Inside MRO

By Sean Broderick
A version of this article appears in the September 8 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology. The current ratings system for U.S.-approved repair stations, introduced in 1962 and in FAA’s crosshairs since the late 1980s, has received yet another lifeline.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

UAV operations pose new MRO challenges
MRO

By Lee Ann Shay
Implementing a big ERP in aftermarket operations inherently is typically more complex
MRO

Paul Seidenman and David J. Spanovich
Tablets and smart phones may become yesterday’s technology in MRO if, as some believe, wearable devices in the form of eyeglasses or wristwatches catch on with aircraft mechanics.
MRO

Bob Trebilock
The payoff is more-efficient processes and consistent performance
MRO

Bob Trebilock
PwC’s Rick Wysong and Dirk de Waart provide five best practices for more-effective collaboration and information-sharing across the MRO supply chain.
MRO

Bob Trebilock
Much of the industry’s focus has been on integrated planning, or sharing information across different functional areas and players in the supply chain. There are important initiatives underway to collect and use more data than ever.
MRO

Tom Pleasant
LCC evaluates maintenance as a way to keep its edge
MRO

By Henry Canaday
Airlines seeking new IT solutions for document management, e-signatures, maintenance planning and e-enabled aircraft
MRO

By Sean Broderick
A version of this article appears in the September 8 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Paul Seidenman and David J. Spanovich
In MRO, mobile devices demand due diligence
MRO

By Sean Broderick
The V2500 has lots of life and plenty of shop visits left
MRO

By Sean Broderick
Independents, OEMs grapple to meet operators’ spare parts demands
MRO

L ike an eagle that uses its keen vision, strength and size to become apex predator of the aviaries, Pratt & Whitney believes its PW1000 geared turbofan will be the eagle in its nest to make its commercial production soar ( AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 36).

The hangar-services-only days in Central and Eastern Europe are over—as is “hangar mania,” which is how former FL Technics CEO Jonas Butautis described the proliferation of basic MRO services that popped up there over the past few years and created overcapacity.

T he Icelandic banking collapse of 2008-11, followed by the eruptions from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010, took a strong Icelandair and crushed it. “I remember when we had to sell spare engines just to be able to pay salaries,” says Jens Thordarson, vice president- technical operations. “It was a very, very rough time for the company.”

By Sean Broderick
The FAA, acknowledging that flight crews need to be better prepared to combat flight deck fires, has drafted a policy that is meant to amplify and augment existing rules and guidance, but stops short of modifying its regulations.

By Sean Broderick
Europe has enacted regulations that should make its decade-old centralized safety database more valuable to both regulators and state aviation agencies by expanding the amount of incident information available to its users. The regulation, adopted in April and taking effect late next year, opens up access to records in the European Central Repository (ECR) to safety agencies and investigators throughout Europe.

By Michael Bruno
Private investors continue to weigh in and affect industry outcomes
MRO

By Henry Canaday
How to get the right parts at the right time to the right place
MRO

By Henry Canaday
T he aircraft parts aftermarket continues to transform itself as pure parts distributors feel increased pressure from the new asset-management model and some traders broaden their offers.

Airline mergers, emerging markets, and a heightened focus on parts management are shining a light on the importance of logistics

Regina Kenney
Raw Materials 1. First Operation Machining Services Supplier: AMI Metals Inc.

Finding ways to encourage employees to communicate safety concern
MRO