AAR Corp . acquired Aviation Worldwide Services and its subsidiaries Presidential Airways and STI Aviation from Xe Services, the former Blackwater. It expected the $200-million purchase to close in April.
Many MROs have been restructuring and reinventing themselves during the economic downturn, and evidence of their efforts materializes as distinctions that make them stronger. “A new level of competition is emerging beyond core MRO activities and their basic differentiators,” says an Oliver Wyman report issued at our MRO Americas Conference.
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.
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.
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).
Cargo and baggage compartments rank second only to the aircraft’s wheels and brakes in terms of wear and tear. That should not be surprising, given the daily punishment and collateral damage inflicted by the loading and off-loading process. Any visible damage to these lower lobe compartments is usually just the tip of the iceberg, since they also are repositories of corrosion that usually remain undetectable until the next major maintenance event.
The first quarter ended with a bang for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)—actually, it was more like a roar. The service flew home the first of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets from NAS Lemoore, Calif. The fighters will replace the RAAF’s F-111 fleet due to be retired in December. Along with the Super Hornets—Australia’s first new combat aircraft in 25 years—came a three-year, $21.5-million training support services contract with Raytheon Australia.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Aviation Technical Services named Greg Buller general manager and VP of component services, reporting to President Matt Yerbic. Buller most recently worked at FedEx, where he held senior leadership positions in maintenance engineering and reliability analysis, maintenance planning and scheduling, liaison engineering and supply chain management for air operations.
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.
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
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.
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.
SR Technics realigned its executive sales structure for the Americas. Wayne Mihailov, who most recently was VP business development for Aero Inventory, is taking over for Steve Rugg as VP sales Americas. Prior to joining Aero Inventory in 2008, Mihailov was VP sales and marketing for GE Aviation Financial Services. Rugg now is area sales director Americas.
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.
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.
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
