Safety, Ops & Regulation

ST Aerospace (ST) has won a 10-year component repair management contract with AirAsia (AK) valued at S$102 million ($80 million) to cover 75 Airbus A320s under a maintenance by the hour (MBH) program.

Despite an overall tepid UK economy, the country’s civil aerospace manufacturing industry had a banner year in 2011, according to ADS.

Frank Brenner has been appointed to take over from David McMillan as Director General (DG) of Eurocontrol on Jan 1.

International Aero Engines (IAE) has reached an agreement with existing customer Monarch Airlines to develop customized V2500 engine maintenance solutions, supporting its fleet of 16 Airbus A321s.

As part of its on-going Transform 2015 efforts to increase economic efficiency by 20%, Air France (AF) has finalized framework agreements with unions representing ground staff, pilots and cabin crew.

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and MTU Aero Engines have both increased their stakes in International Aero Engines following Rolls-Royce’s equity exit from the joint venture.

Findings from the investigation into the May 9 crash of a Sukhoi Superjet 100 will be released by the end of summer, Russian officials said.

New Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) president and CEO Ray Conner told a Farnborough Airshow news conference that the commercial air transport market’s prospects remain healthy despite an uncertain global economy, leading BCA to focus intensely on ramping up production to meet demand.

Air India (AI) pilots called off their 58-day strike last week after the Delhi High court called for reconciliation.

HAECO will modify Cathay Pacific Airbus A340-300s with a premium economy product under a Northwest Aerospace EASA STC with Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department VSTC approval beginning in 2013. FL Technics Spare Parts announced it has purchased four Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft to be torn down for parts and components.

On the heels of several Gogo announcements regarding its deployment of a Ku-band satellite solution for international connectivity services, Delta Air Lines (DL) has announced it will begin offering the service on its long-haul international fleet of over 150 aircraft beginning in early 2013.

Finnair (AY) has reached an agreement with SR Technics to outsource engine and component services, in a cost-cutting move that will cut 280 maintenance jobs.

Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indonesian’s Ministry of Transportation to help establish advanced aviation training programs and practices that meet globally recognized standards.

The International Air Carrier Assn. (IACA) has added Swiss carrier Hello AG as a full member. The charter airline has a fleet of four 174-seat Airbus A320s. Austrian Airlines Group (OS) is set to eliminate the brand Lauda Air by 2013 as part of its restructuring process. Currently only one Boeing 737-800 is outfitted in Lauda livery. The carrier was founded 1979 by former Formula-1 Champion Niki Lauda and was integrated into OS in 2002.

The final French BEA report issued Thursday on the 2009 Air France (AF) Flight 447 crash is unlikely to quell the controversies that surround one of aviation’s worst-ever disasters; in particular, AF and Airbus must confront potential legal jeopardy.

The French BEA's final report on the 2009 crash of Air France (AF) Flight 447, released Thursday, reiterated the two main themes of its investigation over the past three years: the Airbus A330-200’s malfunctioning pitot probes provided inconsistent speed measurements and the pilots did not understand the rapidly deteriorating situation, failing to properly identify a stall situation or react promptly to it.

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) signed a seven-year contract with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) earlier this month, to provide Integrated Component Solutions (ICS) to its Boeing 737NG fleet.

Airbus is aiming for a bigger market share in Japan.

Japan Airlines (JAL) will this summer offer JAL SKY Wi-Fi onboard international flights, beginning with a Boeing 777-300ER on flights between Tokyo Narita and New York JFK. The carrier will progressively equip its entire international fleet with the broadband Ku connectivity solution eXConnect from Panasonic Avionics.

Maintenance provider Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited (MAEL) is expanding both its line maintenance stations and scope of approvals.

The Chinese government has cut domestic jet fuel prices by 9% to CNY 6,724 ($1,064) per ton as international fuel prices keep falling.

Uruguay's government-owned Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas (PU) will temporarily halt all operations, beginning at 9:20 p.m. local time (Montevideo) July 3 after its OFP workers’ union declared its intention to strike.

Boeing is forecasting worldwide demand for 34,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, doubling the world fleet, in its latest market forecast.

Abacus International signed a multi-year exclusive distribution agreement with Jetstar Pacific, giving Abacus travel agents exclusive access to the airline’s domestic and international fares and inventory. Discover the World Marketing was selected by Hainan Airlines to serve as its sales and marketing agent in Greece and Cyprus.

Brazilian domestic traffic measured by RPKs grew 5.7% year-over-year in May, against a 5% growth in ASKs, according the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANCA). Industry load factor grew 0.7 percentage point to 67.6%.