Here’s a wake-up call to the maintenance industry: More than half of all maintenance managers in a May 2010 Baines Simmons Americas survey* think their employees complete jobs despite the non-availability of specified tools or equipment. Another 16% said they believe their employees have signed off for uncompleted work due to limited time or resources. And one in 10 managers admitted their line supervisors would approve a mechanic’s actions if he didn’t follow procedures in order to get an aircraft out.
Elbit Systems of America bought Texas-based MRO M7 Aerospace in mid-December for $85 million in cash, citing desire to expand its support capabilities.
ST Engineering subsidiary VT Systems will convert a Boeing 757-200 aircraft to combi configuration for Global Aviation Holdings subsidiary North American Airlines.
The EcoFlex system from Advance Industrial Cleaning Equipment is available on two rider-scrubber models, the Advance Condor and Advance Adgressor. These models allow operators to select the right amount of pad pressure, water and detergent for each cleaning job’s needs, which allows companies to save big on detergent and chemical usage. The Adgressor can clean up to 46,200 sq. ft. in one hour and has a scrub path of 38 in. www.advance-us.com/products/commercial/autoscrubbers/advengerandadvenge…
Rolls-Royce and British Airways completed contracts for Trent 900 and Trent 1000 engines to power up to 61 new widebodies. The order, originally announced in September 2007 and worth in excess of $5 billion at list prices if all options are exercised, is for Trent 900 engines to power 12 Airbus A380s (with seven options) and Trent 1000 engines to power 24 Boeing 787 aircraft, with 18 options. Both of the contracts include TotalCare long-term support agreements. British Airways is one of nine customers that have selected the Trent 900 for the Airbus A380.
Wypall X90 cleaning cloths from Kimberly-Clark Professional provide 75% more oil absorption and 35% more water absorption than the previous WypAll X80 wipers. These cloths can work in a variety of applications, such as prepping surfaces with solvents and cleaning metal shavings or rough surfaces. Kimberly-Clark says that the Wypall X90 wipes, which are made from hydro-entangling polyester fiber and wood fiber, generate 35% less waste than other industrial wiping solutions. www.kcprofessional.com/us/KCP-Brands/Wypall/wypall-x80.asp
Orbital Sciences Corp. amended STC to install provisions for carriage and launch of the Pegasus SIV satellite insertion vehicle on Lockheed L-1011-385-1-15 aircraft, STC SA8011NM
Much to my chagrin, I spotted an error in our January issue about two minutes after opening it. I bristled and wondered how this could have happened—especially in my editor’s message! This is the only mistake I found in the issue, thankfully, but my disappointment made me backtrack. How could it have happened? Voilà, it was human factors error. I was rushed and facing a deadline, subject to the same pressures that weigh on airlines and MROs as they hurry to get aircraft back up in the air!
Avionics Support Group amended STC to install an International Communications Group ICS-220A iridium satcom system in Boeing 747-400/-400F series aircraft, STC ST03700AT
Russia’s aging fleet of Tupolev Tu-154B tri-jets have been grounded by Russian transport authorities following a fire on a Kolavia aircraft at Surgut on Jan. 1, that killed three people onboard. The aircraft carrying 116 passengers and eight crew was due to operate Flight 7K348 from Surgut to Moscow Domodedovo but caught fire after starting its engines. More than 40 people were treated for injuries. The 27-year-old aircraft was completely destroyed by the fire, but the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders were recovered from the wreckage.
Lufthansa Technik and Wizz Air extended their cooperation to Romania and the Czech Republic with a five-year contract under which Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International will provide line maintenance services up to and including A checks for eight Airbus A320s based in Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj. A further two A320s based in Prague are to be included in the agreement this month.
Air Works India Engineering expanded its line maintenance services to Trichy International Airport—its second location after Bengaluru International Airport. It plans to add a third facility at a non-metro airport in South India.
5x Technology integrated its IntelligentInformation data-management software with the NetSuite cloud computing platform. The solution now extracts customer data from the NetSuite system, analyzes and cleanses the data, then places back within NetSuite.
Emirates Current Fleet: 153 (146 passenger and seven cargo, five of which are wet leased) Employees: Around 3,350 in engineering Facilities: Dubai Engineering Technical Center has seven hangar bays (all Airbus A380 capable), one A380-capable paint facility, one engine run pen, nine parking bays, plus overhaul workshops, a supply center, training facility and offices; an engine test cell around 40 km. from DXB has capability on engines up to 150,000 lb. thrust. Square footage: Approximately 250,000 sq. meters
Timco Aerosystems certified a new life raft stowage system for the Boeing 737NG that lets operators store the rafts in the ceiling above the aisle rather than in overhead bins to increase carry-on baggage space (see pg. 56). Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
Rockwell Collins amended STC to install in-seat equipment provisions for a Rockwell Collins video entertainment system on Boeing 747-400 series aircraft, STC ST01549LA
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.
Communications Software (Airline Systems) Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore-based FD Aviation, which will market and sell Commsoft’s Oases software to aircraft operators in Asia. Commsoft in turn will support FD Aviation and its customers, working toward a joint support framework.
Nordam named Meredith Siegfried president from her former position as company COO. T. Hastings Siegfried, COO of Nordam’s transparency group, became vice chairman and chairman of the company’s governance committee in addition to his other duties. Basil Barimo, VP global engineering and quality for the repair group, took a new role as general manager of Nordam’s repair division. Steve Pack continues as VP of the manufacturing group.
New market forces are shaping the once-staid realm of cabin interiors, sparking a slew of new services and product offerings. Boeing 787 delivery delays and the yet-to-fly A350 have created a bit of a cabin chasm for carriers. “They’re facing the need to find alternatives before their [current crop] of aircraft are replaced,” says Jean-Jacques Michel, senior VP of engineering and aircraft modification for Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance. “They’re in a situation where some of [their present] kitting becomes totally obsolete.”
Snaky Creek Enterprises dba Spectrum Aeromed amended STC to install an air ambulance conversion on Airbus A319-133 and A321-232 aircraft, STC ST02340CH
