There is no internationally recognized certification to indicate that one is qualified to manage an aviation maintenance human factors program. The career path to the HF manager’s job varies. The HF manager must be something of a super hero, with a unique skill set that includes great communication abilities, a positive attitude and knowledge of human factors and aviation maintenance. If the job position is a good one, then it will demand highly qualified candidates who bring “The Right Stuff” to the job.
European regulators have spent several months laying the groundwork for potential retaliation to a proposed provision in U.S. aviation legislation calling for the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct twice-annual inspections of foreign repair stations. European legislators have asked that the U.S. exempt repair stations from any new requirements for FAA inspections in Europe because repair station oversight will be covered under the European-U.S. Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement. European regulators feel the U.S.
Boeing has closed a deal with the government for the purchase of 15 CH-147F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. The program includes a 20-year in-service support and maintenance contract worth about $2.2 billion, almost twice as much as the $1.2-billion price of the helicopters. The contract includes an option to extend MRO to the life expectancy of the aircraft. No word has been released yet as to whether Boeing or a local company will be responsible for maintenance services.
Pacific Aerospace Resources & Technologies (PART) bought out Victorville Aerospace’s assets in August, finally anchoring that company after it filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 last September. PART plans to grow its new Victorville base, where it will offer MRO, modifications, asset and maintenance management, mission critical systems development and integration, platform technologies and flight test services to military and commercial customers from a hangar large enough to host an Airbus A380. Facilities
The Dutch military has formally requested modification kits to upgrade 29 of its AH-64D Apache Block I attack helicopters to a Block II configuration. The request was filed in August with the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. If, as expected, it passes a review, the deal would be worth approximately $181 million, and include support equipment, spare parts, tools, test equipment and other resources. Boeing will act as the prime contractor, but offsets have been proposed as part of the contract.
Monogram Systems reissued STCs to install Envirovac toilets, chemical injection toilets or Envirovac vacuum waste blowers on McDonnell Douglas MD-11; Boeing 767-200 and -300, 747-400 and 777-200; and Airbus A319 and A320 series aircraft, Several STCs
Canard Aerospace reissued STC to install a Honeywell Mark VII enhanced ground proximity warning system to replace the Mark II system on Bombardier DHC-8-200 series aircraft, STC ST01331CH
OGMA recently delivered an SA330 Puma helicopter operated by the French government to SIMMAD (Structure Integree du Maintien en condition operationnele des Materiels Aeronautiques de la Defense). SIMMAD has been a helicopter maintenance customer of OGMA's since 2002.
Jettech to install a Sandel SA4550 primary attitude display, SN4500 primary navigation displays and associated equipment into a Cessna 500 to obtain WAAS approval for a Garmin GNS-400W/500W global navigation system with an FGS-70 automatic flight control system, STC ST10945SC
PATS Aircraft reissued STC to install an ECE substitute halogen lamp to replace nose gear and/or wing landing and nose gear taxi lights on various Boeing 737, 767, 777 and 747 series aircraft, STC ST02064LA
Rockwell Collins reissued STC to install Rockwell Collins GLU-920 multi-mode receivers in place of AlliedSignal or Sextant multi-mode receivers on Boeing 737-700, -600 and -800 series aircraft, STC ST00983LA-D
Consultation periods for an EASA Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA 2009-06) concerning the use of composite materials in aircraft structures ends this month. With new, largely composite jetliners soon to enter the market, NPA 2009-06 aims to create a single Acceptable Means of Compliance chapter (AMC 20-29) to standardize recognized good practices for composite aircraft structure design, manufacturing and maintenance.
Delta TechOps inked a $7 million, four-year component maintenance and inventory logistics contract with Canadian charter airline CanJet. Delta TechOps will take care of component and logistics inventory support for the Halifax, Nova Scotia-based carrier's Boeing 737-800s. The agreement covers avionics, pneumatics, and hydraulics, and it provides access to Delta's inventory of 737-800 components for spare parts. It also signed a $1.3 million, three-year component deal with another Canadian carrier, First Air.
Magellan Aircraft Services will disassemble CRJ100/200 regional jets, refurbishing usable components and marketing them to operators around the world per a new agreement with Bombardier Services. The initial agreement covers 10 CRJ100 aircraft managed by Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's Asset Management Group. Bombardier estimates that each aircraft has about 1,500 parts—including 300 LRUs—that can be refurbished and resold to operators as spares. The spares, including engines, will be available through Magellan for sale or lease.
Latin American maintenance, repair and overhaul providers continue to expand their offerings in the worldwide MRO market, with new capabilities and certifications coming on line all the time. With increasing numbers of new-generation Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer jets being delivered into the region, and still hundreds of older-generation aircraft needing more intensive maintenance, the potential market from Latin carriers alone is enough to spur MRO development in the region.
The U.S. and India have begun working on a bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA), which will lead to mutual acceptance of aeronautical products and parts developed in either country.The two countries saw the need for the pact, now that aeronautical products are being designed and manufactured in India. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the steps involved in a BASA process include: Skill upgrades of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) certification experts through advanced training;
Mesaba Airlines’ 60 Bombardier regional aircraft will receive avionics maintenance from Rockwell Collins per a 16-year Dispatch agreement. Under the long-term deal inked in August, Rockwell Collins will provide avionics component repairs and inventory for the Northwest/Delta operator’s 41 CRJ900s and 19 CRJ200s at multiple pre-positioned service locations.
Avantext , a provider of an airworthiness directive regulatory compliance and technical publications software tools for the aviation industry, moved into new offices in Conshohocken, Penn.
Panasonic Avionics and SIA Engineering Co. signed a 10-year agreement for the maintenance of inflight entertainment and communication equipment on Singapore Airlines' entire fleet. Panasonic will work in conjunction with SIAEC to provide a “one-stop-shop” solution covering all on-aircraft labor, logistics, spares, repairs and media loading. Parts/Components
Premier Air Center amended STC to install a four- or five-display Universal Avionics EFI-890R electronic flight instrument system on Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft, STC ST02226CH
What are two of the biggest hurdles to the wider adoption of supply chain software tools in the MRO industry? If you said: the big upfront licensing fees and the long, disruptive implementation times, then you may want to consider an on-demand, or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), solution for some of your software needs.
Plating Maskant Wax Petroferm Inc., Cleaning Products offers a new, highly refined plating maskant wax with a melting point of 168-180 degrees F, designed to be suitable for nickel sulphamate and other selective plating applications. AEROMAX MT should exhibit excellent flexibility, adhesion and substrate compatibility, and it should be able to mask both simple and complex geometries, Petroferm says.
Siam Hiller Holdings reissued STC to install Allison 250-C18A, -C18C, -C20, -C20B engine and related changes on various Bell 47G helicopters, STC SH657NW
A J Walter will support another Astraeus Airlines Boeing 757-200 under an existing power-by-the-hour support arrangement with the U.K.-based sub-lease services and aircraft and crew provider, which operates a fleet of five 757s and two 737NGs. A J Walter has supported Astraeus Airlines from its base near London-Gatwick since the carrier's launch in 2002.
