L-3 Communications' Canadian MAS (L-3 MAS) subsidiary received a CAD39 million (USD34 million) subcontract by Boeing in February for the second phase upgrade of 78 CF-18A/B Hornets for Canada's Department of National Defense. The two-phase eight-year modernization project, started in April 2001, will confer full interoperability to the CF-18s with key allies and extend their operating lives through 2017.
Air France Industries should be able to conduct 40 GE90 engine overhauls per year by 2007 at its Orly facility. It plans to complete an additional engine disassembly line there this quarter.
COVER STORY: Cost Cutting Beyond Labor? Companies can't cut their way to prosperity, but nipping non-aviation aspects of the business can improve business in myriad ways. Departments From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 14 Jean-Lin Fournereaux, Snecma Services Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 19 Human Factors 22 International Safety & Regulatory Briefs 23 Calendar 53 O&Marketplace 54
Aegean Airlines extended its contract with Snecma Services (Safran Group) for MRO services and inflight performance analysis of its CFM56-3 engines for two years, until 2009. The original contract, signed in March 2004, now includes an exclusive time and material agreement.
April 5-6 U.S. Defense Budget & Programs, Alexandra, Va. April 25-27 MRO Conference & Exhibition, Phoenix April 25-26 MRO Military Conference & Exhibition, Phoenix 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 the U.S. or 212-904-6344; fax 212-904-3334
NEW DELHI, INDIA -- The Indian Air Force is seeking international cooperation to improve its safety performance. "We have embarked on a process of signing memorandums of understanding with other air forces operating similar type of aircraft and equipment,'' said Chief of Air Staff S. P. Tyagi. While the rate of crashes during 2005 declined to 0.42 accidents from 0.86 per 10,000 flying hours during 1999 to 2003, the scope for improvement is vast, said India's Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its final report on a hydraulic system failure onboard a de Havilland Canada DHC-8-102 operating scheduled passenger service. The September 2003 incident occurred after the crew reached cruising altitude and received a failure notice and experienced rapid loss of the number-two hydraulic system. The crew manually extended the landing gear and returned to Brisbane. An investigation revealed the hydraulic fluid leaked through a large fracture in the body of the left outboard roll-spoiler servo-actuator.
Rolls-Royce signed an extended TotalCare service agreement with American Eagle Airlines for its AE 3007 engines that power the carrier's 207 Embraer ERJ aircraft. The deal now includes on-site engineering services, dubbed Engineering Care, which Rolls-Royce developed with the airline as part of a 20-month pilot program.
Boeing plans to build three hangars at the Oklahoma MRO Technology Center across from Tinker Air Force Base that will be used to upgrade the U.S. Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft fleet.
O&M's February issue, pg. 15, in the discussion of the engineering and maintenance review with David Cox, executive general manager of Qantas Engineering, should have quoted Cox as saying, "It is still under review. We have not formed a decision and when we have, we will consult with our people. Until then I can't talk about it."
Raytheon Aircraft Services hired Mike Fleming as service manager for its Van Nuys, Calif., facility. He previously was a service manager at Garrett Aviation. Raytheon also named Patrick Gentile as a regional sales manager for the Midwest. He most recently was a sales manager for CAE SimuFlite.
Duncan Aviation promoted Shawn Busby to project manager and Dale Hawkins to airframe service sales representative at its Battle Creek, Mich., facility. That facility also hired Benjamin "Skip" Thorp as a technical representative. He most recently was maintenance coordinator for Jet Aviation Business Jets. Lastly, Duncan Aviation named Keith Kobza its rapid response team leader for the New York area. He recently was TFE731 team leader for Garrett Aviation's Long Island facility.
Whacking wayward costs and slashing surplus has been the cause du jour for the industry. But how many aviation companies, especially MROs, focus on the non-aviation aspects of the business?
Jet Source will complete four American Eurocopter AS350B-3 helicopters for the San Diego Police Department. Jet Source plans to finish the $2 million contract this year.
L-3 Communications acquired TCS Design and Management Services, which will be renamed L-3 TCS. The business based at Warner Robbins, Ga., specializes in fixed- and rotary wing aircraft and avionics systems engineering services.
Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland and the Libyan Company for Aviation Industry (LCAI) agreed to form a joint-venture Libyan Italian Advanced Technology Co. (LIATEC) to provide the basis of a new national aeronautical complex. With headquarters in Tripoli, LIATEC will be 50 percent owned by the LCAI, with Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland holding 25 percent each. The two Italian partners will provide know-how, training, technology and equipment, while the Libyan shareholder will mainly invest in infrastructure, plant and local marketing activities.
LONDON -- The Commons Defense Committee criticized a Ministry of Defense plan to transfer aircraft maintenance. The MoD previously reported moves to transfer technical support for RAF BAE Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 fast-jets from its Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) to RAF main operating bases, while moving service helicopter support to DARA Fleetlands, Hampshire.
SAS Technical Services at Arlanda is installing Contour flatbeds in seven Airbus A340, which should be finished by March 31, and in four Airbus 330 between October and December.
MYTRAVEL U.K. has taken full ownership of its maintenance hangar at Manchester Airport, formerly run by MyTravel Engineering, a joint venture with FLS Aerospace (now SR Technics U.K.). The facility is now operated by MyTravel Aircraft Engineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of MyTravel Airways.
