The competition for free space in overhead storage bins should get a little easier following Boeing's recent announcement that its BigBins now are in production on a 757-300. The new BigBins increase the effective storage capacity by 60%, and allow 58 more roll-aboard bags on a typical 757-300. Previously, the storage bins could only accommodate bags stored in the forward-to-aft (nose-to-tail) direction. The new deeper bins allow the bags to now be stowed in an inboard-to-outboard (wing-to-wing) direction, increasing capacity from three to five roll-aboard bags per bin.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University promoted Guy McCurkan to vice president of affiliate operations, responsible for management of the Aviation&Space Technology Academy.
Midcoast Aviation delivered a repaired Falcon 900B that suffered major structural damage during landing in March 2000. This marks the third successful major structural repair project Midcoast has completed in the past year. In the most recent repair, both wings had to be replaced, but an analysis determined the plane was structurally sound. Midcoast became the first company outside the factory to perform a center wing plank installation.
Air Canada Technical Services secured a five-year C$101.7 million agreement for the maintenance and repair of Canada's Department of National Defense (DND) fleet of Airbus A310 aircraft. The agreement includes five one-year options for contract extension which, if exercised, would bring the total contract term to 10 years with potential revenue to Air Canada of C$250 million.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services is performing engineering services for L3 Communications, a subcontractor for NASA. Jet Aviation will install an infrared telescope in a Boeing aircraft to create a stratospheric observatory, which is all part of an eight-year process that involves modifying the aircraft's airframe to install a 40,000-pound telesope, a protective door and supporting structures in the Boeing 747SP aircraft.
Pratt&Whitney Canada announced that its new PT6C-67D engine, used in the Huey helicopter P&WC UH-1H Plus upgrade program, has received a Type Certificate from Transport Canada. The certificate was validated by the U.S. FAA.
Ozark Aircraft Systems LLC announced several promotions, including J.M. (Jeff) Udesen to senior vice president/general manager, formerly director of programs at the company; Sonny Stern to vice president of sales and marketing, formerly with McDonnell Douglas; and Todd H. White to vice president of maintenance, formerly director of maintenance at Ozark.
Taiwan's TransAsia Airways signed a maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik AG for its V2500-A5 engines, as well as the engine related accessories, of its fleet consisting of six A320 and two A321 aircraft. Lufthansa will maintain TransAsia's aircraft under a ``power-by-the-hour'' based Total Engine Support agreement for the next eight years.
Spirit Airlines appointed retired U.S. Air Force Col. Grady H. Reed as senior vice president of safety. Reed served 24 years in the Air Force in flight operations and aircraft maintenance and has held senior level positions with Northrop Worldwide Aircraft Services, Mesa Air Group and Northwest Airlines.
Timco Aviation Services, Inc. completed the first of several C checks on an Airbus A300-600 freighter at its Greensboro, N.C. facility. Timco's work at the location ranges from C checks to a variety of OEM reliability upgrades.
Epps Aviation in September opened a new maintenance facility at the Columbus, Ga., Airport. The facility focuses on piston service and inspections and on selected turbine engines.
Beta Transformer developed a Mil-Std-1553 pulse transformer series called MLP-2000, which is a surface-mount package with an 0.185-inch maximum height and is designed to provide a 70% reduction in board space compared to Mil-PRF-21038/27 QPL listed surface-mount pulse transformers. The transformer is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -55 degrees to 105 degrees C. It is available in five-, 12- and 15-volt turn-ratios. It can be used with Mil-Std-1553 drivers, receivers and transceivers.
Maltese flag carrier Air Malta and Lufthansa Technik (LHT) are launching a new joint venture company, Lufthansa Technik Malta, based at Malta`s Luqa International Airport. Air Malta will hold a 49% a stake in the company and provide technical personnel and facilities. Current capacity will allow the new company to run two lines for C check and modification work, with both having the flexibility to handle a mix of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s including Next-Generation variants.
Innotech-Execair Aviation Group opened a facility in Toronto that will be a Cessna Citation service center for maintaining all Citation models. It is one of 24 authorized Citation service centers in the world.
Garrett Aviation received an STC for Cessna Citation 560 (serial numbers 259 and lower) RVSM certification. Garrett received RVSM STCs earlier this year for later-model Citation 500s, 501s, 550s and 551s.
Enigma is launching a new version of its 3C web-based architecture supply chain management solution, Version 8, this month that features integrated CD, Internet and wireless delivery; advanced search capabilities; dynamic content filtering; automatic link creation; full printing capability and better data conversion techniques. John Snow, Engima vice president of marketing, said Version 8 represents about three years of development, and he believes this product will be competitive for about four years.
Abaris Training modified a few of its hands-on composite repair courses to address Qantas' need for Airbus- and Boeing-specific repair procedures. Abaris completed a two-week course for Boeing procedures and delivered four weeks of courses to satisfy the airline's Airbus-specific training.
Completion of second-phase flight-testing of the prototype F-4E Phantom, which is being upgraded for the Hellenic air force (HAF) with new digital avionics and mission systems by the Military Aircraft division of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) company is ending (O&M May 2001). Work on the HAF's ``Peace Icarus 2000'' F-4 avionics modernization program, based on a similar Luftwaffe Improved Combat Efficiency (ICE) upgrade, was started in 1997 at Manching, Germany.
Euravia Engineering&Supply Co. in Lancashire, England, received FAA repair station approval. Euravia already has JAR 145, ISO 9001, NATA, NAMSA and U.K. MOD approvals.
Pemco Aviation Group named Phillip Panzera president of its manufacturing and component group. He most recently served as chief financial officer and then executive vice president of Hawker Pacific Aerospace.
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Norton Radomes announced that Dan Orwig, its quality assurance manager, became an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR). Orwig, a 14-year employee with the company, has been a Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative since 1989.
By all standards, America West Airlines was a woeful place to work in the mid-1990s. Employees, and more than a few passengers, derisively nicknamed the airline America's Worst. On-time arrival figures pegged the carrier at the bottom of the list, and it had been fined more than $5 million by the FAA for maintenance violations.
