Gulfstream Aerospace selected Airshow to provide cabin management for its mid-size Gulfstream 200 business jet (formerly called the Galaxy). The four-year contract calls for Airshow to provide switches and controllers; AirPlay line of DVD, CD and entertainment components; and the Airshow 400 and Airshow Network products. Terms were not disclosed.
Pentar Avionics introduced the JetLAN Advantage, which is a hardware and software package that provides aircraft operators with a cabin network, including secure remote access software so passengers can check e-mail. The product already is flying in the Boeing Business Jet, Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global Express and Dassault Falcon 900EX. Some of the product's features include file sharing among passengers, printer services, modem sharing and file sharing on the aircraft. JetLAN Advantage can be based on wired ethernet or wireless technology.
Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace completed avionics upgrades on two C-130BZ aircraft for the South African Air Force. The upgrade included several new mission enhancing systems, together with modifications, structural refurbishments and miscellaneous repairs. Marshall Aerospace was expected to complete a third C-130 close to presstime.
Separately, Garrett Aviation installed its first Honeywell Primus Epic Control Display System on a Gulfstream III. Garrett hopes to secure an FAA STC by early November. The price of this retrofit program is about $600,000.
RTS Services received ISO 9001 certification on Sept. 12 for its engine repair facility and parts operation near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Pratt&Whitney Engines Services received a contract from Brazilian carrier TAM to complete all major overhaul and repair of the airline's PW4168 engines that power five Airbus A330s and all overhaul and repair for the V2500s that power six A320s. The contracts are worth more than $125 million.
Israel's Elbit Systems received a major contract from the Brazilian government in August to supply avionics systems and logistic support services for the new Embraer EMB-314M (A/AT-29) Super Tucano ALX turboprop light attack/advanced training aircraft with advanced digital avionics.
Bell Helicopter Textron's upgraded AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopter, which has been flying in prototype form since last December, will gain a major increase in all-weather offensive capability from the planned addition of a pod-mounted AN/APG-78 Longbow millimetric-wave radar.
Securaplane Technologies is expanding its Tucson, Ariz., facility by adding a 14,000-square-foot building that will house the company's production and test, repair and overhaul, purchasing, shipping and receiving departments.
Duncan Aviation honored two employees who have been with the company since its inception 45 years ago. Harry Barr is the 12th-rated Learjet pilot, holds a host of type ratings and has logged more than 40,000 flight hours. Darlene Christensen joined Duncan as founder Donald Duncan's assistant and now is the company's chief dispatcher.
Lockheed Martin U.K. Integrated Systems was looking for a commercial-off-the-shelf software product that would improve its internal business processes and would position it for growth opportunities. It selected Spirent Systems' AuRA maintenance, repair and overhaul software, which includes inventory management, purchase/repair order management, and vendor tracking. Lockheed Martin U.K. Integrated Systems is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the Royal Navy's Merlin Mk1 anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Garrett Aviation Services named Harvey Ticlo vice president and general manager of the The Jet Center, Garrett's Van Nuys, Calif.-based completion center. Ticlo replaces Jim Thompson, who has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president and general manager of technology and programs.
GE Engine Services Xiamen (China) added another shareholder: Hainan Airlines Group. Other shareholders include China Eastern Airlines, Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co. (TAECO), Xiamen Aviation Industry, and Engine Services (Asia) Investment. GE Aircraft Services Xiamen opened in June as an engine overhaul facility for CFM56 engines. In a related deal, GE Aircraft Services Xiamen will maintain the CFM56 engines that power Hainan Airlines and China Xinua Airlines aircraft, both of which are operated by Hainan Airlines Group.
CIMx signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter to provide the manufacturer with Apps software to help it collect, manage and disseminate information between its legacy computer systems and Bell's new APS (advanced planning and scheduling) applications from i2 Technologies.
O&M: Why did you move to the West Coast? Garville: We had some challenges finding people to help grow our business, especially in the New York area because New York in the last 15 or 20 years has really become a financial services marketplace. We had a hard time bringing people in and retaining them.
Gulfstream parent General Dynamics launched new product support initiatives as it continues to integrate the former Galaxy Aerospace and BBA Aviation maintenance facilities into its business jet services network. General Dynamics is applying the business and product support practices of Gulfstream Aerospace to GDAS facilities. This involves GDAS obtaining FAA authorization at all of its locations to provide maintenance for all Gulfstream aircraft, including the Gulfstream 100, Gulfstream 200 (former Galaxy airplanes) and Astras.
Advocate General of the European Court of Justice invalidated the European Commission's ruling that restricted older aircraft retrofitted with Stage 3 engines from being registered in the European Union. The Aerospace Industries Association said a final court ruling is expected by year-end and claims the court usually accepts the Advocate General's ruling.
Rolls-Royce contracted Aviation Learning to develop and market CD-ROM and Internet-based training products for its customers. The first product resulting from the agreement is the ``Borescope Inspection for the AE3007 Series Engine'' course, which provides three hours of interactive instruction online. The course includes component overviews, inspection video, procedures and quizzes. The Rolls-Royce training materials for the Dart, Tay, Spey, Trent and AE3007 engines can be found at www.aviationlearning.com.
Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing hired Jan Hiszpanski as director of engineering. He has extensive experience in engineering design, analysis and manufacturing of aerospace accessories.
Rockwell Collins introduced Collins eFlight, a high-speed data communications capability that is designed to improve situational awareness, productivity and connectivity for pilots of business and regional aircraft.
Embraer received the first upholstered seats from B/E Aerospace for its new Legacy business jet. Embraer named B/E Aerospace as its preferred seat supplier for this aircraft.
Critical Research launched a Internet-centric software for optimizing manufacturing aftermarket sales and service. It features interactive XML and 2D/3D and CAD data to help maintenance companies diagnose problems, improve parts ordering, quicken repair, track maintenance and ultimately speed turnaround times. Critical Research, a German-based company, launched the software in the U.S. on Sept. 4.
Rockwell Collins received a $400 million contract from Boeing to provide systems for the C-130 avionics modernization program. Avionics selected for the program include Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system, Collins Flight2 multi-function displays, AN/ARC-210 radios, SAT-2000, multimode receivers, automatic direction finder and high-frequency datalink upgrades.
