Auto makers use radars, but they are not approved for aircraft.

What lower fuel costs would mean for aviation

A pushback collision between an Etihad Airways Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777-300 at Abu Dhabi in May 2012 reveals the complexities involved in solving the ramp damage problem, and in its final report on the incident, the United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) focuses largely on non-technical solutions.

KLM UK Engineering’s (KLMUKE) recent expansion into aircraft recycling gives the Air France-KLM conglomerate another cost-effective option for disposing of narrowbody aircraft and provides third-party revenue potential in both the scrapping and surplus parts arenas.

Morocco’s national airline Royal Air Maroc has signed a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) with ATR for its new fleet of ATR-600 aircraft, giving the OEM another boost in its efforts to gain share in the aftermarket. The contract covers the four ATR 72-600s already owned by the airline, which was the launch customer for the -600 series and announced an order for two ATR 42-600s and four of the larger ATR 72-600s plus options for two additional ATR 72-600s in 2009. It took delivery of the first aircraft in 2011.

More MROs are entering the VIP completions market, which not only could lead to increased competition but to overcapacity, as well, fears Walter Heerdt, senior vice president of marketing and sales at Lufthansa Technik.

Fresh from a sizable win for its airline supply chain business, AAR is eyeing an international acquisition that would further boost the segment, CEO David Storch says. Speaking to analysts during a Dec. 19 earnings call, Storch confirmed that Wood Dale, Ill.-based AAR is “looking at a fairly sizable deal that would expand our presence” outside the U.S. The deal would likely be an all-cash transaction, he adds, offering few additional details.

Africa •Engine MRO expenditures are projected to be more than $800 million. •The continent's total fleet will decrease by six aircraft. Asia-Pacific •The region—excluding China and India—will generate $1 billion of spending on modifications, about one-fourth of the global modification market. •Excluding China and India, the region's fleet will increase 13%. China •Chinese operators will spend $1 billion on component MRO.