Messier-Dowty appointed Henri Koffel VP purchasing. Koffel has held management positions within Aerospatiale, Aerospatiale/Matra and EADS. Prior to joining Messier-Dowty, he was Airbus’ VP aerostructures procurement. Rizon Group named Patrick Enz group CEO. The former Jet Aviation business development VP succeeds Will Curtis at the Middle East and U.K.-based business aviation services company.
Etihad Airways picked Lufthansa Technik to retrofit its entire fleet with the Guideline ColorFit non-electric emergency floorpath guidance system. Last year, Lufthansa Technik equipped Etihad’s Boeing 777s with the photoluminescent system; now, five more 777s will be retrofitted, as well as the airline's Airbus A320s, A330s and A340s.
LONDON—Freedom of movement between the 36 member countries of the European Economic Community is enshrined in European law, allowing nationals of those member states to live and work in any community country. Yet, in practice, it doesn’t always work that way. A few member states effectively block foreign applicants for jobs by insisting their qualifications completely match their own national criteria—regardless of experience.
The new Rolls-Royce Mechanical Test Operations Center of Dahlewitz has given a contract to MTS Systems of Eden Prairie, Minn., for mechanical test equipment, software and consulting services related to the operational behavior of materials and components for jet engines. MTS will supply single and multiaxial servohydraulic load frames with its grips, high-temperature extensometers and environmental simulators, as well as digital controllers and hydraulic power units. MTS also will provide service and support.
Czech Airlines expanded its existing agreement with A J Walter Aviation by adding two Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The program that's in place provides component support services through 2016 for Czech’s entire fleet. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 33 over the next seven years. AJW currently supports Czech's two A321s, eight A320s and seven A319s from its base in the U.K. and plans to add a Prague hub.
Lufthansa Technik signed its 2,000th aircraft under a total support contract as part of an 18-aircraft expansion of a deal with Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The new agreement brings the total number of Aeroflot Airbus A320s covered by LHT total support from 45 to 63.
King Aerospace Commercial Corp. named John Burnam and Blair Descourouez regional sales managers. Burnam previously was a completion sales executive with Gulfstream Aerospace, and Descourouez was VP of operations for Ambassador Jet Center.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras signed a 15-year, $1 billion OnPoint services deal with GE Aviation for MRO of its CF34-10E engines on Embraer 190/195 aircraft. The contract covers 36 firm and four leased Embraer 190/195 aircraft for the new carrier, which launched in 2008. GE Celma's facility in Petropolis, Brazil, will complete the work.
Bombardier Customer Services began offering new repair solutions for operational damage to V2500-A5 nacelle panels. Its Belfast and Dallas MRO facilities offer the new repair capability that restores panels to their original specification while maintaining their acoustic properties.
Operating experience in Iraq and Afghanistan is adding urgency to demands for dramatic improvements in rotorcraft technology. While increased speed, payload and maneuverability are high on the U.S. armed services’ wish lists, improvements in operational availability, mission reliability and logistic supportability get high priority. And, there is growing recognition that incremental improvements to today’s rotors will not be enough.
Custom Cranes Ruger Industries offers custom-engineered portable cranes for aviation maintenance operations. Using mobile cranes for tasks such as lifting aircraft engines or control surfaces improves safety by reducing or eliminating dependency on motorized lift trucks. They also are designed to operate in the tight work areas often prescribed in private or commercial aviation maintenance settings.
The Brazilian air force has awarded Vector Aerospace of Toronto a contract to support its Bell H-1H helicopter fleet. The five-year deal is worth approximately $5 million. Vector will perform airframe inspection, repair services and logistics at a military depot in Brazil. MRO services include dynamic component repair and work on transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulics, all performed at the company’s depot in Andalusia, Ala. Vector has an OEM-certified repair and overhaul capability for Bell helicopters.
Europe Aviation’s repair shop at Paris-Orly has been approved by France’s Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile to repair flight controls and nacelles (C7, C8).
Aegean Airlines signed a follow-up airframe maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik for 19 additional aircraft. Lufthansa Technik Malta and Shannon Aerospace, both wholly owned by LHT, will perform the C checks on 14 Airbus A320s, three A321s and two Boeing 737s between December and February 2011.
Pressure to cut costs is sending airframes outside airline shops and often far from home markets. Labor rates, which represent up to 70% of heavy-check costs, simply differ too much among regions to ignore. Cost-saving pressures intensified in 2009, but there are new twists on the cost side. Labor rates have converged among some regions. Long-term, some low-cost regions may become more expensive. New MRO facilities could open in countries or regions not now actively considered. Exchange rates could shift. And the U.S.
Engine OEMs and the airframe industry are once again giving open rotor architecture a serious look. Essentially an unducted fan, the technology promises the ultimate in high bypass with huge savings in fuel and emissions. At CFM International, LEAP is, in fact, focusing some of its resources on open rotor engine development, according to LEAP Program Director Ron Klapproth.
Rockwell Collins reissued STC to install Rockwell Collins WXR-2100 MultiScan weather radar system on Boeing 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 series aircraft, STC ST01470LA-D
Chromalloy brought Dennis Walsh on board as VP of business development. Walsh formerly was general manager of GE Dallas On Wing Support and has held leadership positions within GE Aircraft Engines and with former GE business Triumph Accessory Services.
ST Aerospace subsidiary ST Aviation Services Co. Pte Ltd. was awarded a contract by Airbus to provide heavy maintenance checks for 19 A330 aircraft leased to Singapore Airlines. The contract is part of an Airbus multi-party contract to provide support to Singapore Airlines as part of the lease arrangements for the fleet. Heavy maintenance work is expected to begin in 2015 and be conducted over 18 months.
Compact Videoscopes Two new industrial videoscopes from Olympus NDT measure one-third the size and half the weight of its previous devices, making the new equipment well-suited for remote visual inspections when access is limited. Designed for operation by users at any experience level, Olympus' new IPLEX LX and IPLEX LT tools should simplify remote visual inspections of areas such as inside boiler rooms, airplane fuselages and wind turbine gear boxes.
Ethiopian Airlines expanded its powerplant contract with Delta TechOps to become an open-ended agreement to maintain, repair and overhaul the carrier’s Pratt & Whitney 2040 engines. Delta TechOps started maintaining Ethiopian’s engines in 2005.
