a bigger piece of a market that's growing significantly faster than the passenger jet business.
SAS Component plans to close its operations in Stavanger, Norway in the third quarter following the decision to close SAS Technical Services' base nearby. The closure affects 98 staff, who will have the option to transfer to other locations.
AERO Vodochody received a Defense Ministry contract for a capabilities growth potential study for Czech Air Force (CzAF) L-159 advanced trainers. The new study will examine ways of further developing the L-159's combat potential and expand its compatibility with NATO operational systems, said Zdenek Stuchlik, AERO vice-chairman.
Air France Industries said Christian Tallec took over from Fouad Attar as vice president marketing and sales. He will be in charge of defining marketing strategy and developing engineering and maintenance sales in coordination with KLM Engineering & Maintenance. Tallec, who has spent his entire career with Air France, previously was operations control center manager for four years.
DALLAS -- The continued growth and consolidation of North American regional airlines, pressure from major airlines to trim costs, and the advancing age of first-generation regional jets have provided additional revenue producing opportunities for MROs, manufacturers and regional airlines. Although yields from working on regional airframes, engines and components may pale in comparison to money derived from servicing larger airliners, there are signs that this market segment shows potential.
BUDAPEST -- Low cost carriers are the stated prime target of most MROs, so it's no surprise that Lufthansa Technik recently expanded its agreement with Wizz Air to provide component and maintenance support for the airline's growing fleet of Airbus A320s. The contract covers all of the airline's aircraft for the next five years, not only for component support, but also access to a component pool, a home base kit and support for wheels and brakes. Wizz Air will have a fleet of 13 A320s by July and expects to have at least 24 more in service by 2010.
TNT, the Liège, Belgium-based package delivery company with an expanding network, agrees with Airbus that cargo is a better business bet than passengers. "It is a much more solid section of the air industry," said Niky Terzakis, managing director of TNT Airways. And, he said, "We believe having a strong cargo market makes the airplanes hold their value." Terzakis also likes the idea of an A320 freighter. "It's certainly an aircraft that looks quite interesting to us," he said. "We're still missing an aircraft around the size of the A320 and A321."
Alteon is looking at ways to speed up maintenance training. Pat Gaines, the company's president, told O&M that Alteon is investing in new technologies that should impact the learning curve and hopefully reduce the amount of required hands-on training.
Federal Aviation Administration awarded Norman Garren, Landmark Aviation's director of maintenance for its Part 135 certificate, its Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. He started his career in 1956 at A&H Flying Services and his been an employee of Landmark or its predecessors since 1974.
Five Royal Norwegian Air Force Lockheed C-130H transports started undergoing major maintenance and upgrades. SPAR Aerospace, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, received a $41.3 million contract for the work in June. This includes replacing outer mainplanes with wings refurbished by SPAR; conducting an S-4 inspection; and performing any extra required maintenance work. The first two aircraft were due to arrive at L-3 SPAR's Edmonton, Canada facilities in late June, with the final aircraft being inducted in January 2007.
AAR's MRO segment logged the greatest sales jump year-over-year of 63 percent from about $112 million to $182 million. Structures and systems had the second highest growth in sales for AAR's fiscal 2006, growing 20 percent to $240 million from about $201 million.
Dassault Systèmes released Version 2.3 of ABAQUS for CATIA V5. The new version is designed to improve the deployment of analysis workflows and advanced simulation technology across an organization.
On June 28, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible estimated $1.3 billion Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan of 60 F-16A/B mid-life update (MLU) modification and Falcon Star structural service-life enhancement kits, plus associated equipment and services.
Yingling Aviation finished its first RVSM-compliant modification of a Cessna Conquest SII, equipped with a Sperry 1000 integrated flight control system. AeroMech and Corporate Aircraft developed the STC, and Yingling modified the aircraft.
All Nippon Airways decided on July 12 to sell six Boeing 747-400s to Avion Aircraft Trading of Iceland. ANA will sell two aircraft in 2007, two in 2008 and two in 2009. The sales are part of ANA's strategy to operate more efficient aircraft, including the 737-700 and 787.
ABoeing 737-301SF on approach to Nottingham East Midlands Airport sustained heavy damage when its autopilot malfunctioned briefly, forcing the aircraft into a hard landing off the runway. The cargo flight, which departed Liège Airport in Belgium headed for London Stansted Airport on June 15,chose Nottingham as an alternative because weather had deteriorated below the minimum required to make an ap-proach.
