Aviation industry leaders have been preparing for changes on Capitol Hill in light of elections that resulted in a shift in power from a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives to Republican control. These changes largely were expected, but the elections produced one stunning return for the aviation industry—the end of Rep. James Oberstar’s (D-Minn.) four-decade career in Congress. Oberstar, the powerful chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), lost his bid for re-election to newcomer Chip Cravaack, a former U.S.
Hamilton Sundstrand opened a new, high-tech customer response center on Nov. 9, to provide a single point of access to a unified IT platform and master database. As it ramps up based on call volume, Hamilton Sundstrand says it could add specialists in areas such as health management.
Ramco Systems will provide Suite 5 M&E and MRO maintenance planning software to the National Aviation Co. of India, which operates Air India, Indian Airlines, Air India Expres and Alliance, under a September contract.
Timco amended and issued STCs to install cell modems, other cabin systems and new interiors in Boeing 767-300 series aircraft; to install structural provisions for the Panasonic global communications suite on Boeing 737-700 series aircraft; and to install a Rockwell Collins SRT-2100 satcom system on Boeing 767-400ER series aircraft, STCs ST03604AT-D, ST03810AT-D, ST03808AT-D, ST03068AT-D, ST03552AT-D, ST03493AT-D, ST03492AT-D and ST03468AT-D
Electronic signatures are not the final step, but they are one of the furthest steps toward all-electronic maintenance information. Combined with electronic documentation, e-signatures promise: real-time information for technicians, maintenance and operations managers; elimination of time wasted walking and signing paper documentation; faster shift changes; fewer errors; faster audits; saved time and cost in storing, managing, searching, analyzing and transmitting paper documents;
Presidential Airways amended STC to install a single Class-A Sandel ST3400 terrain awareness warning system with remote magnetic indicator function on copilot upper left instrument panel on Casa CN-235-100/-200/-300 series aircraft, STC ST03537AT
SR Technics Malta completed its first maintenance visit of an easyJet aircraft—an Airbus A321 named “Pride of Malta”—on Oct. 21. SR Technics is maintaining easyJet’s fleet under a 10-year contract extension signed last fall.
BAE Systems Info & Electronic Systems amended STC to install the BAE Systems Jeteye Performance Analysis Collection system on Boeing 767-200 series aircraft, STC ST02468CH
Premier Aviation announced Nov. 8 that it finalized the purchase of Rome, N.Y.-based Empire Aero Center from Israel Aerospace Industries. Negotiations for the purchase became public in early September, and the sale actually closed in early October, says Dave Diggle, VP marketing, sales and service. The companies did not disclose the purchase price, though Diggle notes that it included all of Empire Aero Center's assets. Premier has launched operations at the New York site and completed the third of five Airbus narrowbody C checks for a new U.S. customer there on Nov.
As cutting-edge technology renders powerplants exponentially more reliable—able to shun shop visits in a fashion earlier engines never could—cooperative agreements among OEMs and MROs are taking off. That is the irony of it.
NIJL Aircraft Docking will provide Turkish Technik with eight narrowbody aircraft docking systems over the next two years, for installation at its new Habom project at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport. The first four docks are scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2011; the remaining four will be delivered through 2012.
Archeion Holdings amended STC to install a mini quick access recorder model MKI, MKII, or MKIII on multiple air transport and business aircraft models, STC ST02472AT
LONDON—More than 12,000 aircraft could reach their end of service lives in the next 20 years, while the prices of raw and processed materials to construct their successors continue to rise. Will recycling these redundant airframes ease material costs?
StandardAero named Mark Bianchi VP and general manager of its Los Angeles (LAX) facility. Bianchi most recently was senior VP and executive VP of NetJets Aviation, a position he held since 2006.
Boeing introduced stage one of its 737NG mid-life update with the delivery of the first aircraft equipped with the Sky Interior cabin to Flydubai on Oct. 28. The U.A.E.-based low-cost airline, the first of five airlines slated to receive 737NGs with the new interior this year, planned to put the 737-800 into service in November, and to receive three more Sky Interior-equipped aircraft before year-end. Malaysia Airlines received its first 737NG with the new interior on Nov. 8.
Atlantic Fasteners Aerospace inked a two-year, renewable contract for barcode-based vendor managed inventory services with a Chicago-area aerospace subcontractor that manufactures components directly for Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the Defense Department, under which it will supply 420 aircraft parts worth $180,000 per year. More parts should be added later.
Exostar launched the next generation of its supply chain management platform, SPC 2. The E2open powered software lets users manage planning, procurement, inventory and logistics processes.
What have been your biggest challenges in the first year of refocusing Olympic Air’s maintenance business? Pascalis: We started our operation on Sept. 28, 2009, and the old Olympic Airlines actually concluded their operations on the same day. The first challenge was to take over the hangar facilities at Athens Airport: they were coming out while we were going in. It sounds easy, but it’s not. You have one huge, 40-year-old organization moving out, and us moving in on the same day. Logistically, it’s a big effort.
Christchurch Engine Center (New Zealand). A JV between Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand. Eagle Services Asia (Singapore). A JV involving Pratt & Whitney and SIA Engineering Co. Shanghai Engine Center (China). A joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and China Eastern Airlines. Turkish Engine Center (Turkey). A joint venture of Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Technic. Asian Compressor Technology Services (Taiwan). This tripartite JV encompasses Pratt & Whitney, SIA Engineering Co., and China Airlines.
CFM International will maintain Muscat-based Oman Air’s 33 CFM56-7B engines under an Oct. 26 agreement. The contract guarantees maintenance costs on a dollar-per-engine flight hour basis for all of the powerplants that equip Oman Air’s 15 Boeing 737NGs, in addition to spares. According to CFM, Oman Air was the first customer in the Gulf region for CFM56-7B-powered 737NGs, which it ordered in 2001.
