U.K. flight trials began in March of the enhanced BAE Systems Striker helmet-mounted display system in the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft. The full development trial sorties marked the first flights of a binocular, visor-projected, night-vision-capable helmet in a fighter aircraft. More trials are planned throughout 2005, when production-standard versions of the helmet also will fly, clearing the way for installation in the Typhoon Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 Eurofighters on order.
Because of Lean, engine MRO Standard Aero was able to more than double the workload on the T56 turboprop engine at its San Antonio, Texas, facilities, site of the former Kelly AFB, now Kelly USA. Turnaround time (TAT) for the T56, which powers the C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion, dropped to 30 days from around 100 as a result of employing Lean principles, giving the U.S. Air Force a backlog of mission-ready T56s.
Cessna Aircraft developed a uniform avionics cable assembly that can be used on CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 aircraft. Company said this is the first time it has used a standard avionics cable assembly for more than one Citation model. Cessna also announced that 1,000 Citation operators, or one-quarter of the fleet, use ProParts, the company's cost-of-operations program.
Welcome to our seventh annual O&M Guide to MRO Companies Worldwide. Our Guide features listings for companies that perform airframe work, engine overhaul, avionics repair, landing gear overhaul, work on other major systems and components, and completions and interior refurbishments. Within each of these six categories, the listings appear geographically and within each region, alphabetically.
Ametek Aerospace & Defense selected Kellstrom Commercial Aerospace as its European distributor. Kellstrom already distributes Ametek products in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
GE Honda Aero Engines finished component and engine core tests to validate several performance enhancements to the HF118 turbofan engine. The engine, which should provide 1,000 to 3,500 pounds of thrust, now features 8% less weight and provides 4% better fuel consumption. Time between overhaul is targeted at 5,000 hours. The joint venture hopes to certify the engine, which initially will produce 1,700 pounds of thrust, in 2008. No one has ordered the turbofan yet, but a company spokeswoman said, "We continue to talk to potential customers and airframers."
Alaska Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association jointly announced a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract for the airline's 700 aircraft technicians on June 16. Terms of the agreement were withheld pending a ratification vote by union members that is expected to begin by June 30.
AAC-American Aerospace Corp. 1301 Saratoga St., De Land, FL 32724 Phone: 386-785-0747; Fax: 386-785-0767 Equipment/Structures Serviced: Lighting; passenger service units Regulatory Approvals: FAA YOAR178X; JAA.4147 AAR Aircraft Services-Indianapolis Maintenance Center 2825 W. Perimeter Road, Indianapolis, IN 46241 Phone: 317-227-5030; Fax: 317-227-5104 AAR Aircraft Services-Oklahoma Will Rogers World Airport, 6611 S. Meridian Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73159-1104
Lufthansa Technik and Air France Industries are forming a 50/50 joint venture named Spairliners based in Hamburg with an operations center in Paris. In addition to component support for the 25 A380s ordered by Air France and Lufthansa, Spairliners will offer component support services to all A380 operators. Air France Industries' new component overhaul facility, E.O.L.E., based near Orly airport, together with Lufthansa Technik's component shop in Hamburg, will share A380 repairs evenly.
CIMx and TIP Technologies signed a strategic partnership to provide aviation and aerospace manufacturers with a comprehensive manufacturing execution systems solution, which can apply to repair and overhaul processes.
Binks offers a new one-quart stainless steel siphon feed cup and pressure assist cups for spray guns that are designed to provide more precise fluid pressure control and interchangeability of cups for reduced inventory levels. Chuck Scott, Binks marketing manager, said, "With the new cup line, we've added the benefits of more precise fluid pressure control and interchangeability of cups and cup parts.
Continental Airlines finished its first 6C maintenance check on a Boeing 737-800 on May 18 at its Orlando facility, which will do more 6C checks and will continue conducting 4C checks. Continental's Orlando facility also recently finished installing Aviation Partners' winglets on a second 737-700. The facility will install winglets on 36 -700s, each of which takes about 1,000 hours.
Boeing Wichita Development and Modification Center, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $216.7 million cost plus fixed-fee DOD contract to begin the system design and development (SDD) phase for the B-52H Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) program. This will enhance the B-52's in-theater combat communications capabilities for Network-Centric Operations (NCO) and allow the Air Force to transform the aircraft's mission within the integrated battlespace through both on- and off-board information integration.
SAGEM and SNECMA merged to form a new company called SAFRAN, which will have four branches: defense/security, aerospace equipment, propulsion and communications.
Investigators probing the in-flight loss of a rudder from an Air Transat Airbus A310-300 have discovered little that would explain why the flight-control surface tore away from the plane's tailfin without warning. But data analyzed thus far has allowed investigators to conclude that there are few similarities between this incident and two others in which rudders played a key role, including the November 2001 crash of American Airlines Flight 587.
Kitty Hawk Aircargo took delivery of its first Boeing 737-300SF converted to cargo configuration by Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Aviation Group. Kitty Hawk plans to lease seven 737-300SFs from GE Commercial Aviation Services.
Airbus predicts its fleet will double in size over the next 10 years to 2,000 aircraft, so MROs and suppliers should expect a heavy check bulge to come, according to John Dickie, vice president maintenance and engineering services, Airbus North America. "By 2007, 75% of maintenance on the Airbus fleet will be done not by the operator," he said.
Stevens Aviation plans to expand its Greenville-Spartanburg facility, including its maintenance operations, which could create 50 new maintenance jobs over the next several years.
3M Aerospace introduced new pre-formed polyurethane protective tapes to help decrease cycle time while inspecting main landing gear cylinders on Boeing MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft. Polyurethane Protective Boots SJ8667HS FP502 replace the labor-intensive removal and reapplication of the primer and paint topcoat during the FAA-mandated maintenance process, thereby returning aircraft to service more quickly.
Hawaiian Airlines is the launch customer for Sabre Airline Solutions' web-hosted Maintenix software from Mxi Technologies. Sabre eMergo web access will provide Hawaiian full visibility of its maintenance and materials information.
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