Honeywell added an engine troubleshooting service for the TFE731 engine called Spotlight to its e-Engine internet site. Spotlight is a software system that uses field service reports, maintenance manuals and troubleshooting experience to lead users to the most likely fixes to maintenance problems they're experiencing. All MSP operators started having access to the service in June.
Logbook Organizer released its new Internet-based aircraft maintenance tracking system called S.M.A.R.T. (system maintenance aviation record tracking). Users can project maintenance for an entire fleet or an individual aircraft, automate weight and balance changes, track equipment lists and monitor engine trends. A report also can show an aircraft's annual labor and material costs. The system is automatically backed up on the Internet so users don't have to worry about lost logbooks. Signatures are secured by maintenances entry number, date and serial number.
While the U.S. military pursues funds to acquire state-of-the-art training aircraft, there are older systems that aren't going away anytime soon. In the Navy, an exemplary case in point is the T-39, which is undergoing an aggressive modification program involving major structural and avionics upgrades to assure an indefinite service life.
Precision Aircraft Components moved into its 11,600-square-foot facility in Palm City, Fla., which will house its design, engineering and custom interior fabrication products for corporate jets. The new company will start delivering its various interior aircraft products in August.
Wall Colmonoy added coating, vacuum furnace brazing and heating treating capabilities to its services. The additional coatings primarily are used to protect metals from corrosion, abrasion and erosion. Thermal-spray coating technologies include HVOF, plasma, combustion and wire arc. Wall Colmonoy Corp., 30261 Stephenson Hwy., Madison Heights, MI 48071
Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA) petitioned FAA to extend maintenance and manufacturing Designated Airworthiness Representative's (DAR) authority to sign 8130-3 tags for parts held at FAA AC 00-56 accredited distributors.
AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS' (ATP) Maintenance Director Software Suite satisfies the recently approved FAR Part 43.10 record keeping requirements for life-limited parts. Maintenance Director can track parts' times and cycles from cradle to grave.
Stiff competition and tight spending has everyone eyeing costs -- from MRO facilities to operators. Goodrich Aviation Technical Services (ATS) examined its operations and decided cutting downtime during heavy checks would be one way to help both itself and its customers. As ATS President Dave Shaw said, ``Everything we can do to improve our turntime in getting the aircraft back to them [customers] in a quality fashion is one of our key goals.''
Dallas Airmotive will repair and overhaul Pratt&Whitney PT6 and JT15D engines used on aircraft managed or maintained by Lider Taxi Aero in Brazil. The contract is a result of the BBA Aviation and Lider Taxi Aero joint venture subsidiary, Lider-Signature, that provides aviation services, including airframe, engine and avionics maintenance, in Brazil and South America. Dallas Airmotive also received a five-year agreement from Provincial Airlines to maintain the airline's PT6A and JT15D engines.
Reduced vertical separation minimum standards (RVSM) are coming to continental U.S. and southern Canadian airspace by mid-decade, but commercial and corporate aircraft operators haven't exactly been rushing to get RVSM upgrades completed. In fact, with the exception of a few companies that fly regularly on international routes, most operators appear to have adopted a wait-and-see attitude. But this laissez-faire approach could spell trouble down the road.
CASCO will market Caledonian Airborne Engineering Limit's consumable parts for the BAe 146, Fokker 50 and Saab 340 through a contract from Deloitte&Touche, administrators for Caledonian while it restructures.
The L-series Liftkleens from Graymills are full-immersion parts cleaners that combine vertical lift agitation and pump-jet cleaning. New Liftkleen models are designed to offer enhanced efficiency with the addition of an enhanced pneumatic, air logic system that integrates multifunction operation with a simplified one-touch control. The units also feature new safety features, such as emergency stop buttons, integrated lids and lift platform. The units are capable of hot and cold cleaning. Graymill Corp., 3705 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60613.
B/E Aerospace President and CEO Robert Khoury said, ``while it is not yet clear when demand will return to normal, we expect airline upgrade and refurbishment activity to drive our revenue growth well before the upturn in new aircraft orders.'' He made this statement on April 10 while announcing the fourth quarter and fiscal year results that ended Feb. 23. He expects sales of $650 million for B/E's fiscal 2003.
GE Engine Services (GEES) received a 20-year contract from Federal Express to perform engine maintenance on CF6-80A3 engines powering FedEx's fleet of 31 Airbus A310-203F freighters. GEES already maintains FedEx's fleet of CF6-6-powered DC-10 and MD-10 freighter aircraft under a flat-rate-per-engine-hour deal. GE Caledonian facilities will perform the work.
O&M: Mesa operates under many liveries. Does that affect maintenance operations? Resnik: Not really, but it makes it a little difficult because we have to spread out maintenance bases. But across the board, the maintenance is basically the same on the aircraft. O&M: How much of your maintenance do you perform in-house?
Perceptive Solutions received orders from Pemco Aviation Group to supply its Handheld NRC for use on the KC-135 overhaul program. Pemco wanted a mobile hangar application that would work with its enterprise systems to reduce the time and paperwork associated with inspections. In addition, Goodrich Aviation Technical Services expanded its use of Perceptives Handheld NRC in its hangars based on productivity improvements. The hand-held device lets Goodrich inspectors electronically document discrepancies.
A planned increase in the Israeli air force (IDF/AF) air refueling fleet has been reported, from more conversions of Boeing 707s by the Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries with the required equipment. Seven earlier Bedek-converted KC-707s have been operated by the IDF/AF since the early 1980s and are equipped with an Israeli-developed center-line flying-boom system and three-dimensional video-equipped cabin operator's station, plus two wing-tip mounted Sargent Fletcher hose-and-drogue pods for refueling probe-equipped aircraft.
Connexion by Boeing received FAA certification for its airborne communication network service that provides mobile information services to airlines and passengers.
Telair International received a contract to supply the mechanical main deck cargo loading system for the next Boeing 747-400F freighter scheduled for delivery to Polar Air Cargo in July. Boeing's Everett facility will install the system.
CMC Electronics also was selected by Boeing to install its SureSight enhanced vision system on the Boeing Technology Demonstrator airplane, a 737-900. The EVS system is mounted in a modified radome and weights less than 22 pounds. CMC expects FAA and Transport Canada certification tests to begin late this year.
With U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) in late April acquired the assets of bankrupt Dee Howard Aircraft Maintenance LP. ST Aero plans to reopen the San Antonio, Texas, facility, renamed San Antonio Aerospace (SAA),by the middle of this year.
