Some 13 Avioane Craiova IAR-99 Soim RR Viper-632-41M turbojet-powered tandem-seat advanced trainers operated by the Romanian air force since 1997 are to be supplemented by 24 additional examples, equipped by Elbit Systems with digital avionics for lead-in fighter training. These will incorporate some of the Elbit avionics, including multi-function cockpit displays, HUD, mission computer, INS/GPS, HOTAS, defensive aids suite and Elbit's DASH display and sight helmet, developed for the RomAF's upgraded MiG-21MF Lancer program.
Modernization of the RAAF's 56 F/A-18As and 15 two-seat F/A-18Bs to near-F/A-18C/D standards have started at Williamtown air base, near Sydney, from an estimated $A1.25 billion ($735 million) multi-phase Hornet avionics upgrade program (HUG), for which Boeing's McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and Missile Systems Division is prime contractor.
The basic question for someone purchasing an aircraft part is, ``How much is it going to cost me?'' And as the Internet revolution has gained steam, a good number of websites have cropped up that use several different methods for answering that question: they include request-for-quote services, auctions, on-line parts catalogs and other strategies. But they are missing an important factor in the equation, according to Justin Spaulding.
Significant performance increases are expected for Mil Mi-35 ``Hind'' attack helicopters operated by the air force of Zimbabwe, following powerplant upgrades being undertaken by Russia's Rostvertol PLC, as prime contractor. This is an additional upgrade program for the Russian industry group, which has already undertaken installation of GPS, observation and night-vision systems in the AFZ Mi-35s, about a dozen of which were delivered in 1998.
Pemco Aviation Group, which recently signed a five-year contract with the IAM local representing workers at Pemco World Air Services in Dothan, Ala., plans to expand the Dothan facility and make its solely responsible for Pemco's commercial operations. At the same time, Pemco has decided not to extend the lease on its Victorville, Calif., facility, where it had been doing some commercial aircraft work. Pemco opened the Victorville facility just two years ago.
1. Examine manufacturers' design practices with regard to bonding of components inside fuel tanks and require changes in those practices, as necessary, to eliminate potential ignition hazards. 2. Review the design specifications for aircraft wiring systems of all U.S.-certified aircraft and (1) identify which systems are critical to safety and (2) require revisions, as necessary, to ensure that adequate separation is provided for the wiring related to those critical systems.
Kenneth E. Gazzola has been named to the board of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Gazzola is executive vice president of The McGraw-Hill Companies' Aviation Week Group and publisher of Aviation Week&Space Technology. His responsibilities at McGraw-Hill include the strategic direction and management of Overhaul&Maintenance, Business&Commercial Aviation and A/C Flyer magazines, and Aviation Week Newsletters.
DaimlerChrysler Aviation, formerly known as Chrysler Pentastar Aviation, will provide complete aircraft maintenance and servicing for JetOne, a fractional ownership company based at Oakland County International Airport.
Lufthansa Technik won a multi-year deal to provide its Total Component Support Package to U.S. carrier Pro Air. The deal covers Pro Air's fleet of Boeing 737s.
Lufthansa Technik and Fairchild Dornier have signed a contract covering completion, support and maintenance of the Envoy 7, a corporate version of the under-development 728JET regional jet. LHT will be responsible for interior completion of jets sold to non-U.S. customers, and will provide heavy maintenance in Hamburg. Fairchild Dornier also will set up a spare parts center at LHT's Frankfurt facilities.
Dee Howard Aircraft Maintenance will expand its maintenance operations at San Antonio airport by taking over a nearby facility it used to own. The building used to house Dee Howard's thrust reverser manufacturing operations, which were sold to Nordam in 1999 and subsequently relocated to Oklahoma.
Not too long ago, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer had a problem: The electromechanical fatigue meter on its Tucano turboprop military trainer was heavy, awkward, didn't interface with modern information technology and required frequent, expensive maintenance.
The Lahav division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has been selected as prime contractor, in conjunction with CASA and INDRA in Spain, for an initial $20 million avionics upgrade of four Spanish air force (EdA) CASA-built Northrop SF-5B two-seat combat trainers. Around 22 of these are operated by EdA's 23 Wing (Ala 23) from Talavera for lead-in fighter training, and the contract includes options for upgrading the remaining 18 to similar standards with digital avionics.
A three-year joint study by the world's major airlines and airliner manufacturers shows no systemic design problems or flaws within aircraft fuel tanks that could lead to electrical ignition of fuel vapor. The study by the Aircraft Fuel System Safety Program team examined 990 aircraft undergoing heavy maintenance since the group was formed in 1997, and found only isolated incidents of degraded wiring or damaged connections. None of these incidents had any effect on overall safety, OEM and airline representatives said Aug. 16.
Consolidation continues to reduce the number of players in the business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul field, the survivors rendered down and grouped into a handful of MRO providers capable of complete nose-to-tail aircraft service. One of the principal drivers of this trend is the ongoing temptation of airframe manufacturers to vertically integrate virtually all aftermarket services under the OEM's in-house umbrella.
Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics&Surveillance Systems-Tactical Systems (NE&SS-Tactical Systems) announced in July the redelivery of a fourth and final P-3C Orion maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft upgraded under a 1996 $50 million Foreign Military Sales contract to the Norwegian air force (Luftforsvaret).
Rolls-Royce has formed a partnership with Chromalloy to provide advanced engine component repair services on RB211, Tay and Trent engines. Turbine Repair Technologies Ltd. will be based at Chromalloy's existing facility in Somercotes, England, and will employ up to 170 people.
FAA granted supplemental type certification for Aviation Partners Boeing's (APB) ``blended winglet'' 8-ft. winglet extensions for the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). With the STC, Boeing will begin offering the winglets, which APB says extends the aircraft's range by 300 nmi. or increases payload by 4,000 lbs. APB is working on certifying the winglets for Boeing 737 commercial airliners.
Flight development started at BAE Systems' Warton facility in early June, in the hands of factory test pilot Gordon McClymont, of an RAF Jaguar equipped with an uprated Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 106 turbofan alongside its standard 7,900-lbs. thrust afterburning Mk 104 engine. Some 122 Adour Mk 104s are to be uprated at Rolls-Royce's Bristol and East Kilbride factories as Mk 106s developing 8,800 lbs. thrust for take-off, for the RAF's Jaguar fleet.
