The European Parliament approved a new law on Sept. 21 intended to ensure the independence of air accident investigations. The new law provides that any statements taken from individuals by a safety investigator, as well as recordings from cockpit voice and image recorders and air traffic control units, will be used only for safety investigation purposes, “unless there is an overriding reason for disclosure to the judiciary.”
STG Aerospace amended STCs to install the Saftglo photoluminescent floor proximity emergency escape path marking system on Boeing 747-300 and -400 and 777-200 series aircraft, STCs ST02993AT and ST03684AT
Technical trainer John Mendoza is lucky. In his 25 years at San Antonio’s Kelly Aviation Center, he has rarely experienced major safety issues in the engine test cell. But accidents happen to even the best test cell operators, and once, early in his career, he came across an emergency situation that he was unprepared to handle.
Seven Q Seven to replace Pratt & Whitney JT3D series engine with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engine and associated systems in all positions on Boeing 707-300C series aircraft, STC ST02287LA
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.
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
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.
Sargent Aerospace & Defense named Kevin Connelly VP, aftermarket services. Connelly most recently was general manager of ACE Service, a joint venture of Parker Aerospace and Singapore Airlines. Airframes
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
ARC Avionics amended STC to install dual Universal Avionics UNS-1F flight management system or UNS-1Fw WAAS-capable FMS on Boeing 737-200 series aircraft, STC ST03362AT
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
