Eurocopter plans to open a second service center in Hong Kong to serve customers in Asia-Pacific, where the helicopter maker says 1,264 Eurocopter helicopters currently are in service. The center, called CSC Asia-Pacific, will be operated by Helicopter CSC and local staff.
ARMSTRONG AEROSPACE, amended STC to install a Honeywell RESCU 406AF emergency locator transmitter system on Boeing 747-400, -400D and -400F series aircraft, STC ST01742CH
BAE Systems received two contracts worth £119 million ($170 million) from the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) to provide additional support for in-service Tornado and Harrier aircraft under a strategy known as CAPS (Commodity Availability Procurement Strategy). Under CAPS, the current Tornado availability contract (known as ATTAC) has been amended to include an availability service to support key primary warning and defensive protection equipment for RAF Tornado GR.4 and Harrier fleets.
Following extensive modernization of its four Boeing E-3F AWACS aircraft toward Block 40/45 capability, the French Air Force (AdlA) is undertaking further upgrades of its Boeing 707-based fleet, delivered from 1962-64. These concern its 11 C-135FR and three KC-135 tanker/transports, from a recent €37 million ($47 million) contract. Air France Industries is leading a mainly French commercial team that will install new ICAO-standard digital avionics and related advanced systems for operation in civil and military air space.
Air Canada will deploy TRAX’s EVO maintenance software to handle maintenance and engineering IT requirements across its fleet of close to 200 Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft. Air Canada Jazz, the company’s regional partner airline, already uses TRAX maintenance.
Shannon Aerospace completed D checks on a pair of Croatia Airlines’ Airbus A319s in 24 days each, a milestone in the MRO’s implementation of Lean. Redelivery of the first aircraft to Croatia on Feb. 6 marked the first such turnaround for the company. It completed the D1-check plus sampling (which SAL says is the most comprehensive check possible on a 1998 aircraft), in 17 days. A seven-day paint job took the number of days to 24, which was ahead of the contracted time, SAL said. It achieved an identical timeframe with the second aircraft.
Trimble designed its new, all-in-one tablet computer to be rugged and fully functional in any setting. The Yuma can be used as a hand-carried computer, mounted on a pole or tripod for data collection, secured in a vehicle-mount or connected to an office docking station with external monitor, printer and other desk peripherals.
Saudi Arabian Airlines signed a $300 million contract with GE Aviation Services to provide material for the CFM56-5B engines that will power the carrier’s new fleet of 50 Airbus A320s. The exclusive 10-year materials agreement covering 100 CFM56-5B engines, means Saudi Arabian Airlines will use only CFM parts while maintaining these engines, which it plans to service in-house. Avionics/IFE
GE bought JV partner Teleflex’s shares in Airfoil Technologies International-Singapore Pte. Ltd. for $300 million in early March. Teleflex previously was the majority shareholder with 51%. GE’s motivation in the purchase was to gain a controlling interest in the Singapore business, said representative Rick Kennedy, who said GE wants to be able to expand the business and to protect proprietary repair processes. And, Singapore in particular is an important location for GE, he noted.
EMTEQ ENGINEERING, to install an EMTEQ seat warmer system in Hawker Beechcraft B200, B200C, B300, B300C, 200, 200C, 200CT, 200T, B200CT, B200T, 300 and 300LW series aircraft, STC SA03669AT
Gulfstream opened an auxiliary power unit test cell at its Savannah, Ga., South Service Center , establishing the facility as a center of excellence for Honeywell APU testing. It is certified to test Honeywell GTCP36-100, GTCP36-150 and RE200 series APUs, which can be repaired on-site. It also completed its 2,000th Airborne Product Support flight, seven years after introducing the on-demand maintenance service.
ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE , to install a Rosemount Aerospace 8700C2-3 laptop docking station and electronic flight bag system provisions on Airbus A340 aircraft, STC ST02675CH
A J Walter Aviation will provide rotable component support for Czech Airlines’ Airbus fleet from Prague, under a seven-year, power-by-the-hour contract that went into effect March 1. Czech plans to phase out its Boeing 737 fleet over the course of the contract as it adds 16 additional Airbus aircraft, for a total of 33 Airbus aircraft by 2016. The contract initially will cover the two A321s, eight A320s and seven A319s in Czech’s present fleet. AJW also will support up to 54 A320s for Mexican airline Volaris under a power-by-the-hour alliance with Montreal-based Aveos.
EAGLE HELICOPTERS, amended STC to install a SAGEM ICDS 2000 electronic flight instrument system on various Eurocopter France AS-350 and EC 130 helicopters, STC SR01665SE
Triumph Group acquired the assets of Kongsberg Automotive’s aviation segment, which produces cable control systems for commercial and military aircraft. The acquired business, located in Basildon, U.K., and Heiligenhaus, Germany, will operate as Triumph Controls-U.K., Ltd. and Triumph Controls-Germany, GmbH and will join the Triumph Aerospace Systems Group. Facilities
SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING , amended STC to build and install a Simplex Model 316 fire attack system on Eurocopter France AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters, STC SR01074SE
Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services Co., Ltd. raised the 1,936-ton steel roof of its new hangar at Pudong International Airport. The first phase of construction will create a two-bay, 50,000-sq.-meter hangar and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Boeing Shanghai was established in June 2006, as a joint venture of Boeing, Shanghai Airport Authorities and Shanghai Airlines.
U.S. Naval Air Systems Command’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program office (PMA-271) reported formal acceptance of the first upgraded Boeing E-6B Mercury from Rockwell Collins and L-3 Integrated Systems Group at the latter’s Waco, Texas, facility. Navy E-6B aircraft are used to conduct both the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) and U.S. Strategic Command Airborne Command Post missions, providing reliable and survivable communications between the president, secretary of defense and U.S. strategic forces.
Boeing conducted successful functional check flights of two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 737-700 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia for the RAAF’s Project Wedgetail program. During each of the 2.5-hour flights on Jan. 21 and 28, Boeing crews performed functional tests that verified the airworthiness of the aircraft’s systems and structures.
Phoenix Heliparts was appointed as a factory-authorized aircraft sales distributor and service center for Schweizer commercial helicopters, including new and used helicopter sales, MRO and custom refurbishments, supported by in-house parts inventories and technical and engineering capabilities. MD Helicopter also appointed Phoenix Heliparts an authorized service center in support of a contract with the Republic of Korea Army.
Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Lynne A. Osmus made several personnel changes in early March. Peggy Gilligan became the new associate administrator for aviation safety. Gilligan had served as deputy assistant administrator for aviation safety since July 1995, and has served as chief of staff for four FAA administrators among other posts. John Hickey, director of FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service since 2000, replaced Gilligan as deputy assistant administrator for aviation safety.
