The chain of errors in aviation maintenance begins long before the first bolt of the day is turned, long before one shift hands over to the next. It begins when the human resources department tells a new technician: “You’re hired.” With the right people, the right results tend to follow.
Ramco Systems Canada will provide its Aviation Series 5 software to Aveos under a late November contract. The software suite includes Ramco’s financials and aviation analytics modules.
Baines Simmons brought John Anfield on board as an associate partner in charge of long-term support for its safety management system. Anfield formerly was head of civil aerospace learning and development for Rolls-Royce.
LONDON—Western European interests see air transport as key to growth in Russia, and it wants the country to improve its infrastructure so that business can expand there. “The absence of any competing surface system and structure in Russia makes regional air transport the key enabler for growth in this area,” said Mike Ambrose, director general of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), at a conference on EU-Russia air transport issues in November.
ST Aerospace gained Chinese and Canadian approval to do passenger to freighter conversions on Boeing 757-200s—two separate supplemental type certificates developed based on its existing FAA-approved STC. ST Aerospace made no mention of who its potential Chinese and Canadian customers will be.
The number of C checks that operators will require in 2011 shows a slight incline over recent years. “It’s a worldwide increase, and that’s good,” says TeamSAI Chairman and CEO Chris Doan.
Given that the narrowbody aircraft fleet nearly triples the widebody fleet, it should not surprise anyone that engines powering narrowbodies should provide more shop visits this year, even given the cycle/hour ratio differences.
Dixie Aerospace purchased J.R. Potter & Associates, a specialty manufacturer of tools and gauges for applications such as bearing, fastener and rivet installation.
FAA has yet to set its timeline for regulating safety management systems (SMS) for Part 145 repair stations, but the agency has indicated that it plans to move forward on such a rulemaking and intends to use the recently released notice of proposed rulemaking requiring all Part 121 operations to implement SMS as its template.
Audio Control Panel Actuator-Valve, Single Motor Battery IFE Enhanced Passenger Control Unit IFE Monitor Passenger Interface and Supply Adapter Radio Management Panel Spoiler Elevator Computer Slat and Flap, Control Computer Wheel Assembly Main Landing Gear *Aircraft Equipped With IFE
Precision Conversions redelivered a third high-payload variant full-15 pallet configuration Boeing 757-200PCF freighter to Aerolease Aviation—the last of three 757-200PCFs converted for Aerolease under a multi-aircraft deal announced in April. The aircraft, which features a weight upgrade option that brings its total payload to 80,000 lb., will be operated by DHL Americas.
With the delivery of next-generation aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and developments in long-discussed technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) taking hold, the aviation MRO industry will see a variety of exciting and challenging developments in 2011. Here are the top 10 technologies that O&M thinks have the most potential for changing the aftermarket landscape in 2011 and beyond. Automated Identification Technology (AIT)
Snecma inked a deal with the Airbus Corporate Jet Center to provide its customers with full CFM56-5B engine service support, including engine condition monitoring, shop visits, foreign object damage protection, line replaceable unit pool access and spares. Snecma offers the service package as an EngineLife agreement. Avionics/IFE
Airbus and Boeing narrowbody aircraft log very similar reliability data, with MRO Prospector showing that the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737NGs each record flight completion rates of between 99.83-99.98%. “It’s a neck-and-neck race between the two” in terms of reliability and demand, says Rich Poutier, International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC)’s senior VP technical services. ILFC owns about 950 aircraft.
SR Technics will provide full technical training on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft types to Etihad Airlines under a new, five-year contract that extends an initial one-year contract inked in May 2009. The agreement covers basic and specialized training mainly in Abu Dhabi but also at other locations as required, and it grows the relationship between SR Technics, which is owned by Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Aerospace, and U.A.E. national carrier Etihad. IT
