AviationWeek.com

Fused Deposition Modeling allows designers to create part geometries that would simply be impossible to make with traditional manufacturing techniques.

Transmitting, collecting and processing data as efficiently as possible is critical to leveraging Big Data in aviation.

“Engineers use these applications in their everyday lives, so it makes sense to exploit them in the work environment.”

Repairs to large titanium parts expected to drive demand for additive systems.

Economic appeal of lighter aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 expands the demand for structural core materials.

Pulse’s rugged design makes it easy to install in most locations on any aircraft, and it is formulated for high reliability and maintainability.

PTC continues to be a leading provider of product lifecycle management and is adding technician training to its wheelhouse.

Spirit AeroSystems is installing one of the world’s largest autoclaves at its Wichita, Kansas facility to support increasing composite production and boost its total composite capacity. The new equipment is 30 ft. in diameter and 120 ft. long. It has an internal volume of more than 78,000 ft. 3 and is just one of Spirit’s 40 autoclaves.

SAP can connect the purchasing and processing departments of 3-D buyers and sellers, as well as helping to define the products needed, eliminating the need for costly manual processes.

U.K.-based AIM Altitude is establishing a “center of excellence” for 5-axis machining of composites in Waterbeach, England.

GE has added a flight-phase analyzer and a network-ops app to its Predix platform for collecting and analyzing data.

Additive-manufacturing (AM) specialist SLM Solutions is using its branch office in Moscow to tap aerospace and other AM markets in the troubled but resource-rich Russian market.

User conferences like the one Ultramain Systems recently held in New Mexico, help keep client software users and their own coders on the same page.

Watson goes beyond being a “Jeopardy” game show star to helping pilots tackle maintenance problems from the cockpit.

Purchasing California-based smart materials company Rolith Inc., could help Canada's MTI develop large-scale optical metamaterial products for aerospace.

Now that all the major engine manufacturers are using additive manufacturing (AM) to print metal parts for their newest engines, what’s next?

Beckwood Press Co. will supply Ducommun’s Parsons, Kansas, facility with two new highly customized presses for hot-forming titanium, one with closed-loop monitoring.

Visual Mobile Technologies (VMT) offers a collaboration platform, the vMobile Collaborator, that could be extremely useful when widely dispersed mechanics and engineers need to cooperate in fixing an aircraft in a hurry or just work on a common challenge.

Empire Airlines has initiated an extensive electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) modernization project for its ATR freighters. Under its EFIS Screen Replacement Program, the cargo carrier plans to install a current-generation display suite on its entire ATR fleet, consisting of 11 ATR 42-300 and -320s and seven ATR 72-212s.

StandardAero has initiated engine test cell modifications and technician training at its Augusta, Georgia facility in preparation for the first heavy maintenance visits of the Honeywell HTF7000.

Neptune Aviation Services has repurposed a BAe 146 as an air tanker—and designed proactive maintenance support for it.

Turboshaft engine manufacturers are moving toward high-performance-capable/high-thermal-stability lubricating oils, spurred by the intense demands of many helicopter missions.

Hawaiian Airlines is asking the Transportation Department (DOT) to grant it a new nighttime slot award for Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, on the grounds that other U.S. carriers seeking slots have not asked for the sole nighttime allocation.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger talks about Virgin's fleet expansion plans and the benefits of the JV with Delta.

Ramco Aviation has introduced a suite of Anywhere Apps that tie together pilots, mechanics, stock clerks and runners who carry parts to aircraft, managers who approve part orders and MRO customers.