TAT Technologies subsidiary Piedmont Aviation Component Services selected Component Control’s Quantum Control enterprise resource planning software to replace its AS400-based application. Piedmont expects to have up to 80 users on the system after it goes live this year.
AFI KLM Engineering & Maintenance expanded its component, engines and engineering support work for New Caledonian airline Aircalin’s Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft.
In July 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia left intact a year-old rule that expanded drug and alcohol testing requirements to air carrier subcontractors “at any tier.” But as part of that decision, the appeals court ordered FAA to conduct a final regulatory flexible analysis (RFA) on the expansion—an order that the agency appeared to ignore over the next three years until the court threatened to put a hold on the expansion.
O&M picked this year’s MRO of the Year award winners based on their contributions to military and commercial fleet readiness, championship of new technologies, inclusion of methods to drive efficiency and outstanding customer service. Our 2011 honorees—Air New Zealand Technical Operations, Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Airworks India and Big Ass Fans—provide exemplary models for business leadership, particularly in the areas of smart expansion and green energy.
Researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Technical Thermodynamics have begun ground testing a new technology that, if successful, could eliminate much of the fuel burn and noise generated by airport taxiing.
Job Air Technic at Ostrava International Airport in the Czech Republic is developing base maintenance capability for the Airbus A320 family and received EASA Part 145 approval for the A318/A319/A320/A321 including C checks, modifications, landing gear and engine changes.
Phillips Service Industries acquired Skytronics Inc. Technology firm Phillips sees the acquisition of the California maker and repairer of aircraft ball screws, actuator assemblies and transmissions as an expansion of its reach into aerospace; it also owns Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Sciaky Inc., Mountain Secure Systems, Evana Automation Specialists and PSI Repair Services.
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/
ARINC Direct added Isaac Haertel as OEM and technical support manager for South America, based in Montevideo, Uraguay. Haertel formerly worked as a flight coordinator at the company’s headquarters in Annapolis, Md. He complements Regional Sales Manager Perla Fagundez at the company’s Buenos Aires office.
CT Aerospace hired Björn Vandekerckhove as director of commercial programs for Europe, responsible for commercial engine and airframe sales and engine programs. Vandekerckhove worked at Sabena Technics and TPI Aviation before founding Jet Engine Trading & Support.
Lufthansa Technik gained Cameroon’s Camair-Co start-up as a line maintenance and component services customer. Under the two-year line maintenance contract, Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International will provide initial staff to service the carrier’s Boeing 737NG and 767 aircraft at Douala, Cameroon; it subsequently will hire and instruct up to 10 local employees to take over the work.
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.
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
The camera heads for the 5.0, 6.1 and 8.4 mm probes have an 1/6 in. color charge-coupled device CCD image sensor with a 440,000 pixel count. These cameras also have an added temperature warning sensor. The 3.9 and 6.2 mm probes have a 1/10 in. color CCD image sensor at 290,000 pixels. GE says the titanium camera head is eight times stronger than those that equip older borescopes. www.ge-mcs.com/microsites/xlg3-videoprobe/overview.html
Co-Operative Industries Aerospace & Defense in Fort Worth, Texas, opened a new wiring harness manufacturing center and repair station to expand its work area for military programs as well as for MRO, check and test, and service bulletin incorporation services for commercial operators.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions and Northwest Data Solutions partnered to introduce a safety management system (SMS) solution to operators interested in outsourcing those functions. It would implement virtual safety office and safety analyst mentor services for customers, hosted via Web-based program SMS Pro.
One year ago, pundits predicted that 2010 would be a tipping point for the airline aftermarket. The optimistic outlook ended up being true, and this year the same people predict growth.
If the aviation aftermarket had a pulse and we could listen to it through a stethoscope, what would it sound like? Perhaps it would echo the heartbeat of a marathon runner whose course includes a few steep hills? I think this is an apt analogy because I believe the MRO industry’s training, which has been occurring the last several years through diligent process improvements, has produced lasting, long-term benefits. While we periodically sprint, this is a long, competitive journey.
Aerospace-grade chemical supplier Socomore’s parent company Groupe Méaban acquired MagChem, based in Montreal. This acquisition is intended to reinforce Socomore’s market position in North America and complement recent investments in Dysol and Dynamold. Facilities
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.
GE Aviation is investing $60 million in purchasing and refurbishing a Boeing 747-400 for use as a flying testbed for the next generation of engines, starting with the LEAP-X. It features GE CF6-80C2s and is based at GE’s Victorville, Calif., facility.
A J Walter signed up African start-up Senegal Airline for a five-year, power-by-the-hour component support contract for its first two Airbus A319 aircraft. The airline also inked a multi-million-dollar spares lease with AJW, for components positioned in Dakar, and a contract for integrated consumables management services.
Renaissance Aeronautics Associates’ Advanced Composites Training is an approved training organization in London, Ontario. Courses taught at RAA are accredited by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council, the FAA and The American Composites Manufacturing Association. Courses offered at Advanced Composites Training cover composite manufacturing, tooling, maintenance, structural repair and non-destructive inspection. www.raacomposites.com/
Aftermarket acquisitions in the second decade of the new millennium got off to a fast start. Aviation consolidation in early 2011 has been “even more robust than we predicted,” summarizes Chris Doan, president and CEO of TeamSAI. “Activity in the first month of 2011 is equal to that of the first quarter in 2010.” Doan sees that strength continuing throughout the year and predicts its aerospace acquisitions will double or triple the number in 2010
