The number of flights over Europe likely will be 1.8 times greater in 2030 than it was in 2009, according to Eurocontrol’s latest 20-year forecast. It sees a range of scenarios that project between 13.1 million and 20.9 million flights in 2030, assuming average growth of 1.6-3.9% annually. A 2.8% per year average growth rate is the most likely, it says.
Apple just released its iPad 2 last month, and the aerospace industry is definitely taking notice of the tablet’s seemingly limitless applications, from the hangar floor to aircraft cabins and cockpits. The FAA has recently approved the use of iPads as electronic flight bags (EFB), which contain important aeronautical charts and manuals, for pilots. Because EFBs can cost thousands of dollars on the market today, many airlines find that the iPad presents a simple, flexible and economical alternative.
Pratt & Whitney has long touted the technological step-change its geared turbofan engine, which will first enter the market as the PurePower PW1000G on the Bombardier CSeries, will bring with it. The engine maker now has set its strategy to support the new engine family and plans to launch its PureSolution program on April 12 at Aviation Week’s MRO Conference & Exhibition.
Baines Simmons appointed Ivan Christiansen head of its quality consultancy division. Christiansen joins Baines Simmons from Rolls-Royce, where he was head of global quality for On-Wing Care.
StandardAero named Rick Stine senior VP of its components sector in Cincinnati, one of six new divisions that group the company’s MRO services in six key industry sectors—airlines and fleets, Associated Air Center, business aviation, government and military, helicopters and energy, and components. Stine comes to StandardAero from Heico Corp., where he was senior VP technical operations.
AFI KLM Engineering & Maintenance expanded its component, engines and engineering support work for New Caledonian airline Aircalin’s Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft.
If the aviation aftermarket had a pulse and we could listen to it through a stethoscope, what would it sound like? Perhaps it would echo the heartbeat of a marathon runner whose course includes a few steep hills? I think this is an apt analogy because I believe the MRO industry’s training, which has been occurring the last several years through diligent process improvements, has produced lasting, long-term benefits. While we periodically sprint, this is a long, competitive journey.
Avtrade will support components for start-up Mega-Maldives’ fleet of Boeing 767-300s through 2016. The power-by-the-hour contract covers pool access, AOG services, logistics, component management and repair; Mega-Maldives also signed a multi-million-dollar lease with Avtrade to set up a base kit in Malé.
Etihad formally signed an agreement to buy Engine Alliance GP7200 engines to power its fleet of 10 Airbus A380s, a deal with a list price of $1.5 billion; it was originally priced at $1.3 billion when the agreement was preliminarily signed in June 2009. At that time, the aircraft were to enter service in 2012 but are now set to begin operations in 2014. Etihad also will use a long-term fleet management agreement for engine MRO.
Renaissance Aeronautics Associates’ Advanced Composites Training is an approved training organization in London, Ontario. Courses taught at RAA are accredited by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council, the FAA and The American Composites Manufacturing Association. Courses offered at Advanced Composites Training cover composite manufacturing, tooling, maintenance, structural repair and non-destructive inspection. www.raacomposites.com/
LONDON—The dark specter of volcanic eruption brews again beneath Iceland. Early in February, the Icelandic Meteorological Office warned of an increased risk of eruption in an area covering Iceland’s second largest volcano, Bárdarbunga, which dwarfs the Eyjafjallajökull volcano that closed European airspace last April. If, or when, the disruptions happen, will airlines be better prepared to handle them?
Lightweight composites soon will replace metals such as aluminum as the primary material for airframes. Advanced composites make up at least half of the Airbus 350XWB and Boeing 787 airframes, and these new, lightweight structures will drive the future of repairs. But until original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) release repair manuals for these materials, training organizations are doing their best to cultivate a workforce of mechanics and engineers skilled in developing designated engineering representative (DER) composite repairs.
Sukhoi’s Superjet 100 regional jet received type certification from the Russian aircraft certification authority, IAC AR, enabling delivery of the first aircraft. Armavia, which has two firm orders and two options, will receive the first. Sukhoi also conducted the maiden flight of Aeroflot’s first SS100 in the Russian flag-carrier’s colors. Aeroflot has 30 firm orders for the aircraft, plus 15 options. Noting the aircraft’s type certification, the OEM added it has been granted design organization approval certification from IAC AR.
The governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama established free trade zones where Coopesa, Aeroman and ST Aerospace Panama operate, speeding their access to parts. The strategy also provides a competitive advantage that other countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, can't offer due to long customs-clearing processes.
Aviation Technical Services received certification from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, allowing it to pursue work in heavy maintenance and interior furnishings installations, entertainment systems, antennas and cameras on Boeing 737 aircraft flying under Saudi registration.
The camera heads for the 5.0, 6.1 and 8.4 mm probes have an 1/6 in. color charge-coupled device CCD image sensor with a 440,000 pixel count. These cameras also have an added temperature warning sensor. The 3.9 and 6.2 mm probes have a 1/10 in. color CCD image sensor at 290,000 pixels. GE says the titanium camera head is eight times stronger than those that equip older borescopes. www.ge-mcs.com/microsites/xlg3-videoprobe/overview.html
International Communications Group’s NxtLink ICS-400 completed Iridium-compatible equipment certification testing and now is approved for operation on the Iridium constellation and network. Parts/Components
San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, and Panama City—The Central America aviation industry is projected to be one of the fastest growing in the world, and three major MRO companies here hope to expand with it. The two more established MROs compete and cooperate, and their hangars are full based on the niches they have developed. The third, and much younger, player is still developing, as part of one of the biggest global MROs.
Job Air Technic at Ostrava International Airport in the Czech Republic is developing base maintenance capability for the Airbus A320 family and received EASA Part 145 approval for the A318/A319/A320/A321 including C checks, modifications, landing gear and engine changes.
Aeronautical Engineering Inc. is converting six Boeing 737-400s into 11-pallet freighters for Muskovia Airlines. The first is expected to begin conversion activities at AEI’s Miami conversion center Commercial Jet by the end of the first quarter.
FL Technics serviced its first Airbus A320—owned by Latvian charter carrier SmartLynx—in February, less than a month after the MRO received its EASA Part 145 certification for line and base maintenance of the type. It had expected to receive the aircraft in the second quarter, but it arrived a bit earlier; CEO Jonas Butautis says this indicates the high demand for A320 family MRO services in the region.
Ameco Beijing says it cut its energy costs in 2010 by 31% by upgrading its heating/energy systems from coal to gas. The project, which involved installing heat exchangers, a boiler system and 15 km of pipeline, increased the campus's thermal efficiency by 10% and decreased carbon dioxide emissions by about 40%.
SR Technics extended its 10-year agreement with the Airberlin group with financing services and an engine contract that covers more than 300 engines. These include CFM International CFM56-7Bs, CFM56-5Bs and Pratt & Whitney PW4168s. It also includes financing for life limited parts and spare engines via SR Technics’ sister company Sanad Aero Solutions. Avionics/IFE
