UV Laser Cable/Wire Marking Equipment Laselec introduced a new machine that allows users to check the markability of cables and carry out periodic controls during production. The MT 200 marks cable samples then runs an analysis report. This product is designed to be compact and easy to use. For high to very high production volumes, Laselec offers the more robust ULYS MODENA. Its MRO 200 series is better suited for lower production levels.
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.
StandardAero reissued STC to install Aircell air/ground telephone system on Raytheon Aircraft/Hawker Beechcraft BAe.125 Series 800A, Hawker 800 and Hawker 800XP aircraft, STC ST01439CH-D
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.
GKN Aerospace plans to create a £14.8 million ($22.3 million) facility to progress production of next-generation fan blades. Based on the Isle of Wight, UK, the facility will be central to the Environmental Lightweight Fan (ELF) research program between GKN Aerospace and Rolls-Royce, which aims to prove advanced, high-rate production processes for an new all-composite fan blade.
OGMA Portugal appointed Gulam Joosab business development manager of its aviation services, engines and components MRO. He has 17 years of sales experience, with the majority at SITA’s aeronautical sector.
The CFM56 Customer Training Center opened in early March at GMR Aerospace Park in Hyderabad (see story p. 71). The aerospace park plans to focus on attracting services such as MRO and manufacturing to realize offsets coming from defense projects and logistics in the region.
Probable recovery of aviation maintenance markets is within sight, even if not experienced yet. That usually means some reshaping of the industry through mergers and acquisitions. Acquisitions of aftermarket firms come in two kinds. Manufacturers or shops already in the business can make strategic or “bolt-on” acquisitions of firms that complement their existing capabilities. And private equity or venture capital firms can buy shops purely as financial plays, seeking to profit, grow the business and gain on ultimate resale.
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.
I attended a meeting recently where one of the participants proclaimed, “Flat is the new up!” Everyone in the room laughed (except for the finance guy, who was less amused). With TeamSAI and Ascend predicting the commercial aviation MRO market value to drop 7.5% this year (see pg. 30-33), flat, for some, might be good. Most of the market value dip comes from older, maintenance-intensive aircraft leaving the fleet, but decreased aircraft utilization is the second biggest contributor.
Bombardier Aerospace’s aircraft dismantling operations have been accredited by the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA). The endorsement covers teardowns of CRJ100/200 regional jets at the manufacturer’s service centers in Bridgeport, W.Va., and Tucson, Ariz. AFRA promotes best practices for salvaging and recycling components during disassembly.
FlightSafety International Hawker Beechcraft Maintenance Learning Center opened in Wichita, Kan., on Feb. 24. It recently started hosting MxPro classes, a curriculum developed by the two companies.
Commercial Jet, Aeronautical Engineers Inc.’s premier authorized conversion center, completed a heavy maintenance check and a passenger-to-freighter conversion on a Boeing 737-400SF for MNG Airlines-Turkey. Engines
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
Etihad Airways is installing new technology on its long- and ultra long-haul aircraft to monitor the condition of passengers who display signs of sickness that could require immediate medical attention. The Tempus IC system allows cabin crew to quickly gather vital information about a passenger’s health, including blood pressure and electrocardiograms. It also enables the crew to take photo imagery.
A $1-billion technology initiative launched earlier this year by Sikorsky focuses on areas that could have a big impact on helicopter MRO. These include the development of sensors that make helicopters aware of their environment and capable of adapting to changing conditions and threats, as well as monitoring flight and providing diagnostic and prognostic data that extend component life, optimize flying and reduce operational costs.
Nordam Repair Group added Basil Barimo, who until recently was VP of operations and safety for the Air Transport Association, as VP of global engineering and quality, reporting to Meredith Siegfried, COO.
While photo-catalytic cabin air filtration systems provide benefits such as reduced weight, an alternate system is passive and has been shown to generate no contaminants that could make their way into the cabin. This alternative, developed by The Donaldson Co., combines a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter with an activated carbon filtration medium and will equip the Boeing 787.
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.
Look beyond the bad news and you’ll see a slew of strategies by parts manufacturers and distributors—strategies for survival, strategies for growth. Whichever way markets move, they create opportunities. Here’s how some players are seizing them. Sumptuous Surplus
Air India plans to get into Boeing 787 engine maintenance, per an agreement with GE Aviation. Air India will offer MRO for GEnx-1B engines, and GE will provide the carrier technical support. The GE Branded Services Agreement licenses Air India to service these engines, with GE assisting with work scopes, repair licenses and training.
Swiss AviationTraining received EASA Part 147 approval from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation to provide maintenance type rate training for Bombardier CRJ100/200 and CRJ700/900 aircraft types. Lufthansa Technik is Swiss AviationTraining’s first customer for the Bombardier training program. IT
