LONDON—Freedom of movement between the 36 member countries of the European Economic Community is enshrined in European law, allowing nationals of those member states to live and work in any community country. Yet, in practice, it doesn’t always work that way. A few member states effectively block foreign applicants for jobs by insisting their qualifications completely match their own national criteria—regardless of experience.
William Chauvette , well known in the aviation aftermarket industry, died on Sept. 5 in Quechee, Vt., at 59. He held positions at General Dynamics, PerkinElmer Sealol, Westfield Gage, Bearing Inspection, and Turbine Controls, and most recently had returned to work at Westfield Gage. Airframes
Operating experience in Iraq and Afghanistan is adding urgency to demands for dramatic improvements in rotorcraft technology. While increased speed, payload and maneuverability are high on the U.S. armed services’ wish lists, improvements in operational availability, mission reliability and logistic supportability get high priority. And, there is growing recognition that incremental improvements to today’s rotors will not be enough.
Lufthansa Technik signed its 2,000th aircraft under a total support contract as part of an 18-aircraft expansion of a deal with Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The new agreement brings the total number of Aeroflot Airbus A320s covered by LHT total support from 45 to 63.
Boeing won two separate U.S. Air Force contracts together worth $4.2 million to support the modernization of 365 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The first, to be performed by Boeing and Southwest Research Institute, provides engineering services for the A-10 Aircraft Structural Integrity Program. Boeing will work with partners Raytheon Technical Services and BAE Systems Platform Solutions on the second contract, which is for a trade study analysis and operational assessment/proof of concept for the aircraft’s upgraded data transfer unit.
After 21 years, interest in the Federal Aviation Administration’s maintenance human factors symposium is as high as ever. The annual program, co-sponsored by the Air Transport Association, hosted 400 delegates in September in San Diego. Forty speakers from China, Australia, Europe, the U.A.E and North America shared international perspectives. A larger, more diverse audience of airline and MRO senior management than in previous meetings indicated the continuing safety impact and financial benefit of proper attention to maintenance and ramp human factors.
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance will continue heavy maintenance for Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Boeing 747-400 aircraft through 2011. The U.K. carrier decided to extend its original contract with AFI KLM E&M, signed in July 2008 and due to expire at the end of 2010, for another year. Heavy maintenance takes place at AFI KLM E&M’s Schipol Airport facilities in the Netherlands. Nine C and D checks are scheduled for 2011.
Aegean Airlines signed a follow-up airframe maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik for 19 additional aircraft. Lufthansa Technik Malta and Shannon Aerospace, both wholly owned by LHT, will perform the C checks on 14 Airbus A320s, three A321s and two Boeing 737s between December and February 2011.
Ethiopian Airlines expanded its powerplant contract with Delta TechOps to become an open-ended agreement to maintain, repair and overhaul the carrier’s Pratt & Whitney 2040 engines. Delta TechOps started maintaining Ethiopian’s engines in 2005.
Sabena technics started offering Airbus A320 line maintenance in Kuwait City and is in the planning stages of building a hangar there, in conjunction with partner Al Wazzan Group. Sabena technics plans to perform light and heavy maintenance checks on A320 aircraft at the new facility. Wataniya is the launch customers.
Compact Videoscopes Two new industrial videoscopes from Olympus NDT measure one-third the size and half the weight of its previous devices, making the new equipment well-suited for remote visual inspections when access is limited. Designed for operation by users at any experience level, Olympus' new IPLEX LX and IPLEX LT tools should simplify remote visual inspections of areas such as inside boiler rooms, airplane fuselages and wind turbine gear boxes.
PATS Aircraft reissued STCs to alter the fire protection systems and lower cargo compartments on Boeing 737-700, -700C and -800 series aircraft, STCs ST01184LA and ST00405LA-D
Bombardier Customer Services began offering new repair solutions for operational damage to V2500-A5 nacelle panels. Its Belfast and Dallas MRO facilities offer the new repair capability that restores panels to their original specification while maintaining their acoustic properties.
King Aerospace Commercial Corp. named John Burnam and Blair Descourouez regional sales managers. Burnam previously was a completion sales executive with Gulfstream Aerospace, and Descourouez was VP of operations for Ambassador Jet Center.
Custom Cranes Ruger Industries offers custom-engineered portable cranes for aviation maintenance operations. Using mobile cranes for tasks such as lifting aircraft engines or control surfaces improves safety by reducing or eliminating dependency on motorized lift trucks. They also are designed to operate in the tight work areas often prescribed in private or commercial aviation maintenance settings.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras signed a 15-year, $1 billion OnPoint services deal with GE Aviation for MRO of its CF34-10E engines on Embraer 190/195 aircraft. The contract covers 36 firm and four leased Embraer 190/195 aircraft for the new carrier, which launched in 2008. GE Celma's facility in Petropolis, Brazil, will complete the work.
Czech Airlines expanded its existing agreement with A J Walter Aviation by adding two Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The program that's in place provides component support services through 2016 for Czech’s entire fleet. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 33 over the next seven years. AJW currently supports Czech's two A321s, eight A320s and seven A319s from its base in the U.K. and plans to add a Prague hub.
Chromalloy brought Dennis Walsh on board as VP of business development. Walsh formerly was general manager of GE Dallas On Wing Support and has held leadership positions within GE Aircraft Engines and with former GE business Triumph Accessory Services.
Bell Helicopter began offering EASA-approved maintenance classes for the Bell 427, based on receiving Part 147 maintenance training organization approval from European Aviation Safety Agency in early September. EASA initially approved Bell for B1.3 training on the helicopter and could credit B2 courses soon.
Pressure to cut costs is sending airframes outside airline shops and often far from home markets. Labor rates, which represent up to 70% of heavy-check costs, simply differ too much among regions to ignore. Cost-saving pressures intensified in 2009, but there are new twists on the cost side. Labor rates have converged among some regions. Long-term, some low-cost regions may become more expensive. New MRO facilities could open in countries or regions not now actively considered. Exchange rates could shift. And the U.S.
Brim Aviation to install Brim Aviation tundra pads, a cargo rack and a Tech Tools 369/500 bubble window on a MD Helicopter 600N helicopter, Several STCs
