LONDON—EASA issued mandatory safety directives in December for the replacement of specified parts on Rolls-Royce Trent engines powering Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft. This work must be completed by January 2011. The mandate relates to concerns of ice build-up in the fuel oil heat exchanger (FOHE), which could potentially block fuel lines and shut down engines during long flights—an occurrence thought to have caused the crash-landing of a Boeing 777 at Heathrow in January 2008 and a May 2009 engine malfunction on a Trent 700-powered Etihad Airways A330.
C & D Zodiac to modify and install window shades on McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 aircraft and to modify an existing galley and install ovens on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, STCs ST02255LA and ST02257LA
SR Technics and parent company Mubadala Development Co. landed a January engine acquisition and maintenance deal worth several hundred million dollars that Mubadala Development Co.’s first foray into financing in line with its MRO subsidiary. The 10-year deal with Air Berlin is the first SR Technics has announced in conjunction with Mubadala that includes a financing aspect. One part of the agreement is Mubadala’s financing of 12 spare engines, themselves worth $100 million, in a sale-and-lease-back agreement with Air Berlin.
Fokker Services signed a manufacturing license agreement with Goodrich for Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 main landing gear spare parts that gives Fokker Services B.V. exclusive rights to manufacture all the main landing gear parts for the out-of-production aircraft models. The parts manufactured under the agreement will be used to overhaul the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 main landing gear as well as spare parts provision. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
Lockheed Martin Electronic and Fire Control received a $99.4-million firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance work on Army Apache helicopters. The work is part of the Sensors Flying Hours Program for 2010, and includes repair or replacement of units and modules in sensor systems. A-10C Software
FlightSafety International promoted J. Scott Hunter to director, maintenance training sales. Hunter, who joined FlightSafety International in 1994, takes over the role for Doug Bowen, who has been named director, maintenance training services.
US Airways renewed a three-year heavy maintenance contract with ST Aerospace. The renewed agreement started in January and covers heavy checks for the airline’s Airbus A330s and Boeing 737, 757 and 767 aircraft. ST Aerospace’s facility in Mobile, Ala., will complete the work. ST Aerospace has completed maintenance on 206 US Airways aircraft in the past seven years. Contract terms weren’t disclosed. Military
The Pentagon awarded Bell-Boeing an $11.8-million contract for work on the Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (Sirfc) system, which provides protection for USAF Special Operations Command’s CV-22 tiltrotors. The work includes switch-out of two line-replaceable units and antenna radome design modifications. Sirfc was deployed with the aircraft last year in Africa.
When Michael Williams, a professor of business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), first joined the aviation business several decades ago, computers were “unheard of,” he recalls. Today, however, an understanding of technology and computer programs is an essential capability of every maintenance manager. “Being able to use maintenance planning software, scheduling software, being able to communicate electronically—these [skills] are needed more than anything today,” he says.
The French government exercised an option with Eurocopter in December to upgrade five more Cougar transport helicopters to keep them in service another 20 years. The deal is part of a 27-helicopter upgrade package the government signed in 2008. With this deal, upgrades for 10 of the total are now financed.
What are your short- and long-term business goals? Liou: EGAT's short-term business goals are applying strong technical skills and depth in technical understanding to the maintenance and repair of aging aircraft, building on the quality conscious culture from the production workplace into a general life-skill, and placing tighter controls on material and manpower costs.
When Michael Williams, a professor of business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), first joined the aviation business several decades ago, computers were “unheard of,” he recalls. Today, however, an understanding of technology and computer programs is an essential capability of every maintenance manager. “Being able to use maintenance planning software, scheduling software, being able to communicate electronically—these [skills] are needed more than anything today,” he says.
International Aero Engines appointed Ian Aitken president and CEO, succeeding Jon Beatty, who is returning to a senior position at United Technologies. Aitken joined IAE in June 2008 as executive VP-customer business from Rolls-Royce, where he held a number of leadership positions in civil aerospace.
Controversial claims made by easyJet CEO Andy Harrison that aircraft manufacturers are delaying the launch of next generation aircraft have been strongly refuted by Airbus and Boeing. Harrison said that the cash flows generated by Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 narrowbodies remain a key interest for their makers, encouraging them to keep these models in production. If so, the next generation of aircraft isn’t likely to appear before 2030. “The OEMs are in no hurry to bring them out,” he said.
Two civil aviation aftermarket deals announced Jan. 6 captured my attention and led me to think about how service bundling could change in the next few years as capital becomes more accessible and the links in the industry’s global supply chain grow stronger.
Aircraft tires may not have the glamour of digital avionics or the complexity of a turbine engine, but no land-based aircraft can be without them. In fact, as with other system OEMs, tire manufacturers continue to search for ways to enhance durability and safety. The problem is that both depend on constant inspections at line level, and not everyone takes that task very seriously.
Goodrich completed acquiring AIS Global Holding, known as Atlantic Inertial Systems. The purchase price for the provider of mission-critical guidance, stabilization and navigation products and systems for military and defense markets was approximately $375 million.
GE Aviation acquired Ottawa-based BMB Fuel Consulting Services, a privately owned supplier of fuel consulting services, which identify and track operational improvements to reduce fuel consumption.
Few places around the world have seen their economies grow as fast as the Persian Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which over recent years have become an aviation powerhouse. On that journey, these countries have rapidly established fast-growing airlines and now are building airports, aerospace manufacturing and MRO industries to support their burgeoning fleets.
Safety Station A storage unit for safety and first-aid equipment now is available from Shure Manufacturing. The reinforced steel safety unit features a stainless steel top and chase panel, and it comes equipped with leg levelers as well as a mirror, soap dispenser, towel dispenser, waste receptacle and emergency eye wash
