Metal Improvement Co. added a Boric/Sulfuric Acid Adonizing line at its Bensalem, Penn., facility. BSAA is approved as a more environmentally friendly alternative to chromic acid adonizing. MIC Bensalem is equipped with automated chemical processing tanks that measure 40 ft. long by 12 ft. deep by 4 ft. wide, and can accommodate BSAA of large single components or batches of smaller components. The facility also offers grit blasting, fluorescent penetrant inspection, chromic/phosphoric acid adonizing, Alodine, glass beading, shot peening and other metal finishing services.
Ametek acquired U.K.-based Muirhead Aerospace, the maker of motion technology parts and avionics MRO provider. The Esterline Technologies Corp. subsidiary is to join Ametek’s Aerospace and Defense division.
Flight Display Systems named Joe Little VP, research and development, to oversee the Alpharetta, Ga.-based company’s development of inflight entertainment solutions for business and commercial aircraft.
The first Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) BAE Hawk Mk.51/51A advanced jet trainer undergoing an avionics upgrade by Patria made its initial flight at Jämsä, in late September. The digital glass cockpit and systems upgrade is the second phase of a program launched in December 2006. Finland has 49 Hawk 51s, mostly assembled by Patria in 1980-1985, plus 18 ex-Swiss Hawk Mk.66s acquired in 2007.
BorescopesRus offers both portable and tool cart-mounted borescopes, recently picked by Premier Turbines and Dallas Airmotive for inspection operations. Both models are designed to be easy to use and compact with cost-saving features. The portable model is equipped with a handheld display and a shoulder carried, battery powered light source. It also features VPU built-in recording capability and should be suitable for inspections far away from light sources or in difficult to access situations.
Onboard Systems , amended STC to build and install an Onboard Systems Model E-51 cargo hook load cell system on various MD Helicopter 369, 500N and 600N models, STC SH4908NM
U.S. Airways picked Goodrich to refurbish the thrust reversers on its CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320s. The custom-tailored program is set to last through 2012, and it also provides initial exchange units. Joint Ventures/Acquisitions
Duncan Aviation added Scott Mehlhose to its Battle Creek, Mich., engine service sales team, where he will work in Pratt & Whitney, GE CF34 and Honeywell APU products. Mehlhose previously was engine lead technician for P&W engines.
Royal Jordanian Airlines will implement TRAX Maintenance’s EVO application, a suite of software that manages technical records, materials management and production. TRAX says the Amman-based airline is the second Middle Eastern carrier to pick its software this year.
On Oct. 3, Congress received Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification of a possible $250 million foreign military sale to Taiwan, to upgrade four Grumman E-2T 2000E AEW aircraft to Hawkeye 2000 configuration, with associated equipment and services. Taiwan had previously purchased four E-2Ts in 1996, and is updating these aircraft to meet the same configuration of the most recent 2004 deliveries of two E-2 Hawkeye 2000Es. Prime contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corp.
Man Lift Engineering’s new scissor lift is designed specifically for use in hazardous locations such as aircraft painting, oil and gas processing, and dust explosion locations. It measures 32 ft. tall, with a 99.5-in. by 68-in. platform and 1,200-lb. capacity. Other standard features include a 3-ft. roll out, extendable deck and a battery condition indicator. Optional features comprise: Three-way bump protection, a movement alarm, 3/8-in. lines for air to the platform, a 250-amp hr. battery and a 40-amp charger.
The Australian Safety Transport Board will take a closer look at a flight control system component in investigating the uncommanded pitch-down event experienced Oct. 7 by a Qantas Airbus A330 flying from Singapore to Perth.
At the beginning of the new year the Nigerian federal government will ban aircraft operating without an emergency locator transmitter, or ELT, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Nigeria also won’t allow aircraft to be registered or to receive an air operator certificate without the device installed. Nigeria’s CAA announced the decision at a meeting to review a search and rescue operation that involved a Hawker Beechcraft 1900 that disappeared in March over Obudu in Cross River State, ASN said.
AAR Corp. elected Donald J. Wetekam an officer of the company. Wetekam is group VP of AAR’s maintenance, repair and overhaul segment and oversees its domestics and international MRO business.
The U.S. Congress was notified Sept. 26 of a possible foreign military sale to France of upgrade kits for four Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS aircraft. Upgrades would include Block 40/45 Mission Computing and Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) Interface, plus enhanced ESM, Mode 5/S Identification Friend or Foe, related spare and repair parts, and other support equipment. With options, program costs could reach $400 million.
A J Walter Aviation and private Danish airline Jet Time signed a five-year , power-by-the-hour agreement under which A J Walter also will maintain a consignment stock in Copenhagen.
Iberia Maintenance refitted its maintenance hangars for painting new and overhauled aircraft for Iberia and other carriers. The first aircraft inducted into the 2,900-sq.-meter space was a Saudi Arabian Airlines 757-200, followed by a Ural Airlines Airbus A320.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft Customer Services and Support opened a regional support office at Garching , near Munich. The facility is Bombardier’s first customer support office in Europe.
Delta G. Design , issued STC to install an EMS Technologies SATCOM AMT-3800 High Gain Antenna and DLNA on Boeing 757-200 series aircraft, STC ST10920SC
Air China, China Eastern and China Southern signed a cooperative maintenance agreement they hope will improve aircraft service and operational competitiveness, said an airline representative. The deal signed at the Zhuhai airshow is the first such agreement between these carriers and covers line maintenance, parts and material pooling, repairs and even maintenance training. Ameco Beijing could stand to benefit from this agreement because it offers all of the services covered under the three airline’s maintenance pact.
