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.
Rockwell Collins named Ronald Hornish vice president of Integrated Applications and Navigation Systems for its Government Systems division. As part of that job, Hornish will manage KC-135 programs, including the Pacer CRAG (Compass, Radar and Global Positioning System) and Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) upgrade programs.
Lufthansa Technik (LHT), which ranks itself as the fourth largest MRO provider in Asia, is shooting to increase its marketshare in the region to 10% this year from 8% in 1999, according to August-Wilhelm Henningsen, LHT's newly appointed chief executive of product and services. ``We will continue to step up our involvement in Asia,'' said Henningsen, who until recently was general manager of LHT's AMECO Beijing joint venture with Air China. ``The fact that we continued investing in Asia during the economic crisis is now paying off,'' he said.
Using civilian employees and government owned-equipment and facilities, Hunting Contract Services (HCS) keeps the U.K. Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of 54 C-130Ks flying. ``We do for the RAF what they used to do for themselves,'' said Ian Blunt, HCS's boss at RAF Lyneham. ``We offer manpower substitution to free up RAF personnel to front-line duties.''
Boeing Phantom Works has demonstrated a new, low-cost technology for upgrading avionics systems without altering the existing software. Developed under the U.S. Air Force's Incremental Upgrade of Legacy Systems program, the technology consists of a software program that ``wraps'' around both the legacy avionics software and new software, allowing both to operate in an upgrade system. The technology was recently demonstrated in an F-15E, and the USAF is considering the wrapper technology for use in the F-15 and C-17 programs.
Rockwell Collins named Bruce King dir-ector of KC-135 programs. King most recently was Rockwell Collins' manager for Global Air Traffic Management (GATM).
Fast-growing Spanair is facing the unusual task of adding substantially to its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft this year even as it prepares for deliveries of new Airbus A321s this autumn. The Spanish carrier plans a complete changeover of its narrowbody fleet to the A320 family by 2005. As Spanair continues to train its growing maintenance staff to handle the MD-80s, it also has been laying the foundation for the maintenance and engineering needs of its imminent new aircraft.
Bearing Inspection was named by GE Engine Services as primary provider of repair and overhaul services for mainline and accessory bearings used in GE's commercial jet engines and related components. The three-year agreement calls for Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Bearing Inspection to support all GEES services worldwide, including Malaysia, Wales, South America and Scotland.
Garrett Aviation Services and Florida Jet Center have created Garrett Aviation Avionics, which will provide avionics service and installation at Florida Jet Center's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., facility.
Derco Repair Services disclosed contracts with the U.S. Air Force worth $3.3 million. It will provide support services for electrical generators, hydraulic boosters and various engine/fuel-related components to Kelly, McClellan and Tinker air force bases for C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules and C-141 StarLifter transports, as well as F-16 fighters.
