Universal Avionics' received TSO C129a, Class B1/C1 and FAA approval for its GLS-1250 GPS landing sensor system. The GLS-1250 when interfaced with Universal Avionics' flight management systems receives GPS differential corrections from SCAT 1 ground stations and provides Special Category 1 precision approach capabilities.
MyBoeingFleet.com is best known for its encyclopedic content related to all things Boeing, and the five-year-old portal is doing nothing but enhancing its reputation. "We're always adding new manuals," said Elizabeth Underhill, Boeing's senior analyst for maintenance documents. In addition to all manuals for Boeing jet aircraft and components, it includes any component maintenance manuals from third-party vendors that Boeing can get its hands on.
TriskAero developed an infrared curing system that is designed to reduce the processing time for curing paint, composites and structural sealant; decrease the time for bonding adhesives; and shorten the time to remove moisture and decals. TriskAero said the system reduced the time to complete a standard paint scheme cure from about eight days to less than four hours, as well as make the paint resistant to chemicals. The system uses short-wave infrared to quickly heat the substrate beneath the coatings and sealants.
Four years ago Italy's Aeronavali took a deep breath and decided to place the biggest bet in the company's history: a $120 million investment that would link it inextricably with Boeing as the world's sole cargo conversion shop for 767 airliners and as a partner in the aircraft's future as a tanker.
Rolls-Royce announced that the number of its civil engines in service will increase by 40% over the next five years, with half the fleet being managed through the company's long-term service agreements.
Goodrich will provide additional C-5 landing gear spares to the U.S. Air Force. The $22.8 million contract is in addition to ones awarded in 2003 and 2004.
International Airlines Technical Pool's Management Committee announced the positions of four recently elected delegates: Yoshirhiro Yawata of ANA, facilities/finance coordinator; Carson Benner of Evergreen International Airlines, custodian and EDP doordinator; Giorgio Pietra of Alitalia, project coordinator; and Edyta Michalak of LOT Polish Airlines, legal adviser and standby member. The appointments will be effective Nov. 1.
THE ARINC LOGISTICS ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT (ALARM) SYSTEM is designed to predict when electronic parts and components may become obsolete. ALARM should identify high-risk components, suggest alternatives and help engineers determine a cost-effective design solution. ALARM can assign obsolescence risk ratings to all types of parts, including avionics and hydro-mechanical ones.
Turkish Airlines and Singapore Technologies Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to be equal partners in establishing a maintenance repair and overhaul facility at Kurtkoy Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. The new MRO center will perform commercial aircraft maintenance and modifications, engine and component maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as integrated component support for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The two companies plan to complete a feasibility study within a year.
Max Moutoussamy is an interpreter of sorts, a maintenance middleman who helps airline pilots understand what engineers know -- the tradeoffs between engine performance and cost containment. With oil topping $60 a barrel and maintenance costs the bane of budget-cinching airlines, he's a popular guy with airline management at the moment.
Selex Sensors, Finmeccanica's Airborne Systems and Thales UK formed Avionics Alliance, a group that will provide avionics support to Westland Helicopters, which is the prime contractor for the Sea King Integrated Operational Support (SKIOS) program. The SKIOS program provides the U.K. Ministry of Defense integrated support and maintenance program for supporting Sea King helicopters.
Zodiac's IN-SNEC released its UMA2000 data acquisition system for military and civilian aircraft. The UMA2000 is a smaller version of the original design delivered to Airbus for its A380 flight tests. It is designed to include better network capabilities, hold acquisition boards, and be available in different chassis sizes that can be connected. The UMA2000 uses a high-speed internal backplane bus that allows it to acquire big chunks of data. It also can be installed on a wide range of acquisition boards to help simplify the instrumentation on an aircraft.
Sagem Defense Security (SDS), a branch of the Safran Group, and Thales are joining forces to propose complete upgrade solutions for Dassault combat aircraft, excluding current Mirage 2000 and Rafale series. Thales will provide expertise for onboard radars, electronic warfare, communications and laser-designation pods. SDS will add its know-how in navigation and mission planning systems, computers, software and integration, plus new-generation weapons deployment.
Aeronavali delivered its first modified MD-11 combi aircraft to Alitalia Cargo. This was Aeronavali's first of five full-freighter aircraft modifications to be delivered to Alitalia Cargo by the end of the year.
In June, BAE Systems announced first flight-tests of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook Digital Advanced Flight-Control System (DAFCS), just over a year after contract award, representing a significant advance in this major upgrade program. The DAFCS replaces a legacy flight-control system in CH-47D helicopters, as Boeing upgrades 300 of those to F-model standards under a U.S. Army contract.
COVER STORY: Partnership Prowess Bringing Holism to Military Maintenance Finding the right readiness at the right price. Business & Operations 27 Composite Erosion Control: Is it Possible? Commercial and military operators and MROs tackle erosion but admit there's the unknown factor for future materials' reparability. 31 Landing Gear Overhauls With a wave of landing gear coming due for overhaul, operators and MROs explore cost-cutting options.
ARINC Engineering Services selected Rockwell Collins to provide Pro Line 21 avionics systems to upgrade the U.S. Navy's fleet of 55 T-44A aircraft over four years. L3 Communications is the prime contractor and ARINC is the purchasing and installation agency.
Air China selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 to power its fleet of 20 Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft. The total value of the contract, including a long-term TotalCare services agreement for the engines, is $800 million.
From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 12 Nobert Lohl, European Aviation Safety Agency Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 15 Human Factors 18 Calendar 53 O&Marketplace 54 Advertiser Index 59 At Presstime 60 Use AVIATIONNOW.COM for the latest aviation news.
Bauer's Model 6057 aircraft brake assembly test stand is designed to provide accurate testing of aircraft brake assemblies. The stainless steel stand features a modular design consisting of a pump and control section and a test sink section that can be sized to accommodate a single brake assembly or multiple ones at the same time. All controls are designed to withstand Skydrol. Bauer, Attn: Lou Auletta, 175 Century Dr., Bristol, CT 06010
Russian RSK MiG engineers and technicians recently started upgrading a dozen of the air force's 18 MiG-29 combat aircraft, from an estimated $72 million government contract placed last November, in Slovakia. Few details have been revealed of the proposed enhancements, which apart from structural airframe and engine life-extensions, appear to be based on the MiG-29SMT's digital avionics mission systems, with numerous components from western sources to achieve NATO-interoperability standards.
General Electric Aircraft Engines received a $33.9 million U.S. Navy contract for 36 line items used on engines that power CH-46D and -46E, H-3, F/A-18, H-1, H-60, H-53, S-3 and A-10 aircraft.
