MTU Aero Engines' maintenance division received a five-year contract to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul for British Carrier Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines' CF6-50C2 engines that power four Airbus A300B4s.
Enigma collaborated with Click Commerce to combine the latter's specialty in multi-channel order management and post-sales applications with its 3C Platform, which is a software package designed to strengthen the post-sale relationship between OEMs and operators. Enigma says the addition of Click Commerce's tools will speed MRO processes by streamlining the parts ordering and tracking processes, while quickening warranty-processing procedures. Enigma's new products are called 3C Order Manager and 3C Warranty Managers.
At a small airport in West Virginia east of the Allegheny Mountains, engine and airframe manufacturers have built major facilities to maintain regional jets.
FlightSafety Boeing Training International recently opened its expanded Long Beach, Calif. training center that now encompasses 76,000 square feet. The facility provides maintenance, pilot and cabin crew training.
Honeywell and Thales Avionics received approval from Inmarsat for their Swift64 high speed data-capable airborne satellite communications systems. The system provides data delivery rates of up to 64 kbps, compared to 2.4 kbps of the old system. The system delivers the higher data rate by adding the HS-600 high-speed data unit to the Honeywell/Thales MCS-3000, MCS-4000, MCS-6000 or MCS-7000 satellite communication system.
Dassault Falcon Jet's first 900EX business jet with a fully integrated EASy flightdeck recently flew for the first time. The EASy cockpit is built on Honeywell's Primus Epic system and is designed to be easier to fly and to maintain.
Olympic Airways may sell its maintenance and ground handling functions to decrease its debt in an attempt to return to profitability. The airline also faces grounding its aging Boeing 737-200 aircraft this month due to Chapter 3 noise regulations agreed by ICAO.
Sandel Avionics is in the final stages of developing and certifying its ST3400 TAWS/RMI product, which is a self-contained Class A/B terrain awareness and warning computer with an integrated color display that replaces existing three-inch mechanical RMI in general aviation aircraft. The company expected to obtain the TSO and initial STC so units could starting shipping soon. It features operation with zero to 2,000-foot radar altimeter, reduced nuisance alerts, dual or single installation and wide viewing angles.
Honeywell recently created a systems component services business that includes 15 sites which complete repair and overhaul work. Bernd Kessler, vice president and general manager of aviation aftermarket services, expects sales to be about $500 million with strong growth potential. In addition, he revealed that Honeywell created a customer tailored services solution that centralizes long-term service agreements so customers can put all of their systems under one contract.
Marshall Aerospace recently handed over the first three upgraded C-130BZ Hercules aircraft for the Armaments Corp. and the South African Air Force. Marshall Aerospace completed the design, installation and certification for the upgrade.
Wencor revamped its website to include a data library that allows customers to search for parts using part number, description, ATA chapter, OEM, eligibility or next higher assembly.
Boundary Layer Research (BLR) developed a tailboom strake for single-rotor helicopters with enclosed tailbooms. The strakes are designed to improve hover, climb and cruise performance, while reducing tailboom fatigue and increasing safety margins. BLR licensed the strake technology from NASA four years ago and has since validated it and configured it for use on several helicopter models. The company said the modification kits can be installed in a field environment within one day if two technicians are performing the work. The U.S.
Honeywell also said it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to begin building its T55-GA-714A upgraded gas turbine engine for the Army's CH-47D Chinook. The contract's value is estimated at $1.1 billion over the next eight years if all engine options are exercised.
Wencor recently received several parts manufacturing approvals for additional component, engine and airframe parts, including ball bearings replacement for Honeywell transport-category bearings and a ball bearing, spring, terminal washer, insulator and pump liner to replace Hamilton Standard ones found on various commercial aircraft.
When you're caught in a storm, some people build shelters and defenses; others build windmills,'' declared Claus Mortensen, director Administration&Business Support at SAS Component. ``We're trying to build windmills.''
When most people envision the United States Coast Guard, they picture daring helicopter pilots and rescue swimmers saving struggling yachtsmen and merchant sailors from stormy seas. Or, they picture small cutters patrolling inland coastal waters. This is only a fraction of the service's mission, which also includes counter narcotics, migrant interdiction, fisheries enforcement, marine safety and port security. But for the past half year, the Coast Guard's focus has shifted to Homeland Security&Defense-type missions.
As the civil aerospace industry founders, many manufacturers, suppliers and repair facilities are re-focusing and re-thinking their futures. Companies with the bulk -- or in some cases, all -- of their business in aerospace are taking a hard look at how they can apply their aviation equipment and knowledge to other industries. And those that already are diversified are looking for ways to branch out even more, further reducing their reliance on the aviation industry's sharp peaks and valleys.
Boeing said it plans to pursue the replacement market for aging government transport and head-of-state aircraft. The airframe OEM said a recent study indicates that half of the world's fleet is more than 20 years old and those aging aircraft are candidates to be replaced in the next 10 years. The new focus is part of an overall strategy to consolidate the sale of Boeing jetliners, regardless of their final application, to government and military customers.
JetBlue Airways installed four cameras in the passenger cabin of an Airbus A320 in late February to enhance security. The carrier plans to retrofit the rest of its existing fleet and install cameras on new A320s as they arrive. By the end of 2002, 34 JetBlue A320s will feature these security devices. Other carriers are investigating the in-cabin cameras, but no other U.S. airline has so far committed to installing them.
EADS/CASA Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) mission equipment is to be installed in two of the eight CASA C-212-200 light turboprop twins operated by the Mexican navy, from a January contract signed with Mexico's Naval Secretary. This also includes maintenance, repair and modernization, and provides for the creation of a mission support center.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced total billings exceeded $14 billion in 2001, which represents a 4% increase from 2000. Turboprop and business jet sales rose 1.4% and 3.6%, respectively, but piston aircraft sales fell 8.9%.
