TeamSAI M&E Solutions selected IDMR’s InForm application as its integrated electronic task card authoring system. The software’s task card module lets TeamSAI M&E Solutions control task card authoring and management. The InForm system also allows TeamSAI M&E Solutions to adapt to each customer’s existing IT infrastructure.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace will maintain 143 CFM56-7B engines for India’s Jet Airways and subsidiary Jetlite under a maintenance-by-the-hour contract valued at S$1 billion ($750 million). The work includes off-wing, on-wing and on-site support plus fleet technical and asset management support. The engines power 67 Boeing 737s operated by Jet Airways and its subsidiary. Avionics/IFE
ST Aerospace President Tay Kok Khiang is taking a different approach to training than many other MRO leaders this year. Rather than looking for ways to cut costs, he is investing more in upgrading his technicians’ skills. “Despite the global economic slow-down, there has been no resulting review of our training budget,” he says. On the contrary, “the slow-down has enabled us to train more of our employees, preparing them for the eventual upturn.”
Aviation Technical Services named Greg Buller general manager and VP of component services, reporting to President Matt Yerbic. Buller most recently worked at FedEx, where he held senior leadership positions in maintenance engineering and reliability analysis, maintenance planning and scheduling, liaison engineering and supply chain management for air operations.
Long-range prospects for the air transport industry remain strong despite the near-term challenges that competitors face—declining volume, smaller budgets and increased costs. The corresponding reduction in demand for MRO services has forced providers to hunker down through delayed investments, labor force resizing and inventory consumption.
Ultrasonic Testing Software Suite Olympus NDT added a new version of its TomoView ultrasonic data acquisition and analysis software suite, which combines ultrasonic testing signals with real-time imaging. TomoView 2.9 also enables users to analyze previously captured data files offline. Olympus NDT modeled the software’s new user interface on its OmniScan MX multitechnology flaw detector software, so it shares features such as nomenclature, data representation and reports with that Olympus product line.
Longbow LLC, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received a four-year, $86-million contract from AgustaWestland to support Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems on Apache AH Mk-1 helicopters. The award covers engineering services, integrated logistics and in-country repair at Wattisham Airfield, at the Lockheed Martin facility in Florida, and at the Northrop Grumman plant in Baltimore. The Longbow FCR, the circular component on top of the rotor, provides target detection, location, classification and prioritization.
Like every other line item in an organization’s budget, technician training has been hit by the global recession. But while training budgets compared to last year run the gamut from flat to down about 20%, one thing seems to hold true across the board: Training is seeing increased scrutiny this year as a place where efficiencies can be gained and costs thereby reduced without a negative impact on technician preparedness.
Viking Group picked A J Walter Aviation to provide power-by-the-hour support for its fleet of new Airbus A320-200s operated by Viking Hellas Airlines. Initially the contract will cover two aircraft based in Athens, Greece. AJW already provides support for Viking’s six Boeing 737 Classic and NG aircraft under a 2008 agreement. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
ASB Avionics won a contract to modify National Center for Atmospheric Research Lockheed Martin EC-130Q aircraft with its commercial-off-the-shelf avionics modernization program equipment based on the five-display Honeywell control display system for retrofit, which replaces existing analog flight director, altimetric, and engine displays; autopilot and flight director components; and existing communication, navigation and surveillance components.
Aircraft Technical Publishers will provide single-source, digital technical publications through its NavigatorV software platform for the Bell 47 per an agreement with Scotts-Bell 47 of Le Sueur, Minn., which holds a type certificate for the helicopter.
Associated Air Center added Boeing Business Jet SFAR-88 mandatory fuel tank modification, main landing gear forward trunnion pin and gear replacement, and lower cabin altitude modification capabilities.
Many MROs have been restructuring and reinventing themselves during the economic downturn, and evidence of their efforts materializes as distinctions that make them stronger. “A new level of competition is emerging beyond core MRO activities and their basic differentiators,” says an Oliver Wyman report issued at our MRO Americas Conference.
Elbit Systems will continue to be responsible for the maintenance and support of Grob G-120-AI trainers in use by the Israel Air Force (IAF) until 2022. The announcement comes after the company reported that the defense ministry awarded it a 10-year follow-on contract that takes effect when the current agreement expires in 2012. The new contract is valued at $20 million. Elbit Systems in effect rents flying time in the trainers to the IAF under a program known as the private finance initiative.
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) modified its Boeing 737-400 special freighter to accommodate 10 full-height AAA cargo containers plus one AEP/AEH container. MNG Airlines is launch customer for what will become the new standard for 737-400SF conversions, AEI says. The modification touch labor is taking place at AEI conversion center Commercial Jet at Miami International Airport. AEI plans to redeliver the first “11-position” MNG 737-400SF this summer.
Ameco Beijing delivered a specially painted Boeing 767 (pictured above) to Bangladesh GMG Airlines, and it will provide line maintenance and engineering services for the airline over the next six years.
Data Link Solutions won a $20-million contract from the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to provide Link-16 terminals to U.S. and coalition forces. The award includes radios for U.S. platforms—such the MH-60R, MH-60S and F/A-18—and foreign military sales customers, including Finland, Saudi Arabia and Japan. This award also includes additional equipment for U.S. applications and customers, including the U.S. Army, Battlefield Airborne Communication Node and Joint Forces Command.
Veracity Technology Solutions developed an alternate inspection method that allows Tinker Air Force Base staff to inspect the structural integrity of aft terminal support fittings on large military aircraft without having to place the aircraft in quarantine. Its in-situ 128 element linear array ultrasonic imaging system replaces previous x-ray-based technology for structural inspections, making the process more effective, quicker, easier to carry out and safer for technicians.
FL Technics went live with Ramco’s aviation MRO software solution. Ramco also released version 5.2 of Series 5 of the software. The Ramco update expands the centralized graphical planning board and provides centralized data entry for maintenance technicians.
ST Aerospace will provide six years of maintenance support worth SING$363 million ($259 million) to the Republic of Singapore Air Force under two new contracts. The RSAF operates 218 aircraft in total, according to AVIATION WEEK’s World Aerospace Database. The contracts cover the RSAF’s operational fleet except for its F-15s and the trainer that has yet to be shortlisted, says ST Aero communications head Audrey Tan. Due to customer confidentiality she could not provide more detail on the work scope.
SR Technics will continue maintenance services for Air India’s CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines at its Zurich engine shop per a CHF$60 million (US$55.4 million), two-year contract extension with the National Aviation Co. of India Ltd. The extension covers 61 Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. SR Technics also provides engine MRO and component support for Air India’s PW4168A-powered A330-200 aircraft. Parts/Components
Fully exploiting information technology to improve maintenance requires massive sharing of maintenance and performance data among airlines, shops and manufacturers. And that in turn requires standardizing data, the focus of ATA’s Spec 2000 project. Spec 2000 standards for maintenance data under ATA Chapter 11 are largely complete, although adjustments are still being made.
