Flight Support Ltd. And Airbase Interiors recently merged. Isle of Man-based Flight Support offers ground handling services, while Airbase Interiors supplies cabin interior maintenance and support services from its base at Gatwick.
In mid-July, Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) welcomed a National Audit Office (NAO) report on successful improvements in MRO and logistic support to Royal Air Force Harrier and Tornado combat aircraft during the past six years. These resulted in overall savings exceeding £1.4 billion ($2.8 billion) and helped improve front-line aircraft availability, reliability and capability. Whereas all repairs had previously been undertaken at multiple sites, the MoD has rationalized how it repairs and maintains its jets to achieve significant economies.
The Moroccan air force reportedly is the first customer for major Mil-Std-1553B digital avionics and systems upgrades being offered, with French government support, by SAGEM and Thales for long-serving but still potent Dassault Mirage F1 combat aircraft. Morocco has been operating 30 air defense Mirage F1CHs and 20 multi-role F1EHs since 1978, 27 of which are now scheduled for SAGEM/Thales upgrades.
Further reinforcement of the RAF's support helicopter forces is scheduled from the long-awaited mid-June MoD decision to refurbish and upgrade eight Boeing Chinook HC3 heavy-lift helicopters. These have been grounded since completion of their 2001 delivery from Boeing because of U.K. flight-control software integration problems for originally specified special operations roles. MoD funding finally has been approved for their immediate conversion to operational RAF standards for battlefield support helicopter roles.
AEROMECH, one-only STC for individual approval of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum for a Learjet 36, STC ST01753SE AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT, amended STC to install an Aerocon Engineering Company Crew Stair in the electronic equipment bay of Boeing 767-200 and -300 series aircraft, STC ST01429LA BE AEROSPACE, to install the B/E Aerospace LED indirect wash lights and/ or reading lights assemblies on various Hawker Beechcraft 800 and 850 models, STC ST03438AT
CAE unveiled Presagis, its new modeling and simulation software company. Combining CAE's acquisition of Engenuity Technologies, MultiGen-Paradigm and TERREX with its existing off-the-shelf software team, Presagis is designed to deliver an integrated suite of COTS software.
Boeing signed a GoldCare contract with Rolls-Royce, maker of the Trent 1000 engine that is one of two powerplant options on the 787. Under terms of the GoldCare Material Management agreement, Boeing will provide repair and overhaul for underwing rotable airplane components as an option to Rolls-Royce customers who opt for the OEM's TotalCare program to support their Trent 1000s.
CAE unveiled Presagis, its new modeling and simulation software company. Combining CAE's acquisition of Engenuity Technologies, MultiGen-Paradigm and TERREX with its existing off-the-shelf software team, Presagis is designed to deliver an integrated suite of COTS software.
U.S. Navy won approval for full-rate production of 437 next-generation APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for its fleet of Block II Super Hornet and EA-18G aircraft.
Jet Source's new facility in Henderson, Nev., will have two 35,000 square foot hangars -- one will handle aircraft management and charter, and the other hangar will handle avionics and maintenance.
AEI announced it received an STC to convert Boeing 737-400 passenger aircraft to full freighter configuration, to first serve launch customer RPK Capital. The converted freighter, which is designed to hold 10 full 88-inch by 125-inch pallets and a payload of up to 48,000 lbs., will be operated by Flyant Cargo airlines, a subsidiary of Spanish carrier Futura International Airways.
Kent Statler, executive vice president of services for Rockwell Collins, is responsible for the company's global network of service centers that support commercial, business and military aircraft. Statler also leads customer services for inflight entertainment system maintenance and avionics parts management, as well as training businesses. He joined Rockwell Collins in 1987 and was senior vice president of operations before accepting his current position. Edited for clarity and length.
PARIS -- With thousands of airliners expected to reach the end of their useful lives over the next 20 years, the issue of what to do with those planes and how to reclaim or recycle useable materials garners increasing attention. As such, Airbus, Snecma Services and a group of other partners have launched a new company specializing in dismantling end-of-life aircraft, recycling and reusing the resulting parts.
Textron's Bell Aerospace Services subsidiary received a $4.5 million contract award for U.S. Marine Corps Bell H-1 helicopter support. This is the fourth year of a five-year contract to provide field-level support for UH-1N and AH-1W helicopters of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Air Wings. BellAero, via its BA Support Services business unit, provides turnkey technical assistance and maintenance support teams at numerous field locations throughout the world, including support teams embedded with operational units deployed overseas.
Mxi Technologies announced the addition of an automated line planning feature to its Maintenix aviation maintenance management software. It is designed to generate and schedule a realistic set of work packages, taking routing, part availability and even weather into consideration.
Rockwell Collins appointed Ken Estelle vice president and general manager of Technical Service Solutions. Estelle will oversee Rockwell Collins' network of service centers providing repair and overhaul of aviation electronics, as well as parts management and logistics for commercial, business and military aircraft worldwide.
Wright Tool offers two 10-piece 12-point 1/4 in. drive socket sets, both with the patented Wright Drive design, intended to provide more torque with less fastener damage. Number 209, the 12-point standard socket set, consists of 3/16 in., 7/32 in., 1/4 in., 9/32 in., 5/16 in., 11/32 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in. and 9/16 in. socket sizes on a clip rail. Number 210, the 12-point deep socket set, includes 3/16 in., 7/32 in., 1/4 in., 9/32 in., 5/16 in., 11/32 in., 3/8 in., 7/16 in., 1/2 in. and 9/16 in. sizes on a clip rail. Both sets are made from WrightAlloy steel.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) recently honored China Southern Airlines with a "Four-Star Flight Safety Award" for four million safely-flown hours. Yang Yuan Yuan, CAAC minister, added that China Southern has maintained the longest safety record of any Chinese carrier. The airline currently operates more than 310 aircraft and over 1,300 daily international flights.
With a tool engineered by Brookhouse Holdings, British Airways Engineering's Fleet Support Facility (FSF) at Heathrow now can perform another costly engine repair in-house. Two years ago, Brookhouse and BA Engineering collaborated to develop a bonding and support tool for damaged GE90 engine D-duct repairs. A similar tool designed to support an inlet skin damaged by a bird strike recently made that repair more convenient and cost-effective as well.
GE Aviation's CF6-80E1 engine, which powers about 140 Airbus A330-200 and -300 aircraft, completed one million takeoffs/landings, or cycles. In mid-2008, the CF6-80E1 will include Tech CF6 program advancements, including a new high-pressure turbine airfoil, which should lower maintenance costs, improve fuel burn and enhance operational reliability.
Air France Industries received a full airborne warning and control system (AWACS) maintenance contract from the French Defence Ministry through the ministry's integrated aeronautical material support structure, SIMMAD. The contract covers support for AWACS (except for engine maintenance, which AFI already provides), including: the E-3F airframe, mission system, simulator support, technical management and logistics computer system, maintenance and management documentation, related ground components, transport logistics and engineering support.
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