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.
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.
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
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions added a training institute to be led by James Hobart, VP of training programs. The institute will offer courses in safety management systems, regulatory affairs, auditing, emergency response planning, advanced qualification programs and certification. IT
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.
Ameco Beijing says it cut its energy costs in 2010 by 31% by upgrading its heating/energy systems from coal to gas. The project, which involved installing heat exchangers, a boiler system and 15 km of pipeline, increased the campus's thermal efficiency by 10% and decreased carbon dioxide emissions by about 40%.
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.
Irving Place Capital appointed Jeffrey D. Wood a senior advisor for its industrial practice. Wood formerly was president of Airfoil Technologies International and has 20 years of experience in aerospace, having worked at Pratt & Whitney, Interturbine and General Electric.
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.
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
Ibaset implemented its new version of G7 software at Hamilton Sundstrand. Hamilton Sundstrand implemented the Solumina manufacturing execution system and plans to roll out the MRO and supplier quality assurance applications next.
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.
Rockwell Collins opened offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, initially for business development purposes with systems engineering and support activity to follow.
AFI KLM Engineering & Maintenance subsidiary Epcor will provide Boeing 737NG auxiliary power unit repair and overhaul services to Gazpromavia Aviation Co. Ltd., its first Russian customer, under a five-year contract inked in February.
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.
