Epicor Software Corp. will provide its Impresa enterprise resource planning software to Bearing Inspection Inc. to help that company manage its MRO, supply chain and financial operations.
SR Technics and Monarch Airlines signed a contract covering two C checks on the carrier's Airbus A330 aircraft. Work includes several service bulletin modifications, and will be done at SR Technic's Zurich airport facility.
Gulfstream Aircraft Co. broke ground on an expansion of its Brunswick, Ga., facility that will include a 24,000-sq. ft. completion hangar and upgrade and lease of a 20,000-sq. ft. maintenance and storage building. Completion is scheduled for summer 2000.
The Star Alliance is launching a business-to-business e-commerce exchange to buy and sell airline-industry supplies. The site will include all airline members of the Star Alliance but will be managed independently. Non-Star members are invited to join the e-commerce venture. The site will offer general purchasing and aircraft parts excluding fuel. The venture could mean $6.5 billion in business services to alliance members. Air Canada CEO Robert Milton will spearhead the initiative, but a separate, independent management team will be named at a later date.
Rockwell Collins received a $30.2 million contract from the U.S. Navy for ARC-210 radios, with options for an additional $85 million in follow-on orders. Radios will be installed on new and existing USAF, Marine Corps and Navy aircraft and helicopters. The radio meets heightened requirements for reliable and secure communications in both the tactical and air traffic control environment.
The run of e-commerce announcements, pronouncements and promises continues unabated as players big and small seek to wedge themselves publicly into aviation's increasingly crowded e-airspace. The big announcement, of course, came from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Raytheon. Together, the four, plus technology partner Commerce One, are planning an all-encompassing aerospace and defense Internet trading exchange for the buying and selling of everything from raw materials to spares and aftermarket support (see box, p.34).
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures sector was awarded an $8.6 million sole-source contract by the U.S. Navy for 72 post-production spare structural components for the F/A-18 fighter. Options to increase contract value to $18 million. Structural components to be provided include doors, duct assemblies and bulkheads.
Distributive Software, Inc. will supply its MetricCenter software package to Lockheed Martin Corp. under a three-year agreement. MetricCenter performs engineering project management and includes design tools.
FLS Aerospace and Airtours International established a maintenance facility at Manchester Airport dedicated to the Airtours fleet. The facility is attached to the existing FLS center at the U.K. airport, which already supports the Airtours fleet of Airbus A320 and A330, and Boeing 757 and DC-10 aircraft.
Northwest Airlines will provide engine overhaul and repair services for AirTran Airways' JT8D engines powering its 35 DC-9-30s and four 737s under a four-year agreement.
Derco Aerospace was appointed distributor for Honeywell Hardware Products Group line of military aerospace parts and expendable suppliers. Inventories include products from Adams Industries, Aerospace Bearing Support, Aircraft Bearing, Airsupply Operations, Burbank Aircraft Supply, Harco, PacAero, PB Herndon and Tristar.
A Hong Kong-based engine maintenance company wanted to upgrade its capacity, so it added a large-engine test cell. But once that was in place, a problem cropped up: How could the shop get several mechanics and all their tools 15 ft. or more in the air to get at engines mounted in the cells? The answer in this case was to call Buffalo, N.Y.-based Pentalift Equipment Corp. And the result? ``It's the largest-footprint lift table we ever built,'' said a Pentalift spokesman. ``It measures out at 26 ft. by 40 ft. and lifts 18 ft. above the ground.''
FAA rolled out the final version of its terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) rule March 29, mandating all in-service aircraft ``configured with'' six or more seats -- as opposed to ``type-certificated with'' six or more seats as specified in the proposal -- have the units installed or retrofitted within five years. The compliance window includes one year before the rule goes into effect and four years to complete retrofits. New aircraft must have the systems starting March 29, 2002, but many of them already are rolling off production lines with them.
Garrett Aviation Services named Allyn Robinson COO. Robinson previously was president and general manager of Garrett's Long Island, N.Y., facility. Robinson will relocate to Phoenix.
BAE Systems-Aviation Services entered the single-aisle maintenance business by agreeing to perform a 2C check on a TransAer Airbus A320 at BAE's maintenance center at Filton, U.K. BAE received JAR-145 approval for the A320 family in March, and also has approvals for A300 and A310 maintenance.
Lufthansa Technik named James Stoecker president and CEO of Lufthansa Technik Component Services, Dallas. Stoecker previously was LHT's general manager of sales, marketing and business development for North America.
Heroux's Landing Gear Division received $9.8 million in new contracts from the U.S. Navy, USAF and Certified Aircraft Parts Inc. for the manufacture of landing gear components for the P-3, KC-135R and C-130 aircraft.
U.S. Technology Corp. won a contract from Boeing to provide its Magic blasting product to depaint USAF's fleet of KC-135 tankers. Canton, Ohio-based U.S. Technology also will supply recycling services to Boeing, collecting residue from the blasting process for the production of planters, furniture and other household products.
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures sector dedicated a machining facility at Kob Noster, Mo., to improve the company's rapid response capability in support of the B-2 bomber fleet at nearby Whiteman AFB. New facility will let parts and components be processed closer to the B-2's operational base. Work had been performed at Northrop Grumman's Air Combat Systems site in Palmdale, Calif.
Racal Avionics received two avionics upgrade contracts from the UK MoD valued at $96 million with options worth another $64 million over the next five years. The first involves installing Saturn dual V/UHF radio systems and AMS 2000 control display navigation units on the Royal Navy's fleet of Lynx HMA Mk.8 helicopters. Under the second, Racal will provide AMS 2000 units with embedded GPS for Royal Navy Chinook helicopters.
Marconi Integrated Systems received a $10 million time-and-materials contract to provide for repair of 575 Avionics Integrated Shop and Improved Avionics Intermediate Shop components in support of F-16 fighters.
