ARINC rolled out a high-capacity satellite broadband system for commercial airlines at the World Airline Entertainment Association conference in September. ARINC said four U.S. domestic airlines have expressed an interest in the new product.
Offshore Logistics said Keith Chanter resigned as managing director of Bristow Aviation Holdings. He will be replaced by Allan Brown, who most recently served as international commercial director.
SR Technics said the first half of 2004 results were lower than last year's, but ``Our focus will be on intensifying cooperation with our customers and the fleet leasing companies, and capacity adjustments in Engine Services. We aim to continue gaining market share, be this by means of internal growth or further acquisitions,'' said Hans Ulrich Beyeler, CEO of SR Technics Holdings.
CFM said the CFM56-5B fleet is nearly 1,700 engines, with about 20 engines being added each month. The engine features a 0.002 inflight shutdown rate and averages $2 million per engine in maintenance costs over a 15-year period. The entire CFM56 fleet is averaging 16,000 hours on wing prior to the initial shop visit.
Iberia's maintenance instruction unit received Spanish civil aviation approval to be an EASA Article 147 maintenance training organization. Iberia and EAS-CASA are the only Spanish companies to receive this certification.
Premier Turbines now offers core zone inspections on Honeywell TFE731-20, -40 and -60 models. Premier, a division of Dallas Airmotive, modified an engine test cell to support this program.
CAE won a contract from WestJet Airlines to provide 20 CAE Simfinity virtual maintenance trainers and a CAE Simfinity Level 5 Boeing 747NG flight training device. The contract is worth $3.1 million.
U.S. Department of Defense accepted first deliveries under the new unique identifier (UID) policy that requires contractors to mark and identify the cost of items delivered to the DOD. The first delivery came from Lockheed Martin, which supplied helicopter replacement cables to the Defense Supply Center Richmond. UID provides business intelligence through the life cycle of an item and provides better tracking and control of spare parts.
FRANCE: SIMMAD, the French defense ministry's integrated aeronautical equipment support structure, awarded Thales a major seven-year 200 million ($242.3 million) contract in July for through-life MRO support of the company's equipment in the first 120 l'Armee de l'Air (AdlA) and Aeronavale Dassault Rafale next-generation combat aircraft. Extending over 100,000 flight hours, the new contract commits Thales to conduct repairs, deliver replacement parts, spares and provide technical support for Rafales of both French air arms.
Nordam Group named John Uczekaj chief operating officer. He most recently was executive vice president and general manager of Honeywell Aerospace Electronics Systems.
Metal Improvement Co.'s three heat treatment facilities in Wichita completed NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Association) reaccredidation audits.
Rockwell Collins received 10-year avionics maintenance contracts from NetJets to provide repair and technical support for NetJet's fleet of Gulfstream G200 and Raytheon Hawker 400XP aircraft. In addition, it received Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval for its GLU-925 multi-mode receiver with local area augmentation system capability, and it received FAA certification for its dual integrated flight information system on a Falcon 50. The system integrates with the Falcon 50's Pro Line 21 avionics suite retrofit.
Davis & Chang Communications International is a new communications consultancy based in Manhattan Beach, Calif., founded by Gareth Chang and Nissen Davis. The company specializes in helping businesses expand to overseas markets.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) reported that in the first half of 2004 its airframe maintenance and modifications facility sold 0.74 million man-hours, which is 95% of the maximum man-hours available. The work came from a mix of Hong Kong-based carriers and third-party customers.
Akzo Nobel introduced a new generation of Aviox paint systems that are designed to reduce process time and lower cycle costs. The Aviox Advanced Series, which is approved to Airbus specifications, includes Primer 37098, Finish 77702, Advanced Mica and Clearcoat UVR. Akzo Nobel said the new paint systems have been formulated to provide a low dry film density and minimize the paint weight, which should help lower fuel costs during aircraft operation. Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings, E. Water St., Waukegan IL 60085 Circle 504 on Reader Service Card
Lufthansa Technik Malta completed its 100th C check in September, just 20 months after it began maintenance, repair and overhaul services. Since the start of operations in January 2003, the Air Malta-Lufthansa Technik joint venture has handled Airbus A320 family aircraft as well as Boeing 737-300 and -500 for Air Malta and StarAlliance members.
The Force/Torque Division of PCB Piezotronics introduced maintenance-free rotating torque transducers that eliminate worn brush replacements. The transducers employ non-contact, rotary transformers for sending excitation voltage to, and receiving measurement signals from, the rotating strain gage sensor. Meant for use in dynamometers, the transducers also can be used in torque studies on fuel pumps, hydraulic motors and pumps, combustion engines, drive shafts, transmissions fans and electric motors.
Sikorsky selected Goodrich to provide integrated vehicle health management systems for the U.S. Army's UH-60M Black Hawk program. The deal is worth about $100 million. Goodrich will deliver the initial systems in 2006.
After 40 years in commercial aviation, the last 10 at Delta, Ray Valeika, one of the most accomplished and respected executives in the MRO world, was to retire at the beginning of October. To say he will be missed sounds trite, but it's true. In fact, Valeika's the type of person you name stuff after.
