Aircraft Technical Development dba Aerocon Engineering Co., reissued STC to install a cabin interior noise reduction kit on Boeing 767-200 and 300 series aircraft, STC ST02020LA
Alaska Air Group has announced several leadership changes at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Yvonne Daverin has been elected VP of maintenance and engineering at Horizon after serving as managing director of airframe, engine and component maintenance at Alaska Airlines. Ann Ardizzone has been elected VP of strategic sourcing and supply chain management for the group after previously serving as Alaska Airlines' VP of inflight services.
As airlines continue to strive for increased efficiencies, any prospect involving a requirement for fewer resources is welcomed. This applies to a move being considered by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to change EASA Part M Subpart G continuing airworthiness management organization (CAMO) requirements to allow commercial aircraft operators to outsource their Part M CAMO functions. This new initiative would enable AOC holders to contract approved CAMOs, such as Boeing, to manage the continued airworthiness of their fleets.
Aircraft Technical Development dba Aerocon Engineering Co., reissued STC to install a cabin interior noise reduction kit on Boeing 767-200 and 300 series aircraft, STC ST02020LA
New Systems, amended STC to install dual Universal Avionics flight management systems with GPS on Bombardier DHC-800-100, 200 and 300 series aircraft, STC ST10977SC
Fipart is an independent locator service that enables airlines, manufacturers, service providers, MROs and distributors to buy and sell aircraft parts. It lists 26.5 million parts and 11,400 companies that are using its platform. Users can evaluate one another based on their experience buying and selling parts, providing information for a quality rating database. Customers can refine their searches based on the condition of the parts, distance, company type, industrial sector and aircraft model.
A life raft or oxygen tank is usually stowed away out of passengers' sight, but the flying public has a knack for finding these items and keeping them as souvenirs. While the cost of these devices is low, their removal is problematic for the airline in that the aircraft may no longer comply with FAA safety regulations, which require aircraft to have enough flotation devices on board for all passengers. If these devices or other safety equipment is missing, the airline risks a fine or could be prevented from taking off.
Aftermarket consolidation continues in fits and starts, with some acceleration in 2011 as maintenance, repair and overhaul providers seek, in part, to get bigger to achieve the benefits of size, which include the availability of capital and technical expertise. Buy it's not just about size. Maximum efficiency comes from combining the right type of MRO assets to enable more complete packages to airlines, particularly offers that hold down inventory costs. Acquiring firms therefore look for assets that complement their current business.
AeroStar, a new FAA Part 145 repair company, has opened a facility in Mobile, Ala. near Mobile Downtown Airport. It specializes in repair and overhaul for hydraulics and pneumatic components for commercial airlines, OEMs and the military. It received its Part 145 certification from the FAA on July 13. AeroStar will repair parts for Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Airbus and regional aircraft. It is an affiliate of Star Aviation.
AFI-KLM E&M has appointed Amar Chouaki to VP regional sales, southern Europe. He comes to the role after joining the Air France KLM group in 2001 and serving in several positions within the cabin modifications business unit.
Enhance Aero opened a new site in Trieste, Italy to accompany its existing facilities the Clermont-Ferrand and Le Castellet airports in France. The 11,500 sq.-ft. facility opened on May 30, and will allow Enhance Aero to develop a new training center. Enhance Aero also announced that it has formed a new company, Enhance Aero Logistics. The new venture has started operating a logistics center near Paris Charles De Gaulle airport with 24-hour access.
Timco, amended STCs to reconfigure the interior of Boeing 767-300 series aircraft and install wiring and provisions for a Panasonic global communications suite on Boeing 737-700 series aircraft, STCs ST03706AT-D and ST03809AT-D
Inflight Warning Systems, issued STC to install inflight warning systems fan vibration motor unit on various Airbus A318 and A319 aircraft, STC SA02356LA
AAR appointed Andrew J. Schmidt as senior VP, supply chain, AAR Allen Asset Management. His duties will involve providing strategy, business planning and operational leadership for the division. This position adds to Schmidt's 25-year aviation career, which has included leadership positions at Oliver Wyman, Macquaire Capital and Taurus Aerospace. Matt Eaton has also joined AAR as VP of sales and marketing for its MRO segment.
Composites, with their greater durability and corrosion resistance, are anticipated to significantly lower maintenance costs over the life of the airplanes on which they are used in large percentages. For instance, a 2006 Boeing AERO magazine article claimed that the new 787-8 will have “30% lower airframe maintenance costs than any comparable product and will be available for revenue service more often than any other commercial airplane.”
Blue1, the young business travel operator, characterizes itself as a “challenger airline,” and when it wanted to differentiate each aircraft's exterior to mirror the Finnish landscape, it was a challenge. To initiate its new design concept called “flowing,” it asked paint and coatings manufacturer Mankiewicz and AAR Corp.'s Miami maintenance facility for help.
The Innovative Solutions & Support air data module is a self-sensing, RVSM-compliant digital air data computer that replaces the duplex altimeter system on the DC-9. It has an altitude range of 1,000-53,000 ft., an airspeed range of 40 to 400 knots and a barometer setting range of 22.00 to 31.00 in. of mercury. Aeronautical Radio, Inc.'s standard ARINC-429 messages and the air data module show when a fault has occurred, and the test input sets the outputs to predetermined test values.
Interational Air Response, issued STC to install a removable 3,000-gal.chemical tank and release door system on a U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service C-130A operated under the restricted category for the special purposes of forest and wild life conservation, STC ST02348LA
Lufthansa Technik Group shuffled several top executive positions: Burkhard Andrich, senior VP engine services, will become senior VP aircraft component services; he will be succeeded by Johannes Bussmann, currently senior VP-aircraft component services; Stephan Drewes, VP engine overhaul at Hamburg, will become CEO of LT Malta, replacing Aloysius Giordimaina, who will retire but continue in Malta as a member of the supervisory board; Drewes' former role will be assumed by Bernhard Krueger-Sprengel, currently CEO of LT Philippines, where he will be succeeded by Gerald Friel
Avio-Diepen and plastics manufacturer Boltaron have signed distribution agreement to support airline and OEM customers with PVC and polycarbonate plastic sheets. The sheets will be available in various colors, textures, thicknesses and fire ratings.
Chromalloy has appointed Will Zmyndak director of operations at the company's Orangeburg, N.Y. advanced coatings and gas turbine repair facility. Zmyndak comes to the company after serving as VP aftermarket operations for Barnes Aerospace Aftermarket.