SÃO CARLOS—Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines expects to decide this summer whether to keep its maintenance, repair and overhaul unit as an internal part of the airline or spin it off as a separate company, creating an opportunity for a new shareholder to acquire a portion of it.
Maintenance technicians have long fought fatigue on the job. Now the FAA has stepped up its efforts to aid in that fight with new tools, an aggressive communication campaign and a data collection effort aimed at scientifically quantifying the impact of fatigue on aviation maintenance incidents and accidents.
The spontaneous explosion of TWA Flight 800’s center-wing fuel tank in 1996 caused the loss of 230 lives and massive changes fuel-tank systems regulations. Fourteen years later, the response of FAA and decisions by airframe OEMs still cause turmoil among airline maintenance departments and the independent shops that repair fuel-tank systems.
Smaller Videoscope For hard-to-access crevices on aircraft parts, Machida is offering a 3-mm flexible videoscope, the smallest in the industry, according to Machida VP Jitu Patel. The Machida VSC-3-140-N videoscope relays video images from a distal tip and focusable lens assembly back to a display via internal wiring. The image quality is similar to that of a high-end video camera. The VSC-3-140-N videoscope kit consists of a videoscope, SD card, processor and carrying case. Machida, Inc., 40 Ramland Rd. South, Orangeburg, NY 10962
Ruag Military Aviation signed a joint agreement with Northrop Grumman to provide aftermarket support, modifications and upgrades to F-5 Tiger aircraft flown by the Swiss air force and other militaries. Northrop Grumman is the OEM of the F-5, which has been in service for 40 years.
Mobile Cleanrooms For AOG situations or other work outside the hangar, mobile cleanrooms can provide FOD- and dust-free zones for assembly, testing and research. Kinetic Systems’ cleanroom enclosures come in several standard sizes, but for operations with specific requirements, the company’s experts can work with customers’ design teams to develop a cleanroom that fits the task.
AeroMexico Airlines is installing ICG’s NxtLink communication system that offers flightdeck voice and datalink services over the Iridium satellite network on five Boeing 767-200 and -300 aircraft.
Sargent Aerospace & Defense will do $1 million of Rolls-Royce RB2110-535 tube, duct and manifold component overhauls for Texas Aero Engine Services at its facility in Franklin, Ind., under a three-year contract that began in May. The agreement covers more than 60 part numbers and equates to more than 1,000 repairs annually for Sargent.
MTU Aero Engines and GE Aviation signed a 10-year component repair development agreement. The transatlantic deal is not restricted to specific GE engine types or assemblies and stipulates that the new repair procedures will be approved as OEM repairs and marketed by GE.
AeroMexico signed a two-year contract extension with AFI KLM E&M to maintain its fleet of Boeing 777s. The original contract was signed in 2008. Under the terms of the extension, all aircraft will undergo a C check.
Delta TechOps completed its 500th Aircell Gogo WiFi installation. Aircraft flying with their WiFi work include Airbus A319, Boeing 757-200/-300, 767-300, MD-88/-90 and 737-700/-800. Parts/Components
AeroTurbine opened a new sales and material distribution center near London Heathrow. It aims to open a similar facility for rotable inventory in Asia by yearend.
SLCA added Pierre Gerard as president to replace Laurent Schneider-Maunoury, who is leaving the Safran group. Since mid-2009, Gerard was head of customer support for Sagem Defense & Security's avionics division. Airframes
Source One Aircraft Repair is under contract with Magnolia Investments to procure, provide bridging services and deliver aircraft to Magnolia customers. It has transitioned one Boeing 737-300 out of storage and expects to assist with additional aircraft.
Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil told Polish daily Rzeczpospolita that his company wants to buy LOT Polish Airlines, but the acquisition is being delayed due to LOT’s restructuring.
WiFi is moving from coffee shop hot zones to business jet cabins as the FAA continues to work with airframe OEMs and maintenance, repair and overhaul shops to establish formal guidelines for certifying the onboard WiFi equipment and enabling inflight use of passenger-carried wireless devices.
PAS Technologies appointed Philip F. Milazzo CEO to succeed Robert B. Weiner, who died on May 11. Milazzo most recently was executive VP for sales and marketing.
CAE received a C$90-million ($83.7-million) contract from Lockheed Martin to develop maintenance simulators that will train technicians for the CC-130J Super Hercules cargo plane. Canada has purchased 17 of the aircraft from Lockheed Martin. Under the agreement, CAE will develop training suites for two fuselages and a cockpit, as well as other support services and facilities prior to delivery of the aircraft. After that, the company will manage the training program for the military until mid-2016, providing upgrades, repairs, and software and hardware engineering.
