TIMCO Aviation Services entered a five-year contract with Thomson Airways for Boeing 767-300 maintenance and modifications. The arrangement includes an additional two-year option and provides Thomson with secured hangar capacity at TIMCO’s Greensboro, N.C., facility for scheduled heavy maintenance and modifications, including the installation of Aviation Partners Boeing winglets and new inflight entertainment systems. Engines
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.
The new Rolls-Royce Mechanical Test Operations Center of Dahlewitz has given a contract to MTS Systems of Eden Prairie, Minn., for mechanical test equipment, software and consulting services related to the operational behavior of materials and components for jet engines. MTS will supply single and multiaxial servohydraulic load frames with its grips, high-temperature extensometers and environmental simulators, as well as digital controllers and hydraulic power units. MTS also will provide service and support.
TCAS Software Safety Upgrade Counters Deficiencies, ACSS Says Improvements to address what Eurocontrol safety specialists have termed serious issues in traffic alert and collision avoidance (TCAS) system software logic are poised for market introduction to business, commercial and military users by Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS).
Sabena technics now is Mistral Air’s maintenance provider for its ATR42 cargo fleet, per a two-year integrated services contract signed in late September. Sabena’s integrated services division will provide base maintenance and component MRO as well as pool access, consignment stock in Rome, and logistics services. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
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.
WestWind Technologies opened a new 65,000-sq.ft. building at Huntsville International Airport on Sept. 29. In addition to its current portfolio of rotorcraft, WestWind aims to pursue modifications and integration work for C-130s as well as for fixed-wing commercial aircraft. Training
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.
Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Neb. accessory shop now overhauls, repairs and tests Hawker maxarets, a part of the aircraft’s anti-skid system that could be described as a mechanical anti-skid speed sensor, Duncan says. Each Hawker has four maxarets mounted in the main gear axles and one for each wheel. The shop is one of few companies worldwide with these Hawker maxaret capabilities, and one of an even smaller number that complies fully with all test requirements as required by the component maintenance manual, says the company.
The Royal Air Force expects that concepts for a Mid-Life Fatigue Program (MLFP) for Tornado fighters will be validated by tests over three years on one of its GR4/4A aircraft. If so, the MLFP is projected to extend the service life of the RAF’s Tornado fleet to 2025. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency collaborative in Germany awarded the Phase 2 contract to Panavia in a deal worth £28 million ($45.3 million). BAE Systems will do the work at its plant in Warton, Lancashire.
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.
ARINC Engineering Services Ltd. of Annapolis, Md., was the sole bidder on a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics support of up to 17 Russian Mi-17 helicopters procured for the Iraqi air force by the U.S. Army. The contract, valued at approximately $11 million, includes maintenance services and training in Iraq, and runs through Nov. 3, 2010.
‘Ecological’ Paint The Mankiewicz base coat/clear coat system recently gained Airbus approval for use on its entire fleet of aircraft, making the Hamburg paint manufacturer one of three approved as a paint supplier for Airbus exteriors. Applied in thin layers, Mankiewicz’s coating system is designed to save operators time and money up-front and in maintenance work.
Siam Hiller Holdings reissued STC to install Allison 250-C18A, -C18C, -C20, -C20B engine and related changes on various Bell 47G helicopters, STC SH657NW
According to Greek legend, Prometheus brought fire to Earth by lighting a torch from the sun’s chariot. That same fire is being harnessed today at General Electric’s Repair Technology Center of Excellence, taking the form of a laser beam. The center’s research teams are finding more uses of this modern technology to repair a widening range of parts.
Avoiding areas of dangerous turbulence at cruise altitude is what every pilot is trained to do. The problem is that using conventional radars can be an intensive manual process that adds to pilot workload. And interpreting the information on the display may not lead to the safest way to avoid the worst parts of a storm.
What are two of the biggest hurdles to the wider adoption of supply chain software tools in the MRO industry? If you said: the big upfront licensing fees and the long, disruptive implementation times, then you may want to consider an on-demand, or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), solution for some of your software needs.
European regulators have spent several months laying the groundwork for potential retaliation to a proposed provision in U.S. aviation legislation calling for the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct twice-annual inspections of foreign repair stations. European legislators have asked that the U.S. exempt repair stations from any new requirements for FAA inspections in Europe because repair station oversight will be covered under the European-U.S. Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement. European regulators feel the U.S.
