The European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) has urged new European Commissioner-designate for Transport Siim Kallas of Estonia to stop state aid to ailing national carriers. “In such cases the airlines in question must be permitted to simply exit the market for which they are no longer fit,” says ELFAA Secretary General John Hanlon.
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co. (GAMECO) is introducing engineering and technical services at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport. Its maintenance staff there completed the first two Boeing 777F A checks in February for China Southern Airlines, which is the launch customer for GAMECO’s line maintenance services at the airport.
SIA Engineering Co (SIAEC) became a risk-sharing partner in Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1000G engine. As part of the deal, Pratt & Whitney designated Eagle Services Asia, a joint venture between the two companies in Singapore, the first engine center in the program's MRO network. Pratt & Whitney started testing the engine core in late December and is scheduled to begin testing the complete engine late this summer. Military
Aeromexico retrofitted its first Boeing 737-700NG with Messier-Bugatti carbon brakes. This also marked the first time an in-service 737NG has had its steel brakes replaced, according to Messier-Bugatti. Aeromexico will carry out the upgrade for its 35 additional 737-700NG and -800NGs in house, as well. Other operators under contract to upgrade their 737NG fleets with Messier-Bugatti carbon brakes include Arik Air, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Garuda, Globus Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Wakefield Bahamas.
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co. Ltd. (GAMECO) named David Conrad director of international sales and marketing, Li Longxiang director of strategy and development, Li Xin chief inspector of its quality control department, and Bob Peng director of its marketing and sales department. Conrad comes to GAMECO from Rexnord Aerospace, where he served as VP sales, marketing and customer service. Li Longxiang most recently was manager of reliability control and a specialist in quality assurance for China Southern Airlines.
Industry observers until recently predicted that Eastern Europe would become the “new China” of MRO services for Western European airlines and others looking to reduce maintenance costs. That glowing prognostication has dimmed somewhat for a host of reasons, but some remain convinced that Eastern Europe has significant potential for MRO.
Ameco Beijing and Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen will develop Pratt & Whitney PW4000 fan thrust reverser overhaul capability, providing Air China and Air China Cargo’s 747 and 767 fleets local repairs.
The Indian Air Force named Air Marshal Joseph Neri, formerly the director general of aircraft at Air Headquarters, its new air officer-in-charge maintenance on Feb. 1. The AOM is responsible for maintenance management of all weapon systems and equipment. Neri, an electronic engineer, was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in July 1974.
The Helicopter Association International awarded its 2010 Rolls-Royce Excellence in Helicopter Maintenance Award to Robert Peterson, now a consultant to Columbia Helicopters in Aurora, Ore. Peterson joined Columbia Helicopters in 1972.
Contract maintenance has spurred a one-sided debate lately in the general media, including a certain U.S. newspaper that has frequently botched airline reporting and sensationalized issues. While I first dismissed the latest article as another piece of bad journalism in this newspaper, my phone keeps ringing. “What do you think?” “Does the public believe this stuff?”
SINGAPORE—An experiment in hands-on training for students specializing in aeronautical mechanics at Singapore Polytechnic has become a regular opportunity for lucky upper-class members under a three-year agreement with Pratt & Whitney.
“There are known knowns. These are things that we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things that we don’t know we don’t know.” Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld disclosed this intelligence on Feb. 12, 2002. Rumsfeld’s focus was Iraq. But, as far as aviation maintenance managers are concerned, it might as well have been airplanes.
The terms “fuel cell” and “bladder” tanks are used interchangeably to describe a fuel tank that is completely removable from the airframe for servicing and not integral to the aircraft. While all but gone from commercial transports, they will likely see continued application in general aviation aircraft. Removable tank maintenance is frequently overlooked until a leak is spotted. Then, the only alternative may be a total replacement, according to Erich Hartwig, manager of Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair in Hallock, Minn.
BAE Systems Australia received a pair of contracts from the Australian government to maintain helicopters for the army and navy. The deal, valued at A$240 million ($221 million), covers work in Queensland on army Black Hawk helicopters and in New South Wales on the navy’s Seahawk fleet.
Jetstar Airways signed a $2 billion service agreement with International Aero Engines to accompany a separate $1.5 billion contract for IAE V2500 SelectOne engines that will power 50 Airbus A320 aircraft. The engine purchase agreement also includes options for up to 40 more aircraft.
Ameco Beijing inducted an LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767-300 for a C Check on Jan. 11. It also will overhaul United Airlines’ Boeing 747s, as well as the carrier’s 777s, for which it already does heavy maintenance. The 777 work, under a five-year contract signed in 2005, will be extended for a further five years. Heavy maintenance on the 747s will also last for five years. And, Ameco won a contract to provide C check services for Aeroflot’s four 767-300ERs.
Slide Alert System Curtiss-Wright Controls’ new audible alert system aims to prevent unintentional aircraft slide deployment and the engineering costs and delays the inadvertent action causes. The SmartHandle system emits a verbal warning that lets air crew or maintainers know that the passenger entry/exit door is armed. Designed for compatibility with any aircraft type, the Curtiss-Wright Controls unit fits flush to the aircraft door and should require little maintenance.
Collaboration was one of the highest-flying concepts during the Internet boom. The idea was simple: the best companies would seamlessly connect with their customers and suppliers so that information was shared and transparent. Companies that failed to collaborate were doomed. The hype was best illustrated by an ad from a then-famous supply chain software firm with the headline “Collaborate or Die.”
SR Technics will consolidate its component services in Zurich, shuttering its London-Stansted component operation in the process. UK line maintenance efforts will continue from its Heathrow logistics base. Joint Ventures/ Acquisitions
Rockwell Collins formed a strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia’s Advanced Electronics Co. to co-develop and market avionics products and services. As part of the deal, AEC will become an authorized repair and service center for jointly developed avionics and electronics. Parts/Components
The defense ministry has taken delivery of the second of seven P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft whose aircraft and missions systems are being upgraded as part of a U.S. foreign military sales project (O&M, Feb. '09, p. 45). Lockheed Martin, which was contracted to do the upgrades, delivered the second aircraft on Jan. 7 to NAS Jacksonville, Fla., for transfer to Pakistan. The aircraft are being upgraded to support antiship and antisubmarine-warfare missions and improve surveillance of littoral and ocean waters.
Malaysia Airlines and Pratt & Whitney have agreed to open a nacelle repair facility in Kuala Lumpur within the next two years. The 50-50 joint venture will be part of Pratt’s Global Services Partners maintenance network to support CFM56 and V2500 overhauls, as well as Pratt’s own line.
Armstrong Aerospace to install the Honeywell Runway Awareness & Advisory System on Boeing 747-400 and 737-300 and 737-500 series, STC ST02778CH and ST02776CH
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest became the first naval command to gain both AS9110 certification (issued Nov. 6) and AS9100 certification (issued Nov. 18).
