Airlines have taken financial tucks in virtually all internal and external maintenance cost functions. They have negotiated better terms for materials, outsourced non-core work, computerized maintenance methods, cut energy usage, minimized waste, and consolidated specific activities. Now, none too soon, they are placing renewed emphasis on employee safety and the reduction of illness/injury cases.
The Brazilian government ordered Gem turboshaft engines and spare parts worth $10 million on Aug. 1 from Rolls-Royce for its fleet of 14 Westland Super Lynx Mk 21A naval helicopters. These are operated by the Brazilian navy on ASW, ASuW, search and rescue, transport and utility roles from destroyers, corvettes and frigates, several of which also are powered by Rolls-Royce propulsion units.
Northrop Rice USA received another contract with the Malaysian government to increase its technical assistance with the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT), which Northrop Rice helped create in 1996. The new contract allows MIAT students to access e-learning services provided by Aerolearn.com, a Northrop Rice subsidiary.
Evandro Braga deOliveira, vice president, engineering and maintenance of Brazilian carrier Varig, has a full plate. He's working on the introduction of new Boeing 777s and more next-generation 737s into Varig's fleet and the phase-out of its long-haul MD-11s and older 737s. He's planning an expansion of Varig's maintenance facilities. He's trying to increase substantially Varig's third-party business. He's overseeing the transition of Varig's maintenance organization to a separate company.
Odlings MCR of Surrey, England, offers a system, the Aerota, built to clean brake components from a variety of aircraft. Aerota can accommodate a full brake set from a commercial aircraft, up to a DC-10. The full set of components stay together during the 10 to 15 minute cleaning, which is completely automated. The Aerota's drum slowly rotates during the cleaning process to move the cleaning media on the component's surfaces. The machines' built-in dust extractor leaves the components and working environment dust free, which reduces health hazards for workers.
Aircraft Belts, Inc. added e-commerce capabilities to its Build-A-Belt program so customers not only can design a belt online, but they also can order it online any time of the day and track the belt's production and delivery.
O&M: What brought about your interest in aviation? Carmody: I started working at FAA in 1977. I was hired for a budget job that didn't have a lot to do with aviation, but once there I got hooked on the whole agency with all the different programs. The budget office is a good place to learn about an agency. You see everything. I grew from there. O&M: Are you a pilot or do you have any engineering experience?
Air France Industries signed an agreement with Vietnam Airlines to provide full support for the CFM56-5B engines powering its Airbus A320 fleet. The deal strengthens the strategic partnership between the airlines, which already has seen AFI assisting the Vietnamese carrier with the development of its A320 intermediate check capability and component support.
Bombardier Aerospace promoted James Hoblyn to managing director of Flexjet Europe. Hoblyn has been involved with Flexjet Europe since its inception in 1999.
The heightened attention on aircraft wire arcing and protection prompted AMETEK Aerospace to offer a small plug-in component, the AMPHION solid-state power controller, designed to offer better load protection than a circuit breaker. The company says the controller can be used directly in an application circuit or can be combined with other AMPHION components into a power distribution system. The AMPHION SSPC is designed to protect sensors, wiring and databuses from electrical shorts or arcing.
H&H Aviation was created by Steffan Harpoth, former chairman of FLS Aerospace, and Paul Hannak, former FLS deputy chairman. The new company specializes in a range of consulting activities, including MRO organizational management and business development.
Formal hand-over took place in July to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at its Amberley F-111 base in Queensland of a new purpose-built facility designed to test the structural durability of Australia's GD F-111 swing-wing strike fighter fleet. Constructed and commissioned by Lockheed Martin Australia Ltd., the Cold Proof Load Test facility was officially opened by Mick Roche, under secretary for defense materiel.
Messier Services U.K.'s MRO branch hired Tim Rice as managing director. He replaced Robert Grainer, who became president of Messier Services America at the beginning of this year. Rice previously was executive vice president of Spirent Systems (formerly Penny&Giles Aerospace.)
In almost every industry, a number of non-OEM part suppliers can provide replacement parts, frequently at greatly reduced prices. This, of course, sorely tempts users to purchase their parts rather than perhaps somewhat more expensive replacement parts from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), especially when they physically seem to duplicate the OEM-manufactured replacement parts.
Technicians using a borescope now can capture images they see using a digital camera. The new $1,500 kit, from Gradient Lens Corp. includes a Sony Mavica digital camera, a borescope adapter, a portable light and a carrying case. A user attaches the digital camera to a Karl Storz eyepiece adapter that accepts a standard borescope eyecup and locks it into place. The user then connects it with a rigid clamp to Gradient Lens' portable light and takes a picture of the images.
TWA completed its ``More Room Throughout Coach'' program, which involved removing a row of seats in its narrowbody fleet and reconfiguring the seating to one similar to that of American Airlines. TWA planned to finish the seating reconfiguration in its 767-300 fleet in October. The airline plans to retire all of its DC-9s by the first quarter of 2002 so those aircraft will not be converted.
Long-term negotiations by Westland Helicopters with the Thai navy for acquisition of new frigate-based ASW/surveillance helicopters were finalized on Aug. 1 with a $35 million order for two new Super Lynx 300s, plus integrated logistic support and services. A significant contract feature is an obligation by Westland Helicopters to undertake counter-trade of Thai products totaling 50% of the contract price.
First flight took place on June 25 at Boeing's Philadelphia manufacturing facility of the U.S. Army's new upgraded prototype heavy-lift CH-47F Chinook Improved Cargo Helicopter (ICH). This was nearly 40 years after the first flight of the prototype CH-47 by Boeing test pilot Leonard LaVassar on Sept. 21, 1961. Flown by Chinook program chief test pilot Erik Kocher and three other crew members, the CH-47F lifted off shortly before 7 p.m., and remained airborne for about five minutes.
Dallas Airmotive named David Campbell a Rolls-Royce 250/P&WC PT6T regional engine manager. Campbell, who will be responsible for engine services support to helicopter operators in several U.S. states, has 27 years of turbine-powered helicopter maintenance experience.
Electric heat blankets help cure or bond composite materials during an aircraft repair. Their efficiency and effectiveness depends on the blanket's ability to evenly distribute heat. So when a circuit becomes askew, the hot bonder senses a cold spot and increases its power output, which overheats the rest of the circuit and creates a hot spot. The result is a faulty composite cure.
Derco Aerospace in Milwaukee, Wisc., has been nominated prime contractor to provide an avionics upgrade and programmed depot maintenance for a Gabonese air force-owned Lockheed C-130H and an L-100-20. Gabon acquired the first of four new C-130Hs and commercially equipped L-100-20/30 Hercules in 1975, but is now believed to operate only two of these aircraft.
Independent shops obviously have large stakes in the movement of OEMs into the aftermarket. But their interests and views are hardly uniform. Generally, major airframe shops see value in greater OEM interest in maintenance -- as long as the OEMs know what each company can do best.
Lockheed Martin Aircraft&Logistics Centers said goodbye to its president, Daniel Patterson, who served in that role for more than 30 years and retired in September. David Posek, president of Lockheed Martin Systems Support&Training Services, became the new president of LMALC.
