Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sent its first of 15 E-6Bs to the Boeing Aerospace Support Center at Cecil Field, Fla., to receive an avionics upgrade. The mission systems and cockpit upgrades are designed to expand data processing capabilities, increase systems reliability and decrease maintenance. This first aircraft is scheduled to be completed in August, and the second E-6B will arrive at Cecil Field in July. All 15 aircraft should be modified by December 2005. The E-6B provides airborne command and control between the U.S.
Rockwell Collins received an STC for installation of its Pro Line 21 CNS radio sensor package on Challenger 601s. These sensors support the transition from voice to data communications and are lighter and smaller than the existing sensors. They can be installed as stand-alone units or as part of an integrated package.
Barry A. Dorfman & Co. unveiled a new website (www.Barrydorfman.com) that allows customers to get quotes online for raw materials such as stainless steel, titanium and aluminum in sheet, bar, plate and tubing.
A new series of compact and lightweight rigid couplings and mating machined flanges for corporate and commercial aircraft jet engine bleed air ducting is available from Voss Aerospace. Voss specifically designed the couplings as an alternative to traditional sheet metal for lightweight compact joints in tubes with diameters from one to four inches. The couplings and mating machined flanges are used with all-metal seals for various bleed air ducting joints for cabin pressurization, environmental and pneumatic operating systems.
Vendors peddling cost-saving products and solutions will be the dominant MRO theme for the 45th Paris Air Show, scheduled for June 15-22 at le Bourget. Salon International de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (SIAE), the show organizer, expects about the same number of attendees (306,658) and exhibitors (1,856) this year as in 2001, despite the economic downturn and lingering tensions between France and the U.S. However, based on an informal polling of companies, most were sending smaller contingencies than in the past.
Alitalia Engineering & Maintenance and Lufthansa Technik have agreed to set up a new engine overhaul joint venture that will start in July. Alitalia will have a majority stake in the JV, which will concentrate on CF6-50, CF6-80, CFM56-5 and GE90 engines. The joint venture will be housed at Alitalia's existing engine shop in Rome and will be the workbench for both parent companies, according to an Alitalia executive.
Boeing delivered components for the 67th and last WAH-64 Longbow Apache attack helicopter for the British Army Air Corps ahead of schedule on March 27. Boeing built the first eight Apaches at Mesa, Ariz., from the March 1996 2.7 billion ($4.24 billion) MoD contract and shipped to the U.K. for final assembly by the-then GKN Westland, for delivery to the AAC from March 2000. Boeing also provided partly assembled fuselages and other components for the 59 remaining WAH-64s, assembled under license by AgustaWestland for production completion by April 2004. U.K.
Lockheed Martin started a certified parts program for C-130 Hercules aircraft that will allow authorized parts manufacturers to apply a distinctive hologram on each part. ``The use of the hologram sticker became necessary with the proliferation in the market of C-130 parts with the unauthorized use of Lockheed Martin data and parts numbers,'' said David Posek, president of Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Centers. ``Recently, a number of customers have informed us that they unknowingly purchased unacceptable parts from unauthorized sources,'' he said.
ExelTech, a Montreal-based regional aircraft maintenance facility, is opening a new European sales office in cooperation with Roe Aviation of Switzerland.
Northrop Grumman received another $14.47 million supplement to upgrade two French navy Group II E-2Cs to Hawkeye 2000 standards. About 40% of the work will be undertaken at Aeronavale's Cuers-Pierrefeu maintenance depot. Completion is scheduled by December 2006. Delays reported in the implementation of a six-year government contract, received by Portugal's OGMA military maintenance group last June for technical support of 14 French air force (AdlA) Lockheed C-130H/H-30 Hercules, which resulted in their temporary grounding, are being rectified.
National Air Transportation Association said more than 500 FBOs in the U.S. have line-service technicians who passed the association's Safety 1st programs.
Total Aircraft Services received an FAA STC to install Max-Viz EVS in Challenger 601 aircraft. EVS-1000 uses un-cooled infrared sensors as a camera to provide real-time video to a cockpit display.
Rockwell Collins received an FAA STC for its high-speed satcom system for use on Falcon 50, 900 and 900EX. Pentastar Aviation installed the HST-900 system that provides passengers connectivity, including email and Internet access inflight.
The MRO Forecast is a macro forecast of global MRO activity over the next 10 years. For the third year in a row, the team of BACK Aviation Solutions and Strand Associate, Inc. (SAI) produced the forecast for O&M. The forecast looks at projected MRO activity in three different scenarios: slow economic growth, moderate growth and rapid growth. BACK and SAI built the forecast on a regional basis so that every element of the forecast varies by region.
Lufthansa Technik signed 119 new contracts in 2002 that represented 220 million. The company attracted 35 new customers, which brings it total to 378. The Lufthansa Technik Group, which includes 13 companies, posted sales of 2.8 billion in 2002. About 58% of its MRO sales came from customers outside the group.
Inventory Locator Service launched the ILS MRO Quick Catalogue, an internet-based searchable catalog that enables customers to offer online catalogs from their own websites without having to make large technology investments.
AMECO-Beijing completed the first of 11 cockpit door modification of an Air China Boeing 747. AMECO recently completed the same type of modification for two 747-300s owned by Air Atlanta Icelandic, which just awarded AMECO a $20 million contract for 747 heavy maintenance. Air Atlanta Icelandic operates 16 Boeing 747s.
CFMI hopes to receive certification of its thrust reverser and chevron nozzle in the second quarter for its CFM56-5B acoustic upgrade program. The program's objective is to meet Stage 4 requirements that will take effect Jan. 2006 for new and derivative aircraft. In addition, the manufacturer hopes to receive certification in Octo- ber for its CFM56-5C/P upgrade that is designed to be interchangeable with current -5C models on Airbus A340-200300 aircraft, provide 13C lower EGT and maintain -5C noise standards.
