Aeromexico became part of Boeing's Component Service Program, which is a parts provisioning program. Aeromexico initially subscribed to cover two 777-200ERs.
Precision Conversions received a contract from Cygnus Air for a 757-200PCF freighter conversion. The aircraft, currently in passenger service with Audeli, will enter the conversion process in July.
Boeing is expanding its Boeing Converted Freighter program to include the 767-300. The company is in negotiations with a single overhaul center that specializes in passenger-to-freighter conversions. It expects to sign a deal by early summer. All Nippon Airways is the launch customer for the 767-300BCF program and is to take delivery of its first aircraft in fourth quarter 2007.
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority and an industry team has been working since last year on adapting the European Aviation Safety Agency maintenance regulations to suit the Australian maintenance rules. The joint industry/government team is drafting Notices of Proposed Rule Making for maintenance regulations based on the European counterparts; however keeping existing rules and conditions that are unique to Australia, such as the continent's general aviation industry.
Lufthansa Technik also is predicting significant growth in widebody C checks over the next five years, but the jump won't be as dramatic as with the heavier D checks. Number of C check events will grow 11 percent a year from 2006 through 2011, Meisel said. Narrowbody D checks are expected to grow a rate of 13 percent annually through 2011, and narrowbody C checks will grow at 7 percent a year. Meisel said LHT developed its forecast in conjunction with consulting firm AeroStrategy.
Vnukovo Invest and Lufthansa Technik signed a letter of intent to provide technical services to Western aircraft VIP and executive jet operators in Moscow.
AMECO Beijing received a five-year contract with an unnamed U.S. operator to repair and overhaul 10 RB211 engines that power the customer's 757 fleet. AMECO started the first engine in April.
AMECO Beijing will provide elementary surveillance and enhanced surveillance modifications for 22 Boeing 747-400s and 777s for Air China. The modifications will start in July and should be finished in March 2007.
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Alaska Airlines presented 13 employees with its Customer Service Legend Award, including four Seattle-based aircraft inspectors: Tada Yotsuuye and triplets Phil, Duane and Roger Bailey. In related news, Horizon Air received the FAA Diamond Award for the seventh consecutive year.
After 18 very exciting and rewarding years leading the Aviation Week Group and Overhaul & Maintenance, I will retire from The McGraw-Hill Companies at the end of 2006. When I was appointed to this position by Terry McGraw, the outgoing publisher of Aviation Week Group, and now chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies, I was awed by the legacy of the group. Yet, there wasn't a signature publication focusing on the maintenance, repair and overhaul industry.
Turbine Engine Service Group appointed Arthur Paine sales manager for Mexico, the Caribbean and south America. He previously sold PT6 services for Wood Group Turbopower.
New Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) measures for U.K. MoD's AgustaWestland EH101 helicopters will increase their availability to the Royal Navy and RAF, while saving around £1bn ($1.735 billion) in support costs during their 25-year application, said Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram. Announcing award of an initial £450 million ($780 million) five-year IMOS contract to AgustaWestland in Yeovil, as prime contractor, partnered with Lockheed Martin, Ingram said the MoD had hitherto operated discrete support systems for naval and RAF Merlins.
Air France Industries received a five-year contract from South African Technical for component support of its six A340-200s, along with a maintenance base kit.
Landmark Aviation announced that Ron Soret switched from vice president of quality to vice president of operations for its Associated Air Center business. Landmark also announced Harvey Ticlo was promoted to senior vice president of MRO operations at its facility in Los Angeles, and David Lamb will assume Ticlo's previous job as vice president and general manager of the facility.
Pemco Aviation promoted Randall Shealy to senior vice president and CFO to succeed John Lee, who has retired from the company. Shealy joined Pemco in December 2004 as vice president of finance. Pemco also named Chris Warden director of internal audit.
May 16-17 MRO Military Europe, Berlin Sept. 19-21 MRO Asia, Xiamen, China Oct. 24-26 MRO Europe, Amsterdam Nov. 13-15 A&D Programs, Phoenix Contacts Registration Info: Anita Joyce Wright, registration producer, 800-240-7645 in U.S. only or 212-904-6344; fax 212-904-3334
Japan Airlines signed up for Boeing's Integrated Material Management program, which makes Boeing responsible for purchasing, inventory management and logistics for JAL's expendable parts.
Not only is the sector heating up due to the shear number of engines coming due for overhaul, but Pratt & Whitney's precedent-setting announcement in February that it plans not only to make PMA parts for the CFM56-3, but that 19 of those parts will be of the heretofore un-PMA'd life-limited variety set the industry abuzz. "It's going to liven up the marketplace a little," joked David Stewart, co-founder of consulting firm AeroStrategy.
