FLIGHTDOCS RECEIVED A CONTRACT FROM WEYERHAEUSER'S flight department for aircraft maintenance tracking software to manage the operator's fleet of Dassault Falcon Jets and Bell helicopters. In addition, Nextel Communications' flight department awarded Flightdocs a contract to provide aircraft maintenance tracking software and services.
Bedek Aviation Group completed the first Boeing 767-200 passenger to cargo conversion. ABX Air operates the aircraft. At presstime, Bedek was expecting to receive an STC for a 747-200 conversion and also announced the first off-site 737-300 passenger to special freighter conversion was completed by Denel in South Africa.
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration received a $12.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide technical, engineering design, program management and support for the Multi-Mission C-130J mission suite integration.
Leading Edge Aviation Services plans to open a new 53,658-sq.-ft. paint hangar this fall at the Southern California Logistics Airport. The hangar will be able to accommodate two Boeing 757s or Airbus A320s.
Boeing sold its Commercial Electronics business in Irving, Texas, to BAE Systems North America. The electronics business will become part of BAE Systems' Platform Solutions unit.
IN OTHER NEWS, AVEXUS ANNOUNCED THAT GOODRICH'S AIRCRAFT WHEELS & BRAKES division has fully implemented Impresa software at seven of its service locations. Impresa is designed to improve forecasting, scheduling and deploying spare parts across Goodrich's sites.
HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS WILL BE DEPLOYING IFS applications across its enterprise. The first phase includes its aircraft and helicopters division in Bangalore, which is scheduled to be finished in July 2005. Hindustan Aeronautics will use IFS's applications for things such as engineering, MRO, materials management, program management and workforce tracking.
The fabled C-5 is about to get new eyes and new muscle. The avionics upgrade and engine replacement is intended to extend the life span of the U.S. military's largest airlifter to the year 2040. Not bad for an airplane that debuted in 1968. Lockheed Martin officials said the average C-5 has 70% of its structural life remaining, and that the average airframe has used just 16,000 hours of its expected 45,000-hour life span. That's why it makes more sense to refurbish the fleet than try to buy a bunch of new airplanes.
Dunlop Aerospace Equipment developed a low-noise bleed valve for Rolls-Royce to replace an earlier design in the V2500 engine. The valve is designed to reduce engine torque when starting and idling.
EADS Sogerma Services began converting the first of two Airbus A319s to premium-class, 44-passenger aircraft for Saudi Arabia's National Air Services. In addition, EADS Sogerma Services delivered the second of two A321-200s modified for Air Mediterranee for charter services with tour operator FRAM, and it is upgrading Virgin Atlantic's new Upper Class Suite on A340-300s and -600s.
Dassault Falcon Jet broke ground for a new 46,000-sq.-ft. paint facility in Little Rock, Ark., and opened a 40,000-sq.-ft. paint hangar at its Wilmington, Del., facility.
Editor's Note: Don Collier recently retired from ATA as vice president for engineering, maintenance and materiel. This spring at the MRO conference in Atlanta, Purdue University researchers presented findings from a study of NTSB records of events in which aircraft maintenance was found to be a causal factor. The study covered air carrier accidents and incidents from 1984 to 2002. Among its conclusions were: -- As a whole, the air carrier industry is experiencing a slight trend toward becoming less safe;
Spiralock Corp. has created a thread fastener attempting to solve the self-loosening rotational movement problem that the traditional 60-degree ``vee'' thread design suffers from during high load and vibration aerospace applications. Using a 30-degree ``wedge'' ramp cut at the root of the female thread, this thread features crests that draw tightly against the wedge ramp when under pressure, eliminating sideways motion and evenly distributing the joint's load. It also minimizes assembly, maintenance and service costs. Madison Tech Center, P.O.
Lockheed Martin named Tom Burbage and Bob Elrod to the positions of F-35 JSF executive vice president and general manager. Burbage will be responsible for program integration and Elrod will be responsible for contract execution.
Alaska Airlines signed a $15 million contract with InterContinental Aircraft Services to retrofit five Boeing 737-400s. Four aircraft will carry 70 passengers and four pallets, while ICAS will retrofit one to a full-cargo configuration. The 737-400s will replace the airline's retiring 737-200 fleet used to service the state of Alaska. Flight Structures, a B/E Aerospace subsidiary, will partner with ICAS to design, certify and provide continued airworthiness for the project.
American Airlines will install AirWorks' laptop power systems in an additional 103 MD-80 aircraft. The system allows users to plug their computers directly into their seat, so they don't have to use battery power.
