SR Technics received production organization approval from the Swiss Federal Office For Civil Aviation for aircraft interior design. The MRO does design and engineering work at its VIP Completion Center in Zurich and the first aircraft to undergo SR Technics' VIP interior modifications arrived there in the third quarter. SR Technics says 130 employees have been trained on how to implement the new VIP product.

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co.'s landing gear overhaul facility Taikoo (Xiamen) Landing Gear Services Co. (Talsco) signed a contract with China Airlines for the overhaul of 17 ship sets of Boeing 747-400 landing gears. Talsco will provide China Airlines with technical support, including rotable assets supply, on-gear installation, AOG support, configuration analysis, fleet analysis and inspection.

The pricing of aircraft parts depends on inflation, productivity improvements in manufacturing, part quality enhancements and the balance between supply and demand. Prices to individual purchasers depend on the competition they face and the strategic choices they employ.

In early January, a retired engineer named Roger Boisjoly passed away. The name is probably unfamiliar, but you might remember his role in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The night before the Jan. 28, 1986 launch, Boisjoly argued late into the night against launching, insisting the unusually cold temperatures would cause the O-rings to fail. Unfortunately, he was up against the director of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), a man who had made it clear that under no circumstance would MSFC be the cause of a launch delay.

An AOG due to a faulty engine can be the worst and most expensive nightmare maintenance faces. A grounded aircraft can cost an airline tens of thousands of dollars per day in lost revenue. MROs and leasing firms will scramble to provide help, but existing relationships count strongly in how fast assistance arrives.

Lufthansa Technik signed a total component support agreement with Asiana Airlines for the operator's fleet of 29 Airbus A320 and eight Boeing 737 aircraft. The agreement covers component pooling and MRO.

Dean Baldwin Painting opened a facility at the Goodyear Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. It will hold regional aircraft as well as those as large as a Boeing 767. The new EPA-approved operation will offer full strip and painting services, and heavy maintenance.

Nordam promoted Basil Barimo to executive VP for all Nordam repair divisions. He previously served as VP and general manager for the firm's Tulsa-based repair division. Nordam also appointed John Clawson to VP and general manager of its thrust reverser division.