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.
RFID Tags Lufthansa Technik Logistik is certifying and qualifying a radio frequency identification tag to meet aircraft maintenance operation requirements. It began developing the technology in September 2008 and plans to begin series production at the end of July or in early August.
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
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.
Ultrasonic Testing Software Suite Olympus NDT added a new version of its TomoView ultrasonic data acquisition and analysis software suite, which combines ultrasonic testing signals with real-time imaging. TomoView 2.9 also enables users to analyze previously captured data files offline. Olympus NDT modeled the software’s new user interface on its OmniScan MX multitechnology flaw detector software, so it shares features such as nomenclature, data representation and reports with that Olympus product line.
Lufthansa Technik Budapest will provide base maintenance for Wizz Air’s Airbus A320 fleet under an exclusive five-year contract announced March 22. Lufthansa Technik did not disclose the value of the contract with the Hungarian carrier but says it covers about 150 C check inspections on more than 80 aircraft. The Wizz Air A320s will receive work from C1 up to C4/C8 only at Lufthansa Technik Budapest at Ferihegy Airport, which can house four narrow-body aircraft simultaneously in its two bays for C checks.
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.
composite parts specialist CTRM is investing in new technology to position itself for future airliner programs while securing its competitiveness in the short term. “Goodrich would like to set up CTRM as a center of excellence for the nacelle composites,” says CTRM CEO Rosdi Mahmud. “For the next-generation narrowbodies we are going to move with our strategic partners—Spirit Aerosystems and Goodrich,” he says.
Information technology plays an increasingly important role in managing aircraft, engines and components. Operators aim to make smarter and more economic decisions about maintaining and holding tens of billions of dollars in extremely complex aviation assets. Because such huge sums of money are involved, the best software can offer major gains. To that end, some IT providers are beefing up their offerings. For example, AerData, which provides CMS Lease Management software, acquired EFPAC, a leading engine management software, in December 2009.
Chromalloy will provide component MRO services for up to 250 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 and CFMI CF34 engines and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW901 auxiliary power units for Lufthansa Technik Aero Alzey under a new five-year, $22-million contract. Work on hot-section vanes, stators, combustion liners, cases and exhaust hardware will take place at Chromalloy repair centers in the U.S., U.K., France and Holland.
Elbit Systems will continue to be responsible for the maintenance and support of Grob G-120-AI trainers in use by the Israel Air Force (IAF) until 2022. The announcement comes after the company reported that the defense ministry awarded it a 10-year follow-on contract that takes effect when the current agreement expires in 2012. The new contract is valued at $20 million. Elbit Systems in effect rents flying time in the trainers to the IAF under a program known as the private finance initiative.
Continental Airlines issued/reissued STCs for a Diamond seat installation and reconfiguration on Boeing 757-200 and 777-200 series, STCs ST09683AC-D and ST09682AC-D
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
ARINC and DfR Solutions formed a partnership to provide reliability and diminished manufacturing sources and material shortages logistical planning support to commercial manufacturers, government agencies and the defense industry.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions plans to hold a two-day regulatory affairs training course May 25-26 at the American Airlines training center in Fort Worth, focused on expanding FAA regulatory affairs knowledge among air carrier and repair station personnel.
ST Aerospace President Tay Kok Khiang is taking a different approach to training than many other MRO leaders this year. Rather than looking for ways to cut costs, he is investing more in upgrading his technicians’ skills. “Despite the global economic slow-down, there has been no resulting review of our training budget,” he says. On the contrary, “the slow-down has enabled us to train more of our employees, preparing them for the eventual upturn.”
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.
AFI KLM E&M ’s Schiphol Airport exhaust nozzle repair shop became the first European MRO facility certified by Magellan Aerospace USA to repair its exhaust nozzles for GE CF6-80C2 engines. AFI KLM E&M began developing the repair shop with Magellan subsidiary Aeronca in February 2009. Aeronca also provided on-job training to AFI KLM E&M staff at Schiphol carrying out these repairs, initially on Air France KLM Boeing 747 and 767 exhaust nozzles.
Israel Aerospace Industries Bedek Aviation Group amended STC to convert a Boeing 767-300 passenger configuration airplane to a special freighter configuration, STC ST02040SE
Custom Bearing Load Cells The SS6000 series of bearing load cells from Sherborne Sensors are fully customizable shear strain gauge load cells that should perform reliably under demanding conditions. The sensors also are designed to integrate directly with new or existing roll bearing systems. The series of sensors can be used for a variety of precision web tension control measurements, including slitting, coating, laminating and embossing processes and winding machinery control work.
Safer, better, faster, cheaper is the rule not only on the shop floor but also in training mechanics to work there. That will require the exploitation of new simulation tools for training. These tools are steadily improving and will become even more flexible and powerful in the future.
In 2009, AMTs taking part in the FAA Safety Team’s online program completed 201,404 total training hours. The numbers break out as follows: • 4,332 AMTs completed at least 12 hours of training, for a total of 51,984 hours • 3,438 AMTs completed a minimum of 40 hours, for a total of 137,520 hours • 119 AMTs earned a Diamond Award by completing a minimum of 80 training hours plus a college-level course (approximately 100 hours per AMT) for a total of 11,900 hours.
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.
Like every other line item in an organization’s budget, technician training has been hit by the global recession. But while training budgets compared to last year run the gamut from flat to down about 20%, one thing seems to hold true across the board: Training is seeing increased scrutiny this year as a place where efficiencies can be gained and costs thereby reduced without a negative impact on technician preparedness.
