Federal Express amended STC to install a Honeywell head-up display and a Kollsman infrared enhanced flight vision system on McDonnell Douglas MD-10-30F, MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft, STC ST03557AT
Commsoft signed a 10-concurrent-user contract with Sweden-based Nex Time Jet AB, which will use Commsoft OASES MRO management software to support its 13 Saab 340s, three BAe ATP, two Beech 1900D and one Beech King Air 200 aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney added ITR-Turborreactores, S.A. de CV’s Queretaro, Mexico, facility as a designated service provider center of excellence for JT8D engine component repair.
Lufthansa Technical Training added new Airbus A330/A340 type training course capability with a cockpit simulation device called the Maintenance Flight Training Device, which it started using on A330 courses in August. It plans to extend the simulator’s use to Boeing types, starting with the Boeing 747-400.
Singapore Airlines plans to roll out full OnAir onboard connectivity services, across its fleet of five Airbus A340-500s in the first half of 2011. It plans to follow with OnAir services on its Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A380s. SIA formerly offered onboard Internet via Boeing’s Connexion service but stopped in 2006, when Boeing exited that business. Parts/Components
The European Commission, ICAO, IATA and the U.S. Department of Transportation signed a memorandum of understanding to create a “framework and path” toward the creation of a global safety information exchange. The four organizations will begin by reviewing the safety information each collects and selecting items “most relevant to improving safety by risk reduction.” IATA has committed to providing de-identified information from 345 airlines participating in its operational safety audit program. ICAO will coordinate the exchange.
Lufthansa Technik signed a 10-year total component support contract with Aeromexico covering the airline’s fleet of 34 Boeing 737-700s and -800s. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
GE Aviation held its second M601 line maintenance training course at its Cincinnati-area Customer Technical Education Center on Oct. 25 and 26. It plans to offer the course, which it launched in March, twice per year.
GE Aviation plans to invest $40 million on 1,000 new repairs in 2010, and part of this funding is focused on developing new capabilities for its CF6-80C2 engine. Although this 25-year-old model is in the last stages of its life-cycle, its manufacturer is participating in a joint repair development with Lufthansa Technik to test some tried-and-true repair techniques in the turbine engine aftermarket for the first time.
Delta TechOps extended its power-by-the-hour component support contract for Ryan International Airlines’ Boeing fleet through 2014. The new agreement expands coverage to all Boeing 767s for component support in North America and Europe, as well as one Boeing 757 for component support in North America.
The first of two SunExpress CFM56-7B turbofan engines arrived at Lufthansa Technik’s Hamburg engine overhaul center on Oct. 13. The engines are covered under a 10-year total engine support contract the Turkish carrier arranged for its Boeing 737-800 fleet earlier this year.
After 18 months of subcontracting line maintenance to a local provider, Klaus Ren, president and CEO of Copenhagen-based Jet-Time A/S, had had enough. “Our vendor didn't perform as promised,” says Ren, noting that the provider has since folded. With seven Boeing 737-300s, Jet-Time now does all line work at its own hangar in Copenhagen. “By doing this inhouse, we can supervise our staff, which is dedicated to our own aircraft. You can’t count on that with an outside provider.”
Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners signed an exclusive, five-year engine management program agreement with Air Memphis for its IAE V2500 engines. The contract includes Pratt & Whitney analysis of engine health via its Web-based Advanced Diagnostics & Engine Management tools.
Sabena technics renewed its component support for Dublin-based cargo carrier Air Contractors’ six ATR-42s and 10 ATR-72s for five more years in September. Sabena technics also will provide component repair and overhaul services for Croatia-based Trade Air’s two Fokker 100’s from its Dinard, France, site and its Paris Charles de Gaulle component pool.
India’s Air Works aims to expand rapidly into the country’s booming market for aircraft maintenance by buying foreign specialist operators and replicating their expertise at home. It sees the expansion strategy, already used with its purchase of British aircraft painting firm Air Livery, as the answer to a range of challenges: how to quickly gather expertise, avoid overloading management, lure new customers, and establish and keep a reputation for quality.
The first of four new-generation regional jets should make its airline debut by the end of the year, heralding a new era of super-efficient aircraft that promise to cut fuel consumption and maintenance costs significantly compared to current types. Assuming Sukhoi receives type certification for its SSJ100 Superjet from Russian aviation authorities this month, the first of these should be delivered to Aeroflot and Armavia before the end of the year. Eighteen aircraft are now in production, with six in final assembly.
GE Aviation appointed Bill Fitzgerald VP and general manager of its GEnx product line from his most recent position as VP and general manager of assembly, test and overhaul. Taking over for him in that role is Colleen Athans, who was promoted from general manager of CF6 commercial engines and services.
Rockwell Collins Aerospace & Electronics to install the Rockwell Collins Model 4000 head-up guidance system with enhanced vision system capability on Boeing 737-700, -700C, -800, -900 and -900ER series aircraft, STC ST00039MC
Pentagon 2000 Software gained Aero Contractors Co. of Nigeria as a customer for its Pentagon2000SQL logistics management and record keeping software. Contracts
TAP Maintenance & Engineering Brazil implemented an operational security management system, which it plans to deploy in four stages by December 2012. Training
