AmSafe Bridport acquired Hoffman Air Cargo Equipment in May, which builds its business developing lightweight textile product solutions for the ULD industry.
Certainly the volcano beneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier had a demonic effect on European air travel this past spring. Ironically, O&M spoke with Aircraft Window Repairs’ Robert Cupery shortly before the eruption hit stride. He said that the airborne effluent from the June 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (the largest of the 20th century) has finally abated.
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.
In the aircraft disassembly and parting out business, this is both the best of times and perhaps the most challenging. “Parked aircraft are at historic levels,” says Steve Connolly, president and CEO of GE Capital Aviation Services’ Asset Management Services division. “There are about 2,900 aircraft that are currently parked worldwide,” echoes Tom Stewart, president and CEO of Stewart Industries. Historically, Stewart says about 80% of aircraft that enter a storage program never emerge whole again. “They’re parted out and eventually scrapped.”
Associated Air Center added Boeing Business Jet SFAR-88 mandatory fuel tank modification, main landing gear forward trunnion pin and gear replacement, and lower cabin altitude modification capabilities.
Data Link Solutions won a $20-million contract from the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to provide Link-16 terminals to U.S. and coalition forces. The award includes radios for U.S. platforms—such the MH-60R, MH-60S and F/A-18—and foreign military sales customers, including Finland, Saudi Arabia and Japan. This award also includes additional equipment for U.S. applications and customers, including the U.S. Army, Battlefield Airborne Communication Node and Joint Forces Command.
ST Aerospace and China Eastern Airlines opened a new aircraft hangar complex at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport via their joint venture, Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Co. Ltd., or STARCO. It is large enough to accommodate two narrow-body and three wide-body aircraft simultaneously, including an A380. The Pudong hangar complex increases ST Aero’s global hangar space to 45 narrow-body bays and 28 wide-body bays. It measures 14,200 sq. meters (152,848 sq. ft.) and represents an investment of RMB$290 million ($42 million).
L.J. Walch Co . received a 2009 Boeing Performance Excellence Award for suppliers with a minimum silver composite performance rating. Boeing recognized 486 suppliers who achieved either a Gold or Silver level Boeing Performance Excellence Award this year in total, and L.J. Walch Co. is among 358 suppliers to receive the silver recognition level.
Low Cost Simulator ARINC Engineering Services launched a low-cost, personal computer-based aircraft maintenance training system called MxSIM, which it claims meets both military and commercial training requirements with “a wider choice of features and capabilities than any similar maintenance training system.”
Pemco plans to expand into a second hangar at Tampa International Airport in September, doubling its aircraft production capacity and tripling the size of its back-shop space there. It has been operating in a vacated US Airways hangar in Tampa since March 2008; the new space, which is being renovated by the Tampa Aviation Authority, housed Delta Air Lines maintenance operations before closing in 2005.
Economic pressures really have begun to bite in Europe, with repeated airline belt-tightening rounds prompting strikes. In March alone, TAP averted a pilot strike and Air France cabin crewmembers threatened to strike.
Houston Precision Fasteners earned Lockheed Martin Aeronautics general quality systems approval. It also added series approvals supporting aeronautics and space systems platforms, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22, C-5M and Atlas V.
Texas Aviation Services added Maria Isabel Perdomo to its marketing and sales team as an independent representative based in Colombia. Perdomo, who will focus on new rotor-wing completions, maintenance support and engineering and kit sales, most recently worked for Northrop Grumman – Nightline. Airframes
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) modified its Boeing 737-400 special freighter to accommodate 10 full-height AAA cargo containers plus one AEP/AEH container. MNG Airlines is launch customer for what will become the new standard for 737-400SF conversions, AEI says. The modification touch labor is taking place at AEI conversion center Commercial Jet at Miami International Airport. AEI plans to redeliver the first “11-position” MNG 737-400SF this summer.
A €560-million ($767 million) Indian Air Force contract for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters includes a five-year program for maintenance, logistics support and technician and aircrew training. Training details were not released when the deal was announced in March. The air force will use the helicopters to transport government officials.
Texas Aero Engine Services Ltd (TAESL) 50:50 joint venture of Rolls-Royce and American Airlines in Fort Worth, Texas Founded in 1998 Repairs and overhauls the RB211 engines that power American Airlines' Boeing 757s and the Trent 800s that power American Airlines' Boeing 777s Inducted its 1,500th engine in 2007
Rolls-Royce has received contracts worth $120.1 million—and with a potential value of more than $600 million—from Naval Air Systems Command, for engine maintenance and support of Marine Corps and Air Force aircraft. A $75-million contract covers logistics support for the manufacturer’s AE 1107C-Liberty engines used in the Marine Corps Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey and Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors. The deal eventually will cover more than 250 aircraft at six bases. It initially runs for 11 months but includes four option years.
Paradigm Helicopters contracted JDA Aviation Technology to support its efforts to gain Part 135 certification. JDA Aviation Technology will provide Paradigm with its 135Pro certification support program, including manuals, coaching, mentoring and training assistance. The program also includes a customized Web-based application and document manager that enables owner/operators to store and access all Part 135 requirements. Military
Longbow LLC, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received a four-year, $86-million contract from AgustaWestland to support Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems on Apache AH Mk-1 helicopters. The award covers engineering services, integrated logistics and in-country repair at Wattisham Airfield, at the Lockheed Martin facility in Florida, and at the Northrop Grumman plant in Baltimore. The Longbow FCR, the circular component on top of the rotor, provides target detection, location, classification and prioritization.
Boeing ’s maintenance software tool for improving dispatch reliability and efficiency is going into service at two African carriers, Kenya Airways and TAAG Angola Airlines. Each ordered the Boeing Maintenance Performance Toolbox software suite for use on multiple Boeing aircraft models: Kenya Airways will put three of the Boeing Toolbox modules to work for its 13 737NGs, seven 767s and four 777s, and TAAG will use four to maintain its seven 737NGs and three 777-200ERs.
ASB Avionics won a contract to modify National Center for Atmospheric Research Lockheed Martin EC-130Q aircraft with its commercial-off-the-shelf avionics modernization program equipment based on the five-display Honeywell control display system for retrofit, which replaces existing analog flight director, altimetric, and engine displays; autopilot and flight director components; and existing communication, navigation and surveillance components.
Fokker Services ’ remarketing support center won an exclusive contract to remarket two Fokker 70 aircraft configured for corporate shuttle service and support them through at least 2020 under its Fly Fokker total support program.
Ameco Beijing delivered a specially painted Boeing 767 (pictured above) to Bangladesh GMG Airlines, and it will provide line maintenance and engineering services for the airline over the next six years.
