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.
When the Transportation Security Administration released its long-awaited security proposal for repair stations last November, industry groups appreciated the balance the agency tried to strike between meeting a congressional mandate and providing flexibility. The initial reaction was that TSA appeared to be headed in the right direction with its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
BEIJING—GAMECO plans a major expansion of its business, spreading out from its Guangzhou base in southern China to provide line and heavy maintenance elsewhere in the country. The company is meanwhile achieving notable improvements in efficiency with a reorganization of work practices and plant layout.
The Defense Ministry awarded a 10-year, £865 million ($1.35 billion) contract to Rolls-Royce for MRO of the EJ200 engines in use on the Typhoon fighter. Most of the work will be performed at RAF Coningsby, the Typhoon’s main operating base, and beginning later this year at RAF Leuchars in Scotland, the fighter’s new forward operating base. Some work also will be done at Rolls-Royce plants in Leicestershire and Bristol. The contract provides for support to deployed operating bases and to the Falkland Islands.
GAMECO is preparing to maintain China Southern’s Airbus A380s. That work comes to it almost by right, since the airline is a major shareholder, but it may be hard for the company to attract more A380 business given the small numbers of the type in service and on order. Singapore Airlines, another A380 operator, is a competitor. GAMECO has not yet begun marketing for A380 work but it will soon, says Norman. One concern must be getting adequate service from the costly A380 hangar that the company has built in anticipation of receiving China Southern’s A380s.
Aeroman Launched operations in 1983 to support TACA and third-party customers. Moved into new facility at El Salvador International Airport in 1984. Gained FAA Part 145 repair station certification in 1992.
Poor airline revenue last year didn’t overpower airlines’ needs for new aircraft, as evidenced by the world commercial jet fleet’s growth of 1.8% to 19,675 aircraft. Of the 1,128 deliveries in 2009, 55% were direct replacements, according to Ascend and TeamSAI, so the fleet only increased by 505 aircraft. Keep in mind that about 2,000 aircraft are parked, and 80% of them realistically won’t return to service, according to Chris Seymour, Ascend’s head of market analysis.
ST Aerospace will provide six years of maintenance support worth SING$363 million ($259 million) to the Republic of Singapore Air Force under two new contracts. The RSAF operates 218 aircraft in total, according to AVIATION WEEK’s World Aerospace Database. The contracts cover the RSAF’s operational fleet except for its F-15s and the trainer that has yet to be shortlisted, says ST Aero communications head Audrey Tan. Due to customer confidentiality she could not provide more detail on the work scope.
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
AMES , the nacelle repair joint venture Air France Industries/KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Aircelle launched in June 2009, officially opened on March 1 in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. AMES received EASA Part 145 certification in late February and actually began operations about three weeks prior to the opening. Aircelle has transferred some of its work to AMES from one of its other facilities.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres signed a first customer for the joint venture it opened in November. Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres Co. Ltd. will retread and provide bias tires for Taipei-based Mandarin Airlines’ eight E-190/195s for three years. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
StandardAero named Melissa Maddox VP operations for its business aviation sector, in addition to her current position as VP global security and risk assurance. Airframes
Kenmore Air Harbor amended STC to install JASCO Model 7555-1 alternator kits on P&W R-985 series engines on Viking Air DHC-2 Mk.I aircraft, STC SA348NW
Jetpower acquired the Snohomish, Wash.-based Soundair Aftermarket Group in February. It relocated the business, which will operate moving forward as Soundair AMG, to Everett, Wash. Facilities
Computer Sciences Corp. , which has been the prime contractor for NASA’s Aircraft Maintenance and Modification Program for several years, received another one-year option. For $58 million, Computer Sciences Corp. will provide maintenance support for the flight line, intermediate and depot maintenance, repairs, and modification and engineering support for a variety of research and mission support aircraft at NASA.
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.
Rockwell Collins announced a series of senior leadership changes in mid-February. Greg Churchill, formerly executive VP and COO of government systems, now is executive VP of international and service solutions; Kelly Ortberg, formerly executive VP and COO of commercial systems, takes Churchill’s place as executive VP and COO of government systems. Former Rockwell Collins Services Executive VP Kent Statler now is executive VP and COO of commercial systems.
Six Eurocopter EC135s operated by UK police air support units will be managed and maintained by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Customer Service Center Europe. The fleet management agreement covers full maintenance support for the helicopters, which are powered by PW206B2 engines. A Pratt & Whitney Canada spokeswoman says the company does not disclose the terms of its agreement, but she adds that the repair services that will be provided are comprehensive.
Ruggedized Tablet Computer Panasonic debuted a tablet version of its Toughbook mobile computer that is capable of withstanding a 6-ft. drop and meets Mil-Std-810G and IP65 ratings. The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Field features a 500 nit, 10.4-in. display with both tablet and touchscreen functionality. Because of its circular polarizer and anti-glare and anti-reflective treatments, it should be highly readable in direct sunlight.
The U.S. Defense Department’s decade-old drive to purchase outcomes for delivery of weapon platforms, subsystems and components—getting them to the right place, on time and on budget—has reshaped government-industry relationships and is growing with militaries around the globe. The instrument for accomplishing this feat, performance based logistics (PBL) contracts between contractors, suppliers, the government and at times a string of stakeholders, is widely regarded as successful with more than 200 contracts across the DoD.
