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.
TeamSAI M&E Solutions selected IDMR’s InForm application as its integrated electronic task card authoring system. The software’s task card module lets TeamSAI M&E Solutions control task card authoring and management. The InForm system also allows TeamSAI M&E Solutions to adapt to each customer’s existing IT infrastructure.
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
Long-range prospects for the air transport industry remain strong despite the near-term challenges that competitors face—declining volume, smaller budgets and increased costs. The corresponding reduction in demand for MRO services has forced providers to hunker down through delayed investments, labor force resizing and inventory consumption.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace will maintain 143 CFM56-7B engines for India’s Jet Airways and subsidiary Jetlite under a maintenance-by-the-hour contract valued at S$1 billion ($750 million). The work includes off-wing, on-wing and on-site support plus fleet technical and asset management support. The engines power 67 Boeing 737s operated by Jet Airways and its subsidiary. Avionics/IFE
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.
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.
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.
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.
Covington Aircraft Engines in Okmulgee, Okla., became an OEM-authorized distributor and designated overhaul facility for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines series.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Veracity Technology Solutions developed an alternate inspection method that allows Tinker Air Force Base staff to inspect the structural integrity of aft terminal support fittings on large military aircraft without having to place the aircraft in quarantine. Its in-situ 128 element linear array ultrasonic imaging system replaces previous x-ray-based technology for structural inspections, making the process more effective, quicker, easier to carry out and safer for technicians.
Israel Aerospace Industries promoted Jack Gaber to deputy VP and general manager marketing and business development for Bedek Aviation Group. His new position brings him back to Israel after 10 years in the U.S., lastly as IAI North America VP, business development for commercial programs.
SR Technics will continue maintenance services for Air India’s CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines at its Zurich engine shop per a CHF$60 million (US$55.4 million), two-year contract extension with the National Aviation Co. of India Ltd. The extension covers 61 Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. SR Technics also provides engine MRO and component support for Air India’s PW4168A-powered A330-200 aircraft. Parts/Components
Fully exploiting information technology to improve maintenance requires massive sharing of maintenance and performance data among airlines, shops and manufacturers. And that in turn requires standardizing data, the focus of ATA’s Spec 2000 project. Spec 2000 standards for maintenance data under ATA Chapter 11 are largely complete, although adjustments are still being made.
FL Technics went live with Ramco’s aviation MRO software solution. Ramco also released version 5.2 of Series 5 of the software. The Ramco update expands the centralized graphical planning board and provides centralized data entry for maintenance technicians.
