International Light, Inc., is offering a radiometer/photometer that can be custom-configured by the user, employing off-the-shelf detector and filter combinations, to perform a wide variety of specialized light measurements. IL1700 research radiometer/photometer features proprietary front-end amplification system allowing it to operate over 10 billion-to-1 dynamic range and maintain 0.1% linearity. System is available with wide variety of standard detector and filter combinations for performing measurements from UV through IR.
CPI Aerostructures won a 10-year contract worth up to $61 million if all options are exercised to build inlet assemblies for the USAF T-38 propulsion modernization program.
Jet Aviation Basel named Thomas Rechsteiner head of production, maintenance and outfitting. Rechsteiner has 12 years of aviation industry experience, as an aircraft mechanic and later as an engineer. He has served with Swissair and SR Technics in Zurich.
Though the Asian financial crisis of a few years ago is easing, the Asian MRO market is having a bit more trouble bouncing back. Several stories have cropped up recently about problems in the Asian MRO sphere: AMECO Beijing's joint owners, Air China and Lufthansa Technik are arguing over the direction of the venture; Australian carriers Ansett and Qantas have had run-ins with their local regulatory authority -- Ansett even facing shutdown.
FlightSafety Boeing Training International L.L.C. (FSB) named Roland Desjardins general manager at its DFW Airport and Louisville training centers. Desjardins previously was manager, strategic training planning for American Airlines, where he established the American Eagle Pilot Training Center in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Elliott Aviation opened a new centralized engineering department at its facility in Moline, Ill. Brett Cattanach will serve as manager central engineering, with Tom Shadle as assistant manager.
Boeing has entered into an alliance with Ramco Systems to complete a new software offering called Enterprise One, a comprehensive maintenance management system for airlines. Under terms of the agreement, Ramco will supply key software modules to Boeing. Several of the modules are designed specifically to support the work of airline engineering staffs. Other modules cover logistics functions, including spares procurement and inventory transactions. Another component of the new enterprise system supports maintenance planning and scheduling.
Riggers Manufacturing introduced the Tri Lifter, a machine that can work like a gantry, crane or forklift to move heavy loads in confined spaces. Unit can lift 100 tons to 24 ft., 9 in.; 75 tons in crane or forklift mode. Tri Lifter can fit through 8 ft. wide by 10 ft. high door. A 12-ft. boom extension allows unit to lift objects with minimal head room. Unit offers rear-wheel steering with 80 deg. pivot for high maneuverability, two-speed hydrostatic drive system; inching clutch; and oscillating rear end to keep all-wheel traction on uneven surfaces.
Airshow, Inc. named Gary Glynn senior vice president, sales and marketing; Alan Bearden, vice president, sales; Mike Tiffany director, marketing; Andrew Mohr, product director, applications and content; Victoria Bock product director, commercial airline systems; Jana O'Guin product director, corporate aviation systems; and Chris Merry product director, communications systems.
WORLD TOP 10 AIRFRAME SERVICE PROVIDERS Ranked by Annual Labor-Hours Rank Company Man-hours 1. TIMCO (Aviation Sales Co.) 5.4 million 2. Lufthansa Technik 5.2 million (tie) 3. HAECO 4.5 million (tie) 3. Goodrich MRO Division 4.5 million 5. SIA Engineering 4.0 million
Following recent selection of Northrop Grumman's enhanced AN/ALQ-162(V)6 compact lightweight deceptive electronic counter-measures (ECM) system for Egypt's planned avionics upgrade of 35 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to AH-64D standard, the U.S. Army has authorized Boeing to begin procuring long-lead items for this program. Finalization was expected within weeks of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract with Egypt worth about $400 million, also including ordnance, spares, training and support, for this program, with redeliveries planned to start in 2003.
Brown&Sharpe sold its worldwide metrology business to Hexagon, AB of Stockholm. Brown&Sharpe measuring products will continue to carry the Brown&Sharpe brand name.
