Standardization, from one regulatory agency to the next and from one airline’s maintenance program to another, is being debated alongside efforts to drive efficiency. IATA aims to develop a standard for MRO audits to reduce redundancies, while, for example, U.S. government legislation would increase FAA oversight outside the country. Meanwhile, airline executives weigh the incremental benefits of customized maintenance programs against a common approach.
Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services to install CMC Electronics’ PilotView Class 2 electronic flight bag on Boeing 757-200, 757-200CB, 757-200PF and 757-300 series, STC ST02811CH
Comlux located its new operation in Indiana because the state won out over a bid from Minnesota. CEO David Edinger says the main elements of the maintenance and completion business already had been established at Indianapolis. Further, the land was for sale, and necessary skill sets were available in the local workforce. The state’s central location contributed to the decision. The proximity of many U.S.-based vendors whose products are critical to the work was another factor.
EADS Defense and Security has delivered the first of 85 Tornados flown by the Luftwaffe with comprehensive software and hardware upgrades that are designed to improve survivability against ground and airborne defenses. The upgrade, called Avionics Software System Tornado Ada, powers advanced computers, digital maps, color screens and a head-down visual display.
GE Aviation opened a new facility in Greenville, S.C., to manufacture high-pressure turbine blades for commercial aircraft engines. The site represents an investment of $30 million in new equipment and is expected to grow 100 jobs by 2013.
SR Technics signed an integrated component solutions contract with Thomas Cook Group to provide components for 43 aircraft—18 Boeing 757s and three 767s for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, and 13 757s and nine 767s for Condor airline—through 2015.
FRANKFURT—The first Airbus A380 to enter Lufthansa Technik’s purpose-built tail dock here eased into position as planned in April, with no expensive noises. This smoothly choreographed event marked the culmination of seven years of planning for Lufthansa Technik’s A380 project group, even though the aircraft used for the trial was a flight-test aircraft. Lufthansa’s first A380 was scheduled to arrive in May with three others slated to follow in June, July and September, plus four more in 2011. First flight will be June 11.
INDIANAPOLIS—Comlux must be breaking some kind of record for growth in the fashionable market of VIP air transportation. Founded in 2003 as a Swiss-based charter airline, the company has spread to five other locations, the latest in the U.S. On a 40-year-old campus at Indianapolis International Airport, Comlux has set up a maintenance and completion center for aircraft that transport the world’s movers and shakers.
The government awarded Saab a 2-billion-kronor ($278-million) contract to upgrade the air force’s JAS 39C/D Gripen fleet. Work covers 75 single-seat jets and 25 twin-seat fighters, and runs for four years. No details were disclosed.
CAD Optimization Software ReverseEngineering.com introduced a new product specifically for maintenance, repair and overhaul providers that work with computer-assisted design (CAD) software and coordinate measuring machine (CMM) hardware to simplify reverse engineering processes. Within aerospace, potential applications include alignment, tooling and mold certification, and parts inspection.
The European Commission published its 13th blacklist of airlines banned from operating within EU borders in April. The new list includes all carriers from the Philippines and Sudan, plus Iran Air. The EC acknowledged efforts by authorities to reform civil aviation in the Philippines and noted that PAL and Cebu Air have taken measures. Still, it insists it will—as a precaution—impose a full operating ban.
Southwest Airlines 3,200 flights per day 34,637 employees 639 miles average aircraft trip length $184 million maintenance, materials and repairs expenses in the first quarter 537 Boeing 737s, average age 10.5 years 10 number of Boeing 737-700s to be delivered this year June 18, 1971 commenced passenger service with three Boeing 737s in Texas 68 cities served
The U.S. Air Force picked Chromalloy to repair F108 engine high-pressure compressor blades for its KC-135 tanker fleet under a contract worth $4.3 million. The contract covers one base year with four one-year options and calls for the repair of 14,984 stage-two blades, 18,268 stage-three blades, 20,976 stage-four blades and 21,303 stage-five blades. The work will take place at Chromalloy's Dallas facility in support of the Oklahoma Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City.
Smyrna Air Center became a GE Aviation authorized service center for the M601 and H80 turboprop engines. It will offer comprehensive line maintenance, removals and re-installations of engines and LRUs and engine spares for the two engine families. GE Aviation will provide Smyrna Air Center with full material support and training.
Increased business disruption Derailment Cost overruns and poor return on investment Rejection by the organization Projects within the project Low morale and lack of direction Penny rich, pound poor results Expecting the unexpected
Delta TechOps will overhaul and repair Nordwind Airline’s Pratt & Whitney 2000 series engines and GTCP 331-200 auxiliary power units, which equip the Russian airline's Boeing 757 fleet, under a long-term strategic contract with Global Avia Logistics. The partnership is designed to allow Global Avia to leverage Delta TechOps’ logistics network, while Delta TechOps gains reach in Eastern Europe and Asia.
TeamSAI launched a new business focused on technical support services called TeamSAI M&E Solutions, with launch customers World Airways, North American Airlines and United Airlines. David A. Marcontell, a partner in the firm and its former CFO, is president of the subsidiary.
LONDON—While lobbyists pressure aviation to clean up its act, the environment itself is undergoing changes that challenge every type of aircraft and engine. Regional and seasonal climatic differences, such as tropical heat and humidity, extreme winter cold, sand and dust over deserts, and salt air around coasts and islands create a conundrum of how to construct and maintain aircraft to cope with them that becomes chemical roulette. Testing Standards
GE Aviation started M601E turboprop engine training courses at its customer technical education center near Cincinnati. It held the first M601E line maintenance course in late March; the center also will serve as the North America training center for the H80 engine.
A J Walter added MD-11 aircraft to its power-by-the-hour component support portfolio with customers Finnair Technical Services and Belgium’s Avient launching the program. Varna, Bulgaria-based Air Via also renewed and extended its Airbus A320 contract through 2014, and Cyprus Airways added IAE V2500 engine LRUs to its contract for A320 family fleet support. AJ Walter also partnered with Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering to support Air Arabia’s Egyptian fleet of Airbus A320s.
Elisra Electronic Systems, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, has received two major upgrade contracts from Asian nations. One, which can be identified, is with the South Korean government. Elisra will supply $25 million worth of electronic warfare suites for use in air force C-130 transports. The systems include defenses against radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles. The other contract, for $147 million, is for the supply of airborne (and ground) electronic warfare systems to an undisclosed nation.
As someone who has spent more decades in the aerospace and defense industry than I care to mention and has seen it from several angles, including military, airline, OEM and consulting, I am convinced that the common factor critical to success in the maintenance, repair and overhaul business is not revenue, workload, facilities, workforce or location: it is leadership. An organization cannot survive and prosper without strong, visible and committed leadership.
Fokker Aerotron appointed Joseph D. Nolte VO marketing and sales for component MRO, overseeing Fokker Aerotron in LaGrange, Ga., Fokker Airinc in Fairhope, Ala., and Fokker Schipol in the Netherlands.
