Boeing added Ethiopian Airlines as the 13th customer for its 777 Component Services Program, a parts-provisioning service offered by Boeing and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance designed to reduce airlines' upfront investment in inventory. For Ethiopian Airlines, the program initially will support three Boeing 777-200LR aircraft delivered since November 2010; the airline expects to receive two more aircraft of the type this year, one in late April and another sometime in the third quarter.
Standard 1926.502 of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations for Construction (part 1926, subpart M) contains specific guidelines for lifeline systems, including the requirement that fall protection must be provided to an employee working more than 6 ft. off the ground. OSHA Standard for Occupational Safety and Health Standards (part 2010) also covers fall systems and personal protective equipment such as harnesses.
The Persimmon Group appointed Ray H. (Tray) Siegfried director, aerospace services. Siegfried joins the Oklahoma-based business management consulting firm from The Nordam Group, the Siegfried family business, which he most recently served as vice chairman of the board.
Baines Simmons-Americas acquired Great Circle Consulting, an Atlanta-based company focused on flight operations risk management, flight crew safety training and advanced qualification program development. Great Circle Consulting now does business as Baines Simmons-Americas, and Chris Hallman, Great Circle Consulting's founder and president, joined Jerry Allen as a Baines Simmons-Americas director and partner. Great Circle Consulting's clients include American Airlines, Air Astana and FAA Flight Inspection.
Lufthansa Technik Philippines completed a heavy maintenance IL check on an Asiana Airlines Airbus A320 aircraft and a heavy maintenance D1 check and cabin retrofit (a reconfiguration that added lie-flat seats in business and reduced the number of the economy seats) on a Swiss International Airlines Airbus A340-300 in March. Asiana also uses LTP line maintenance services. The work for Swiss marked the first time the Lufthansa Group airline sent maintenance work to the Philippines.
EADS in late March completed the acquisition of Canadian helicopter repair company Vector Aerospace. Vector will become part of Eurocopter, which has a mandate to increase its services activity. EADS says the deal for Vector Aerospace values the business at C$625 million ($641 million), or a 15% premium over the March 25 closing price. The price already had increased on takeover rumors and represents an 80% premium above the Dec. 2 price, when Vector Aerospace said it would consider a sale.
As airlines continue to pressure airframe and component OEMs to lighten up designs for greater fuel savings, more attention focuses on brakes. And brake suppliers have been listening. Right now, electrically actuated braking is the state-of-the-art example. The Boeing 787 will be its first commercial aircraft application, upon that aircraft’s certification.
Abaris Training instructs more than 1,000 students a year at its three facilities in Reno, Nev.; Griffen, Ga. and London. Abaris offers a three-phase introduction to composites called Advanced Composite Structures, as well as advanced classes in structural engineering, stress analysis methods, drawing, tooling and bonded aluminum structures. Abaris also offers an introductory composites course online. www.abaris.com
Pratt & Whitney has long touted the technological step-change its geared turbofan engine, which will first enter the market as the PurePower PW1000G on the Bombardier CSeries, will bring with it. The engine maker now has set its strategy to support the new engine family and plans to launch its PureSolution program on April 12 at Aviation Week’s MRO Conference & Exhibition.
International Communications Group’s NxtLink ICS-400 completed Iridium-compatible equipment certification testing and now is approved for operation on the Iridium constellation and network. Parts/Components
ABU DHABI—In 2009, both the passenger and air cargo sectors were hit hard as consumer spending fell to record lows. The financial consequences resulted in a permanent loss of 2.5 years of growth in passenger business and 3.5 years of growth in air cargo. By renewing fleets and deferring maintenance, airlines have tried to mitigate the downward effects the crisis generated, according to the recently issued International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airline Maintenance Cost Report.
SR Technics extended its 10-year agreement with the Airberlin group with financing services and an engine contract that covers more than 300 engines. These include CFM International CFM56-7Bs, CFM56-5Bs and Pratt & Whitney PW4168s. It also includes financing for life limited parts and spare engines via SR Technics’ sister company Sanad Aero Solutions. Avionics/IFE
The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Composites and Advanced Materials laboratory at Wichita State University in Kansas is a 7,420-ft. facility that offers researchers the ability to perform comprehensive materials testing. The composites laboratory has a lay-up room and equipment for bonded repairs, and researchers can test heat and humidity on materials in the structures and fatigue laboratory. NIAR offers classes with universities through the FAA Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials. www.niar.wichita.edu/
“Do More With Less”—that was the theme for a recent change management program at VAS Aero Services, formerly Volvo Aero Services. The economic challenges we all faced in 2009 provided the platform for VAS to focus on operational efficiencies. Our global customer base demanded solutions and encouraged partnerships that provided multiple value streams, along with discounted aftermarket material. The rules of engagement were changed and we set a course that answered the request of our customers and the market.
A J Walter Aviation decided to locate its new aircraft engine services division in Wales. It says it is targeting $50 million in business in the first year of the facility’s operations.
Apple just released its iPad 2 last month, and the aerospace industry is definitely taking notice of the tablet’s seemingly limitless applications, from the hangar floor to aircraft cabins and cockpits. The FAA has recently approved the use of iPads as electronic flight bags (EFB), which contain important aeronautical charts and manuals, for pilots. Because EFBs can cost thousands of dollars on the market today, many airlines find that the iPad presents a simple, flexible and economical alternative.
AFI KLM E&M was contracted by Philippine Airlines for long-term engine maintenance of the GE90 engines that power its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The contract covers on-site and on-wing maintenance, shop visits, component support, spare engines and engineering support. PAL has used AFI KLM E&M for GE CF6-80E engine maintenance work.
Avic Electromechanical Systems and Hamilton Sundstrand plan to begin developing a facility in Xian, western China, in June, following the formation of a joint company on March 3. The partnership will supply the electrical system for the Comac C919 airliner and also support programs outside of China. All foreign suppliers to the C919 program are required to work in China; most have chosen to do so with Chinese partners, usually subsidiaries of Avic. Avic Electromechanical is one of two aircraft system subsidiaries of the Avic conglomerate. The other is Avic Avionics.
The number of flights over Europe likely will be 1.8 times greater in 2030 than it was in 2009, according to Eurocontrol’s latest 20-year forecast. It sees a range of scenarios that project between 13.1 million and 20.9 million flights in 2030, assuming average growth of 1.6-3.9% annually. A 2.8% per year average growth rate is the most likely, it says.
Baines Simmons appointed Ivan Christiansen head of its quality consultancy division. Christiansen joins Baines Simmons from Rolls-Royce, where he was head of global quality for On-Wing Care.