Heroux-Devtek's landing gear division won a series of new contracts worth $17.3 million: (1) a $9 million contract from the USAF, U.S. Navy and Certified Aircraft Parts for the manufacture of landing gear components for the KC-135R, P-3 and E-2C; and (2) an additional $8.3 million contract from the USAF to provide repair and overhaul of landing gear for the KC-135, KC-135R and the C-130 aircraft. This contract reflects an exercise of the second option of an original three-year landing gear maintenance and refurbishment agreement.
Bearing Inspection, Inc., named Jeff Krolopp vice president of strategic marketing. Krolopp formerly was director of marketing and sales for Airpax Corp.
FAA quietly changed its top position in Flight Standards, elevating Nick Sabatini from his spot as the top executive in the Eastern Region and shifting Nick Lacey to the agency's Operational Evaluation Plan (OEP). The change, first reported by O&M affiliate Aviation Daily, took effect in early May.
Boeing will close its Shreveport, La., military modification center by Oct. 1, citing a steady slowdown in work. Current work at Shreveport includes modifications on U.S. military CH-47s, C-5s and C-130s. The center also did structural modifications and systems upgrades on U.S Navy P-3s and S-3s. The center has about 160 employees.
The vagaries of a consolidating MRO industry, a softening economy, and an unsure stock market have had their effects on the North American Top 10 since we last surveyed the industry in 1999. Though only two new companies (Aviation Management Systems and AAR Aircraft Services, Oklahoma) appear in our 2001 list, the rankings have reshuffled, including a switch of the top two spots - TIMCO (listed under its Aviation Sales parent in 1999) has overtaken Goodrich Maintenance, Repair&Overhaul Division, notching 5.3 million labor-hrs.
Bombardier Regional Aircraft, buoyed largely by the phenomenal success of its Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), now is the third-largest maker of commercial airline transports in the world. With the rapid ramp-up in fleet size comes rapid growth in support needs. O&M Senior Editor Jim Proulx spoke with Chris Beaton, vice president, customer support, for Bombardier Regional Aircraft, about the challenges his department faces in supporting a wide and varied fleet. Edited for length and clarity.
Boeing, which is moving its corporate headquarters to Chicago, named Harry Stonecipher vice chairman. Previously, Stonecipher was president and chief operating officer. Also, Boeing named Michael Bair executive vice president of its Commercial Aviation Services business within its Commercial Airplanes group, succeeding Thomas Schick, who retired in April. Bair will oversee technical support, spare parts, modification and engineering services, digital information products, and customer training. He also will oversee the Boeing Business Jet program.
Few problems have been a greater challenge to aircraft completion centers and more vexing to operators than completing interiors on time and within budget. The concern is particularly acute within the new class of ultra-long-range business jets -- the Boeing Business Jet, Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global Express and Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) -- where some completions have run thousands of hours over schedule and tens of thousands of dollars over budget.
An advanced mission computer (AMC), which Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics&Surveillance Systems (NE&SS) has been selected to provide from an anticipated $58 million order, will be a key component in the upgraded avionics suite of the 80 Block 60 F-16s recently ordered by the UAE from a $6.4 billion contract. Dramatic improvements in processor throughput and memory are claimed by NE&SS for its AMC. Its flexible design facilitates future enhancements. AMC deliveries for the UAE contract will start in 2003.
What if one of the most demonstrably successful companies in your business offers you the chance, not only to see how they do things, but also the chance to re-organize your business on the same lines as theirs?
TransDigm signed an agreement to buy Champion Aviation Products from Federal-Mogul Ignition Co. Liberty, S.C.-based Champion produces igniters for turbine engines and spark plugs and oil filters for piston engines. With sales of $70 million in 2000, Champion will increase TransDigm's annual sales by almost 50%.
Astronics said the USAF has exercised the final option on its contract to provide night vision lighting upgrade kits for the USAF fleet of F-16 aircraft. The option calls for deliveries worth more than $10 million.
