When the U.S. Air Force showed only a tepid interest in unmanned aircraft, a small San Diego company, General Atomics, decided to build them on its own dime. So when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks hit and U.S. forces were suddenly sent to combat guerilla-like forces in the mountains of Afghanistan, the company's Hellfire-equipped Predators were not just a concept—they were in production.

The FAA’s latest effort to modernize repair station regulations could create as many challenges as it solves, expect several industry experts. The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published May 21 is the latest step in a 23-year odyssey to update FAR Part 145, the rules that govern repair station certficiation. The draft rule’s biggest change is a new ratings system classification aimed at more accurately reflecting today’s industry standards.

Airbus will have to retrofit 120 A380s to resolve a problem with wing component cracking before a permanent fix will be implemented on new-build aircraft. The aircraft maker has already delivered 74 A380s, but the total number in need of retrofit will grow to 120 aircraft because of work already in the production system, says Tom Williams, Airbus’s executive VP-programs.

The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market in Eastern Europe, the Baltic states and the Commonwealth of Independent States is very fragmented and is driving “hyper-competition,” says FL Technics CEO Jonas Butautis. “This region is dominated by smaller players and, frankly, I don’t see that changing,” he adds. ICF SH&E pegs the MRO market in this region at $2.1 billion, compared with $50.9 billion worldwide in 2011.

Aftermarket parts supplier AeroInv.com today will name FL Technics, the maintenance arm of Vilnius-based Avia Solutions Group, its exclusive sales representative in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Baltic and Eastern European.

There is no magic formula for a profitable airline business model, says Lim Kim Hai, head of Australia’s Regional Express (Rex). Rather, success comes from focusing on a raft of minor details, and constantly searching for new ways to do them better.

The FAA is taking steps to significantly overhaul outdated repair station ratings and certification requirements, but a proposal released yesterday avoids attempts to impose new quality system requirements.

Qantas is taking a major step to consolidate its engineering operation.