Influences will be interiors, Asian market and better data management

Kellstrom finished consolidating and segregating its business into commercial and defense units, and it expects the first quarter of 2014 to start showing the results of those efforts, as well as its “leaner and meaner side,” says Roscoe Musselwhite, Kellstrom Materials president. Kellstrom purchased AirLiance Materials in May, which subsequently involved not only consolidating and streamlining its commercial parts distribution business, but also all of the operations functions, such as IT migration and vendor code and invoice harmonization.

A&D companies and investors need to understand each other better

AerCap Accelerates Growth With ILFC Bid

Industry trade groups are urging the FAA to put the brakes on a well-intended guidance-streamlining effort that would result in mass cancellation of official agency interpretations that are not housed in one of three online repositories.  The FAA’s move, outlined in a Dec. 3 memorandum from Flight Standards Service (FSS) Director John Duncan to all FSS employees, would cancel any guidance not found in the Flight Standards Information System, the Regulatory and Guidance Library, “or elsewhere on www.faa.gov,” effective January 14, 2014.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing a “redefined” risk assessment, is halving the proposed compliance window for operators of Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A330s to replace an incorrectly manufactured thrust reverser component. The proposed directive, released Dec. 18, would give affected operators 12 months to replace thrust reverser door cowl hinge sleeves Nos. 3 and 4. The proposal replaces a September draft directive that would have given operators 24 months. EASA says the parts in question were not correctly heat treated.

Industry leaders remain hopeful that the long overdue repair station security rule will finally shake free from its White House review in the next few weeks, but they are still calling on newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to make sure that happens.

Aviation Week and the Balamand Institute of Aeronautics are conducting a confidential survey to quantify the training needs and capacity for aviation maintenance technicians, engineers and specialists in the Middle East.