Avtrade will support components for start-up Mega-Maldives’ fleet of Boeing 767-300s through 2016. The power-by-the-hour contract covers pool access, AOG services, logistics, component management and repair; Mega-Maldives also signed a multi-million-dollar lease with Avtrade to set up a base kit in Malé.
Aviation Technical Services received certification from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, allowing it to pursue work in heavy maintenance and interior furnishings installations, entertainment systems, antennas and cameras on Boeing 737 aircraft flying under Saudi registration.
Pratt & Whitney’s first PurePower PW1000G engine is “doing very well” at the OEM’s West Palm Beach, Fla., facility, where it just left the test stand after running well for more than 200 hr. This engine, destined for a Bombardier CSeries installation, now heads to Plattsburgh, N.Y., for icing tests. A second PW1000G, designed for the MRJ platform, moves to the test stand. It is targeted to run for fewer than 200 hr., but as Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners VP Tom Hutton says, “We'll let it run as long as it’s giving us good data.”
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
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.
TeamSAI promoted Tom Cooper and Michael Moore to senior VPs and principals from their prior roles as VPs and principals. Cooper joined TeamSAI in 2007 and brings 20 years of lexperience with Delta Air Lines and Foster’s Wine Estates; he is the consulting practice leader for certification, safety and technical services. Moore joined TeamSAI in 2009 and uses his 25 years of experience with Northwest Airlines, Timco Aviation Services and Associated Air Center to lead TeamSAI’s MRO consulting. Airframes
North State Aviation is getting into Boeing 737 maintenance at Winston-Salem, N.C.’s Smith Reynolds airport, as it moves into a facility formerly used by Piedmont Airlines and Pace Airlines. North State plans to hire 125 workers by the end of the year, says President Charlie Creech. “The majority of those jobs will be A&P mechanics, but we’ll have some support staff too,” he says. “We expect to have created 325 jobs in the next four years.”
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.
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.
The number of parked commercial aircraft peaked in the wake of 2008’s financial crisis, with thousands of mature and new-generation aircraft sitting in storage. But these days, the number of parked aircraft seems to be decreasing, and there is a hint of disagreement within the disassembly community about the exact factors driving down the number of assets in storage.
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.
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.
Turkish Technic signed a five-year maintenance services agreement with SunExpress for its Boeing 737-800 landing gear, covering removal and installation and spare units. Turkish Technic plans to complete nine overhauls over the course of the program. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
AuraPortal plans to launch a content management module as part of its business management platform. This platform integrates with other AuraPortal applications, including document management, customer relationship management and online commerce.
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/
Rockwell Collins opened offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, initially for business development purposes with systems engineering and support activity to follow.
FL Technics in Vilnius, Lithuania, applied for EASA Part 147 training certification on the Airbus A320 family. It provides technical type training on Boeing 737 Classic and NG, Boeing 757, Saab 340, Saab 2000 and ATR 42/72 aircraft.
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
Sukhoi’s Superjet 100 regional jet received type certification from the Russian aircraft certification authority, IAC AR, enabling delivery of the first aircraft. Armavia, which has two firm orders and two options, will receive the first. Sukhoi also conducted the maiden flight of Aeroflot’s first SS100 in the Russian flag-carrier’s colors. Aeroflot has 30 firm orders for the aircraft, plus 15 options. Noting the aircraft’s type certification, the OEM added it has been granted design organization approval certification from IAC AR.
San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, and Panama City—The Central America aviation industry is projected to be one of the fastest growing in the world, and three major MRO companies here hope to expand with it. The two more established MROs compete and cooperate, and their hangars are full based on the niches they have developed. The third, and much younger, player is still developing, as part of one of the biggest global MROs.
