Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. bought a 2% stake in Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. for HK$62.4 million ($8 million), growing HAECO’s share in sister company TAECO to 58.55%. Facilities
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.”
SAS Scandinavian Airlines CCO Robin Kamark confirmed the troubled airline intends to decide the composition of its future short-haul and long-haul fleets by the end of next year following the delivery of its 69th and final Boeing 737NG, a -700 in March 2011. He also said he believes that SAS is “very attractive” to aircraft manufacturers because of its empty order book.
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.
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.
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.
Rockwell Collins received supplemental type certificates to upgrade the Pro Line 21 fleet with localized performance with vertical guidance and GPS 4000S on King Air C90GTi, B200, B200GT, B200C, B200CGT, 350 and 350C aircraft. Parts/Components
Ottowa’s Canadian Commercial Corp. won a competitive $20.4-million task order for rotary wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, tools and maintenance services from U.S. Transportation Command of Scott AFB, Ill. The company has subcontracted the services to Canadian Helicopters Ltd. of Toronto. Maintenance and other work in support of the aircraft, to be used for passenger and cargo transport, will be performed in Afghanistan.
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.
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.
Aircraft Technical Publishers will provide single-source, digital technical publications through its NavigatorV software platform for the Bell 47 per an agreement with Scotts-Bell 47 of Le Sueur, Minn., which holds a type certificate for the helicopter.
NAVAIR awarded GE Aviation a $7.34-million modification to a 2009 contract to develop and adopt technologies to reduce fuel consumption by the U.S. Navy's F414-GE-400-powered F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet. The research is being done as a Near Term Energy Efficiency Technology Demonstration and Research Project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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.
Ramco released two tool kits to complements its new Aviation Series 5 maintenance enterprise management software. The extension development kit and implementation tool kit help Series 5 users make changes to existing screens such as adding or hiding data collection fields, editing screen callouts, adjusting menu structures, enhancing work flows or creating new transactions.
LONDON—Intense operational pressures on European regional carriers are reshaping the market, pushing many to seek low-priced MRO services and making them hesistant to commit early. Despite some early signs of recovery, doing business as an airline today is painful. Compare this scenario to the state of affairs for Europe’s low-cost carriers (LCCs), who as a whole continue to operate in the black. Some even forge ahead with plans to expand their in-house maintenance capabilities, which flies counter to many LCC business models.
The international aviation community is making strides toward sharing safety-related information as a way to improve accident rates. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Commission have begun working through issues to facilitate global data-sharing.
StandardAero plans to close its Little Rock, Ark., engine shop and transfer the Honeywell TFE731 work to its Springfield, Ill., facility in the third quarter of the year. Initially, it will provide major periodic inspections and a mobile service team, but over time StandardAero plans to reassess its capabilities to add potential new engine types and services, says senior VP business aviation Scott Taylor. The Springfield operation is one of StandardAero’s largest business aviation shops. Training
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.
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.
While Europe’s airlines struggle, the International Air Transport Association is forecasting a stronger-than-expected recovery in demand, particularly in Asia and Latin America, for a full-year loss of $2.8 billion, rather than the $5.6 billion it predicted in December. IATA also downsized estimated losses for member airlines in 2009 to $9.4 billion from $11 billion.
Viking Group picked A J Walter Aviation to provide power-by-the-hour support for its fleet of new Airbus A320-200s operated by Viking Hellas Airlines. Initially the contract will cover two aircraft based in Athens, Greece. AJW already provides support for Viking’s six Boeing 737 Classic and NG aircraft under a 2008 agreement. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
