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.
Pratt & Whitney Canada relocated its Muskegon, Mich., spare parts and LRU warehouse to Memphis, Tenn., where it will continue to offer AOG services. It says that it will accept orders up to midnight EST for next-day FedEx delivery.
Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics plan to set up a joint venture for inflight entertainment and cabin management systems for narrowbody and widebody VIP aircraft. In particular the two partners aim to combine the technologies behind Panasonic’s X series IFE system, eXConnect and eXPhone global communications systems and Lufthansa Technik’s “nice” IFE and CMS system to develop new systems with advanced features.
Vector Aerospace opened a new engine overhaul facility in Lanseria, South Africa, on Nov. 8. Vector Aerospace-Africa (Pty) Ltd. will offer a variety of specialized services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, JT15D and PW100 series engines, up to and including full overhaul support for PT6A engines. Training
ADDIS ABABA—While the African subcontinent represents only 4% of global MRO revenues, its markets are anticipated to witness greater demand for MRO services as a result of air traffic growth, new aircraft deliveries and airline consolidation, says Frost & Sullivan. These predictions are supported by Boeing’s September forecast, which pegs carriers in Africa to experience steady growth over the next 20 years, with a delivery of 710 airplanes in that time frame.
AJ Walter Aviation added a new warehouse in Singapore, where in early November it said it already held more than $20 million in Airbus and Boeing inventory. This investment is a second recent addition: in September, AJ Walter announced it was adding a new office in Miami.
SR Technics will provide integrated component solutions for five Airbus A320s operated by Swiss charter carrier Hello through 2016 under a late October contract that includes dedicated consignment stock at Basel and access to SR Technics’ component pool stocks on a flight-hour basis.
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.
StandardAero (Canada). This alliance between GE and StandardAero encompasses work on both CF34 and CFM56 engines. MTU Aero Engines (Germany). GE and MTU collaborate on CF34 work. Japan Airlines (Japan). GE and JAL work together on GE90s. ST Aerospace (Singapore). GE and ST Aerospace collaborate on CFM56-3/5B/7 powerplants. KLM Engineering and Maintenance (Netherlands). CF6s and CFM56s are targets of opportunity for this collaborative effort with GE.
ST Aerospace inked a seven-year component maintenance contract with China Airlines worth $16.2 million (about S$21 million). The contract consists of component maintenance-by-the-hour (MBH) support services for China Airlines’ 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, starting immediately. The contract includes repair management and pool access to ST Aerospace’s worldwide inventory and is the fourth MBH program contract awarded to ST Aerospace this year.
Archeion Holdings amended STCs to install an Avionica satlink Iridium satcom communication management system on various Boeing 727, 737, 757 and 767 series aircraft, STCs ST03689AT, ST03529AT, ST03386AT and ST03508AT
Rolls-Royce won a $390-million order from Thai Airways International for Trent 700 engines to power an additional seven Airbus A330 aircraft scheduled to be delivered from 2011. The order includes a TotalCare service agreement. Thai already operates eight Trent 700-powered A330s, 20 Trent 800 powered Boeing 777s and 10 Trent 500-powered Airbus A340s. It also picked the Trent 900 to power six A380s. Its entire Trent fleet is supported by TotalCare. Rolls-Royce will provide Trent 700s to Tunisair to power its three Airbus A330s.