Sagem Defense Security (SDS), a branch of the Safran Group, and Thales are joining forces to propose complete upgrade solutions for Dassault combat aircraft, excluding current Mirage 2000 and Rafale series. Thales will provide expertise for onboard radars, electronic warfare, communications and laser-designation pods. SDS will add its know-how in navigation and mission planning systems, computers, software and integration, plus new-generation weapons deployment.
Aeronavali delivered its first modified MD-11 combi aircraft to Alitalia Cargo. This was Aeronavali's first of five full-freighter aircraft modifications to be delivered to Alitalia Cargo by the end of the year.
In June, BAE Systems announced first flight-tests of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook Digital Advanced Flight-Control System (DAFCS), just over a year after contract award, representing a significant advance in this major upgrade program. The DAFCS replaces a legacy flight-control system in CH-47D helicopters, as Boeing upgrades 300 of those to F-model standards under a U.S. Army contract.
COVER STORY: Partnership Prowess Bringing Holism to Military Maintenance Finding the right readiness at the right price. Business & Operations 27 Composite Erosion Control: Is it Possible? Commercial and military operators and MROs tackle erosion but admit there's the unknown factor for future materials' reparability. 31 Landing Gear Overhauls With a wave of landing gear coming due for overhaul, operators and MROs explore cost-cutting options.
ARINC Engineering Services selected Rockwell Collins to provide Pro Line 21 avionics systems to upgrade the U.S. Navy's fleet of 55 T-44A aircraft over four years. L3 Communications is the prime contractor and ARINC is the purchasing and installation agency.
Air China selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 to power its fleet of 20 Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft. The total value of the contract, including a long-term TotalCare services agreement for the engines, is $800 million.
From the Editor 4 Biznet 9 Interview 12 Nobert Lohl, European Aviation Safety Agency Safety & Regulatory News Washington in Action 15 Human Factors 18 Calendar 53 O&Marketplace 54 Advertiser Index 59 At Presstime 60 Use AVIATIONNOW.COM for the latest aviation news.
Bauer's Model 6057 aircraft brake assembly test stand is designed to provide accurate testing of aircraft brake assemblies. The stainless steel stand features a modular design consisting of a pump and control section and a test sink section that can be sized to accommodate a single brake assembly or multiple ones at the same time. All controls are designed to withstand Skydrol. Bauer, Attn: Lou Auletta, 175 Century Dr., Bristol, CT 06010
Russian RSK MiG engineers and technicians recently started upgrading a dozen of the air force's 18 MiG-29 combat aircraft, from an estimated $72 million government contract placed last November, in Slovakia. Few details have been revealed of the proposed enhancements, which apart from structural airframe and engine life-extensions, appear to be based on the MiG-29SMT's digital avionics mission systems, with numerous components from western sources to achieve NATO-interoperability standards.
General Electric Aircraft Engines received a $33.9 million U.S. Navy contract for 36 line items used on engines that power CH-46D and -46E, H-3, F/A-18, H-1, H-60, H-53, S-3 and A-10 aircraft.
AVEXUS UNVEILED NETWORK MANAGER, which is designed to improve the interaction between aircraft operators and outsourced maintenance facilities. It includes the current status of planes within a fleet by operational readiness, a list of outstanding tasks for an aircraft, mapping of aircraft availability against a demand forecast, maintenance work overview and alerts that require immediate attention. Network Manager can be installed in an operator's current IT infrastructure or deployed by Avexus.
Alaska Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association jointly announced a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract for the airline's 700 aircraft technicians on June 16. Terms of the agreement were withheld pending a ratification vote by union members that is expected to begin by June 30.
Eurocopter España (ECE) announced its decision in May to create a new plant in Albacete, near the Spanish air force (EdA) base of Los Llanos (Castilla-La Mancha), in line with the industrial plan agreed within the framework of the group's Tiger HAD attack-helicopter program. This will ensure the development of permanent employment within Eurocopter España for up to 450 employees and revenue of ¤1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) over the next 10 years. Eurocopter will invest more than ¤60 million ($75.6 million) in tooling, equipment and installation in that decade.
CIMx and TIP Technologies signed a strategic partnership to provide aviation and aerospace manufacturers with a comprehensive manufacturing execution systems solution, which can apply to repair and overhaul processes.
Because of Lean, engine MRO Standard Aero was able to more than double the workload on the T56 turboprop engine at its San Antonio, Texas, facilities, site of the former Kelly AFB, now Kelly USA. Turnaround time (TAT) for the T56, which powers the C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion, dropped to 30 days from around 100 as a result of employing Lean principles, giving the U.S. Air Force a backlog of mission-ready T56s.
AAC-American Aerospace Corp. 1301 Saratoga St., De Land, FL 32724 Phone: 386-785-0747; Fax: 386-785-0767 Equipment/Structures Serviced: Lighting; passenger service units Regulatory Approvals: FAA YOAR178X; JAA.4147 AAR Aircraft Services-Indianapolis Maintenance Center 2825 W. Perimeter Road, Indianapolis, IN 46241 Phone: 317-227-5030; Fax: 317-227-5104 AAR Aircraft Services-Oklahoma Will Rogers World Airport, 6611 S. Meridian Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73159-1104
GE Honda Aero Engines finished component and engine core tests to validate several performance enhancements to the HF118 turbofan engine. The engine, which should provide 1,000 to 3,500 pounds of thrust, now features 8% less weight and provides 4% better fuel consumption. Time between overhaul is targeted at 5,000 hours. The joint venture hopes to certify the engine, which initially will produce 1,700 pounds of thrust, in 2008. No one has ordered the turbofan yet, but a company spokeswoman said, "We continue to talk to potential customers and airframers."
Cessna Aircraft developed a uniform avionics cable assembly that can be used on CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 aircraft. Company said this is the first time it has used a standard avionics cable assembly for more than one Citation model. Cessna also announced that 1,000 Citation operators, or one-quarter of the fleet, use ProParts, the company's cost-of-operations program.
U.K. flight trials began in March of the enhanced BAE Systems Striker helmet-mounted display system in the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft. The full development trial sorties marked the first flights of a binocular, visor-projected, night-vision-capable helmet in a fighter aircraft. More trials are planned throughout 2005, when production-standard versions of the helmet also will fly, clearing the way for installation in the Typhoon Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 Eurofighters on order.
Lufthansa Technik and Air France Industries are forming a 50/50 joint venture named Spairliners based in Hamburg with an operations center in Paris. In addition to component support for the 25 A380s ordered by Air France and Lufthansa, Spairliners will offer component support services to all A380 operators. Air France Industries' new component overhaul facility, E.O.L.E., based near Orly airport, together with Lufthansa Technik's component shop in Hamburg, will share A380 repairs evenly.
Ametek Aerospace & Defense selected Kellstrom Commercial Aerospace as its European distributor. Kellstrom already distributes Ametek products in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Alitalia selected Rockwell Collins to provide datalink communications for Alitalia's fleet of Boeing 767, MD-11, MD-82, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Alitalia Servizi, a new subsidiary of Alitalia, will supervise and carry out the modification of up to 139 aircraft operated by Alitalia. Alitalia Servizi, which handles the airline's support services as of May 1, comprises four areas: engineering and maintenance, airport services, centralized services, and IT and telecommunications services.
