Collaboration was one of the highest-flying concepts during the Internet boom. The idea was simple: the best companies would seamlessly connect with their customers and suppliers so that information was shared and transparent. Companies that failed to collaborate were doomed. The hype was best illustrated by an ad from a then-famous supply chain software firm with the headline “Collaborate or Die.”
The continued structural soundness of composite parts remains paramount as aerospace manufacturers embrace composites. One firm that produces adhesives for use in their making looks to tailor its product to the aviation industry’s specifications. Westech Aerosol primarily markets its InfuZene adhesive, which is designed to increase composites’ resilience, to the marine industry, but it aims to offer the product to aerospace repair and manufacturing operations, too, says Jennifer Downes, director of sales and marketing for Westech.
SR Technics began offering aircraft operators a 45-day turnaround time for engine maintenance, available for CFM56-5B, CFM56-5C and CFM56-7B engine types. Launch customer Hapag Lloyd Flug GmbH took delivery of its engine in January 2010. Avionics/IFE
Armstrong Aerospace amended STC to install a Honeywell emergency locator transmitter system on various Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, STC ST01797CH
SINGAPORE—The most severe downturn in commercial aviation business in recent years is not stopping Asia’s big maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses from expanding. But they are relying on the diversity of their portfolios to weather the storm.
The defense ministry has taken delivery of the second of seven P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft whose aircraft and missions systems are being upgraded as part of a U.S. foreign military sales project (O&M, Feb. '09, p. 45). Lockheed Martin, which was contracted to do the upgrades, delivered the second aircraft on Jan. 7 to NAS Jacksonville, Fla., for transfer to Pakistan. The aircraft are being upgraded to support antiship and antisubmarine-warfare missions and improve surveillance of littoral and ocean waters.
Pemco nabbed a contract to do six Boeing 737-300 passenger-to-freighter conversions for Hainan Airlines. The first two have been delivered, and the next four will be in service by mid-year, Pemco says.
Lockheed Martin received $344.3 million contract from the Air Force to continue work on the C-5M Super Galaxy modernization program. The money will be used to enhance or replace 70 major components and subsystems. Work will include installing glass cockpits, avionics and flight instruments, and reengining with GE CF6-80C2 engines. The funding covers three aircraft, material and fabrication costs for five more and long-lead funding for seven other aircraft. Three C-5Ms have been delivered to USAF since the program began, and a fourth is slated for delivery in September.
Tracer Repair & Overhaul sold its remaining shares in Messier-Bugatti-Tracer to Messier-Bugatti in early February. The two companies had formed the joint venture in 2003. In addition to providing commercial wheel and brake services in North America, it is also the sole provider of wheel and brake MRO for the U.S. Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster transport. Facilities
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co. Ltd. (GAMECO) named David Conrad director of international sales and marketing, Li Longxiang director of strategy and development, Li Xin chief inspector of its quality control department, and Bob Peng director of its marketing and sales department. Conrad comes to GAMECO from Rexnord Aerospace, where he served as VP sales, marketing and customer service. Li Longxiang most recently was manager of reliability control and a specialist in quality assurance for China Southern Airlines.
PAS Technologies added Brian Willett as VP military services and business development. Willet most recently served as director of business development operations for BAE Systems’ security and survivability business.
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) launched a passenger-to-freighter conversion program for the MD-80 that should receive certification from the FAA, EASA and CAAC in mid-2011. AEI also started a second Boeing 737-400 passenger-to-freighter conversion for Turkish all-cargo carrier MNG Airlines.
Aloha Air Cargo launched a repair and maintenance subsidiary that will market its services to other airlines. Aloha Tech Ops, as it’s called, has signed deals with Alaska Airlines (to service the Boeing 737s it flies to Hawaii) and with WestJet Airlines.
Malaysia Airlines and Pratt & Whitney have agreed to open a nacelle repair facility in Kuala Lumpur within the next two years. The 50-50 joint venture will be part of Pratt’s Global Services Partners maintenance network to support CFM56 and V2500 overhauls, as well as Pratt’s own line.
The state of supply chain management in the aftermarket has reached a critical juncture. Aerospace and defense maintenance and overhaul supply chain practices lag years behind other industries such as global electronics or consumer packaged goods. Why? Several factors delay and complicate supply chain processes: long product life-cycles; highly engineered, often sole-sourced components; complex regulatory environments; and program-centric management.
Non-routine maintenance exacts a real toll. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation statistics in September 2009, U.S. airlines either delayed or cancelled 4% of their flights because of issues dealing with the carriers themselves. And about half of those—2%—pertained to maintenance.
Ameco Beijing inducted an LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767-300 for a C Check on Jan. 11. It also will overhaul United Airlines’ Boeing 747s, as well as the carrier’s 777s, for which it already does heavy maintenance. The 777 work, under a five-year contract signed in 2005, will be extended for a further five years. Heavy maintenance on the 747s will also last for five years. And, Ameco won a contract to provide C check services for Aeroflot’s four 767-300ERs.
The maintenance division of Adria Airways, Slovenia’s national carrier based at Ljubljana, is one MRO that has significantly benefited from its relationship with an OEM, in this case Bombardier Aerospace. Adria Airways’ place in Eastern Europe is noteworthy because it is the first Bombardier recognized CRJ heavy maintenance facility in all of Europe.
Ameco Beijing appointed Michael Delion executive director of its operations division. Delion, the former VP asset management product division aircraft component services for Lufthansa Technik, will work in his new role with his Chinese counterpart, Dr. Li Qiang.
Industry observers until recently predicted that Eastern Europe would become the “new China” of MRO services for Western European airlines and others looking to reduce maintenance costs. That glowing prognostication has dimmed somewhat for a host of reasons, but some remain convinced that Eastern Europe has significant potential for MRO.
StandardAero named Jeff Manion VP of global sales and customer service for its business aviation sector, Chris Bodine VP and general manager of its Augusta, Ga., facility, and Les McAfee regional sales manager for its south Texas bizav sales territory, based in Houston. Manion comes to StandardAero from Duncan Aviation, where he most recently was VP sales. Bodine had served as the Augusta facility’s acting VP and general manager since April 2009. McAfee joins StandardAero from Gulfstream in Dallas, where he was service center business office supervisor.
