The European General Aviation Safety Team (EGAST) elected co-chairs Eric Mandemaker, CEO of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), and James Black, board member of the European Council of General Aviation Support (ECOGAS) and the European Airshow Council (EAC).
Siemens PLM Software introduced the next generation of its Teamcenter MRO software-based solution. Its service data management module has new features, including a Services Dashboard for value chain, compliance and PBL or SLA contract management, Siemens says. See AviationWeek.com's MRO channel for a podcast with Tim Nichols, head of Siemen's A&D unit.
EADS Socata picked Midcoast Aviation to be the authorized western hemisphere repair center for the Falcon 7X aircraft structures it designs and manufactures for Dassault, mainly the upper center fuselage section and the lower body fairing. Midcoast can perform warranty and non-warranty repairs on the structures, comprising both metallic and composite components.
Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek Aviation Group delivered its 34th Boeing 767-200 Bedek Special Freighter Configuration (BDSF) aircraft to Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM), following conversion from passenger to freighter configuration. The aircraft is the first of four that CAM has on order for conversion by Bedek.
The shortage of licensed engineers remains a growing issue because many airlines have cut their apprenticeship schemes. As a result, the process of gaining an aircraft engineer license has grown quite tortuous. In the U.K. today, any would-be aircraft engineer would have to self-fund his or her way through college and then do the required modules at a recognized university. Following that, she or he would need to find a company to provide them with work experience -- so those who want a career in aircraft engineering have to be very determined.
A new microsite allows customers to build, customize and demonstrate GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies' Everest XLG3 Videoprobe, a video borescope system. The microsite can be accessed at www.xlg3.com. All XLG3 parts, features and software can be added on for a 360-degree virtual demonstration, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies says. Using the "Build Your Own XLG3" and "Virtual Demo" features, the company says customers can configure and get a feel for a custom system.
Hawker Beechcraft's Support Plus program celebrated its fifth anniversary with the enrollment of its 500th aircraft customer. The program, introduced in 2002, provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services, including components and consumables, at a fixed cost per flight hour, and is available for new and in-service aircraft.
Ineffective Or Inadequate Maintenance Control: * Airworthiness data that is ambiguous, incorrect or conflicting * Airworthiness directives and other mandatory tasks that have been incorrectly or improperly controlled * Component robbery: e.g. inadequate control of parts removed from one component or aircraft to be fitted to another * Configuration control: e.g. inadequate control of the design or build standard of the aircraft or component such that it remains within the approved Type Design Standard
Iberia Maintenance signed a five-year contract with Spanish carrier Air Europa to repair and maintain the CFM56-7B engines that power Air Europa's fleet of 33 Boeing 737-800s.
The National Business Aviation Association's Forum for Enhanced Reliability and Maintainability Standards (FERMS) slowly is gaining traction in the business aviation community. Since being rolled out in January 2006, the Web-based tool has provided business aircraft manufacturers and operators with real-time information about aircraft maintenance and performance.
Pratt & Whitney's Global Material Solutions received an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) covering three CFM56-3 fan module life limited parts. The three parts -- the fan disk, booster spool and fan shaft -- are the first of 19 CFM56-3 LLPs for which Pratt & Whitney is developing STCs. The OEM expects the three additional STCs covering the remaining 16 LLPs to be certified by mid-year, according to Matthew Bromberg, vice president and general manager, Global Material Solutions.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance received authorization from Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau to carry out Boeing 747-400 base maintenance in Amsterdam, making it the first European company, and only the second outside Japan, to be authorized for the work, according to the MRO. Authorization applies to aircraft registered in Japan.
Zirconium dioxide, also known as the zirconia of costume jewelry fame, has long been used as a ceramic coating for engine components because of its low thermal conductivity. With a protective, 250 micron-thick layer of it, metallic components can perform in the intense heat of aircraft turbine engines, which spikes at over 1,000º C during takeoff. Damage to a component's coating, however, compromises its ability to withstand intense temperatures; sand is a common culprit.
Circor Aerospace appointed Hangxin Aviation Engineering Group as an authorized repair center for its hydraulic, pneumatic and fuel system control valves in the Asia-Pacific region.
Iberia will inspect, maintain and repair components for Ljubljana, Slovenia-based Aurora Airlines' fleet of three current MD-80 aircraft, plus the two others it soon expects to receive, under a new contract.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense in March, ITT Avionics of Chandler, Ariz., is being awarded a modified firm fixed price contract for $78.17 million. This requirement is for Foreign Military Sales of the ALQ-211(V)4 Advanced Integrated Defense Electronics Warfare system for Pakistan. This electronic warfare system will be used on Pakistan Air Force Fighting Falcons being procured under separate acquisition by the F-16 program office.
In March 2007 when Southwest Airlines (SWA) discovered it had flown aircraft that were not in compliance with an airworthiness directive, the carrier took actions to address the problem. SWA reported the error to its Certificate Management Office (CMO), which is responsible for the airline's regulatory compliance, through a voluntary disclosure program and began to take steps to address the AD. But the carrier also continued to fly the 46 Boeing 737 aircraft that were not in compliance for nine days.
Standard Aero appointed Kevin Perris STC program director for its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A business unit. It also appointed Michael Moore senior vice president of Associated Air Center. Moore previously functioned as AAC's vice president production, planning and supply chain.
Lisbon-based Omni Aviação took delivery of its first Bombardier Learjet 40 aircraft, modified by Lifeport to feature emergency medical services conversion capability. With the galley extended to allow stretcher access, the aircraft can transport one patient on a stretcher and four medical staff up to 1,796 nm.
COVER STORY: ERP For MRO: An Alternative Perspective MROs interested in software to integrate information systems, illuminate operations and improve planning, coordination, and effectiveness can choose from many ERP options. Departments From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 14 Tay Kok Khiang, ST Aerospace Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 19 Human Factors 24 International Safety & Regulatory Briefs 26
Triumph Instruments has begun offering avionics repair capability for Honeywell/Sperry, Collins and most other Flux Detector brands at its FAA Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 and JAR-145 aircraft repair facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Round Rock, Texas.
Jazeera Airways plans to offer OnAir inflight mobile phone and PDA service, including voice, SMS and GPRS, beginning this year. OnAir service, based on Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband system, is to be retrofitted on Jazeera's six Airbus A320s currently operating on routes in the Middle East. The 24 A320s it has on order are to be line-fitted with the system.
