D-Greeze 7880 from Solvent Kleene is a “VOC-free” degreaser and cleaner. D-Greeze 7880 is non-flammable, non-alkaline degreaser with a neutral pH suitable for use with all ferrous and non-ferrous materials. D-Greez 7880 has a flash point of zero and a boiling point of over 212F. It is designed to perform at room temperature. Solvent Kleene advertises the D-Greez 7880 as the first degreaser/cleaner to outperform trichloroethane, and it requires no rinsing. http://solventkleene.com/newprod.htm
ERP software maker Realization received a U.S. patent for its breakthrough in managing complex projects. The breakthrough allows organizations to cut multitasking and maintain synchronization in large and complex projects while allowing resources and tasks to be prioritized in detail. This is the second patent that Realization was awarded in 2010.
Petroferm’s CleanSafe 787C is an aqueous degreaser designed to clean aircraft landing gear, engine components and airframe exteriors as well as to prepare component surfaces for non-destructive testing. It has a “negligible” amount of VOCs and no alkylphenol ethoxylates or nonylphenol ethoxylates. CleanSafe 787C is certified by Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems for use on carbon fiber reinforced plastics and approved by SCAQMD as a Clean Air Solvent. It can be used at ambient temperatures. www.petroferm.com/datasheets/152_TDS.pdf
Rockwell Collins acquired Blue Ridge Simulation in Leesburg, Va., a supplier of high-performance sensor simulation for U.S. Department of Defense, commercial and international training applications. Blue Ridge Simulation will fold into Rockwell Collins’ simulation and training division.
Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Martinair completed a five-year component and brake support agreement covering the Dutch carrier’s seven MD-11F freighter aircraft. The agreement includes the positioning of spares at Martinair’s base at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Electronic Cable Specialists amended STC to install Airsat II satcom wiring and antenna provisions on Boeing 747-200B/-200F/-400 series aircraft, STC ST02159CH
Chromalloy principal engineer Steve Schultz received special delegation from the U.S. FAA as a repair specification designated engineering representative (DER). Schultz received DER appointment in 1996, and has approved hundreds of repairs since then.
The discovery of oil in the early 1960s transformed Abu Dhabi from a pearling center into a global business powerhouse. The largest of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates federation, Abu Dhabi possesses 94% of the nation’s oil reserves, covers 87% of the land area and accommodates 38% of the population. Today, it’s the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, contributing 10% of the world’s oil and 5% of its gas.
Technologies for non-destructive testing (NDT) are constantly improving, but sometimes the most useful developments do not necessarily involve the innovation itself but making the systems highly mobile. For example, Crane Aerospace has taken its onboard system for checking tire pressure on the Boeing 777 aircraft a step further with the SmartStem handheld reader. The wand-like instrument activates passive wireless sensors in the tire fill stems to immediately check pressure readings and even store data about each tire’s history.
Aeronautical Engineers Inc. is converting a Boeing 737-300 passenger aircraft to a nine-pallet configuration freighter for an undisclosed customer. The aircraft, built in 1990, is undergoing modification and heavy maintenance at Commercial Jet in Miami.
MTU Maintenance Hannover extended its contract with TAM Airlines to cover 57 additional IAE V2500 engines powering Airbus A320 aircraft. The contract is expected to earn an additional $653 million by 2019.
Tightening environmental regulations drive developments in cleaning products for the aerospace industry. Companies such as Kimberly-Clark Professional have introduced new products that use considerably fewer resources and less energy; for example, its new Wypall cleaning cloths can reduce waste by 35%. Advance Industrial Cleaning Equipment also has taken measures to save resources with its EcoFlex scrubbers, which reduce the amount of chemicals used to clean work areas by almost half.
Back in 2007, a group of forward thinkers at Eurocontrol raised a question: Could air traffic control safety be improved through better information sharing? They thought that if controllers across Europe had universal access to best practices, investigation results, solutions to common problems and other safety-related ATC information, it would create a safer operating environment.
TransDigm Group completed the acquisition of the Telair International’s actuation group on Dec. 31, 2010, for approximately $94 million in cash. It expects calendar 2010 revenues of approximately $25 million, with significant aftermarket content. Facilities
Acuren Services offers non-destructive testing services to the aerospace industry in the areas of materials testing, corrosion studies, failure analysis, quality assurance, radiographic testing, visual inspection, ultrasonic testing and eddy current flaw detection.
As both an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket service provider, Sargent Aerospace & Defense has a unique advantage in creating high-value repairs. In late November, Sargent announced that its new, 70,000-sq.-ft. facility in Tucson, Ariz., set to open in March, will launch a new product introduction (NPI) department.
