Deal to last decades
US Airways has signed a long-term aftermarket agreement with IAE for the V2500-A5 engines that power its fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The contract will run up to 2032 and is currently IAE’s largest aftermarket maintenance agreement. It covers 74 V2500-A5 powered aircraft already in service and engines for a further 78 the airline ordered last year. US Airways will be the first North American operator of the new SelectOne build standard when it takes delivery later this year, which will enable it to benefit from an additional 1 % fuel burn saving.
African contract
SR Technics is expanding its presence in the African market via an integrated engine solutions (IES) agreement with South African Airways Technical. The exclusive five-year contract, worth $165 million, covers services on CFM56-5C engines on Airbus A340 aircraft. SR Technics is to provide engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services on 51 engines at its service centre in Zurich.
Kellstrom boost
Kellstrom Defense Aerospace has become an approved distributor for GE Aviation Systems military aircraft parts. “We are delighted to get this opportunity,” says Kellstrom’s president Dennis Zalupski. “We hope we will add value to GE’s extensive customer base.”
Students not kidding
UK students who reached the final stages of a competition to design a space experiment to be flown on board a British-built satellite presented their ideas to Ian Pearson, Minister for Science and Innovation, during his visit to the show. The competition challenged teams of 14 to 19-year-olds to design and build a compact satellite instrument that will be flown on a low-Earth-orbiting satellite due for launch in 2010. The British National Space Centre (BNSC) teamed up with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited to launch the competition.
Filton talks “progressing”
Airbus and GKN are still in negotiations over the sale of the Filton operations plant near Bristol. Both parties say that talks over this, and the associated A350XWB package, continue to make “good progress”. Earlier this year Sir Kevin Smith, GKN’s chief executive, said the acquisition would add annual revenues of around £300 million and take the turnover of GKN’s aerospace division to more than £1bn.
Powerful order
British Airways has selected CFM56-5B9/3 engines, in ‘tech insertion’ configuration, to power two new Airbus A318 aircraft in an order valued at more than $25 million at list price. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2009. British Airways is a long-time CFM customer and currently operates a fleet of more than 80 CFM56 engines (including spares), powering Boeing 737 classics and Airbus A320-family aircraft. The airline will use the A318s on its new all business-class route between London City and New York’s John F Kennedy airport.
Felix is the cat’s whiskers
Yemen’s Felix Airways has ordered eight Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, powered by CF34-8C engines. The engine order is valued at more than $90 million and delivery will begin in September 2008. Felix Airways is a new private airline based in Yemen and will operate domestic routes previously served by Yemen Airways together with additional regional routes.
Thanks all round
GKN Aerospace has been receiving thanks from appreciative geographic regions at the airshow. Mexico and the state of Baja, California jointly presented an appreciation award to GKN Aerospace at Farnborough, recognizing the success of the company’s Mexicali operation and its contribution to the Mexican economy and workforce. GKN also received a plaque from Elmore County, Alabama, to recognize the company’s commitment to its growing Alabama operation and the surrounding community and its economy, where GKN has added more than 500 jobs since 2005.
Yemen’s fleet deal
Yemen’s eponymous national flag carrier has selected Pratt & Whitney global service partners for a 10-year, $90-million fleet management programme agreement. The deal covers all engine maintenance and engine health monitoring for the ‘owned’ Airbus A310 aircraft in Yemen Airways’ fleet powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. Yemen Airways has three owned Airbus A310s in its long-haul fleet, operating from its main base in Sana’a and a hub in Aden. The airline flies to more than 30 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Library booked to succeed
The Royal Aeronautical Society is at the show to promote the best of British aviation, including the UK’s new National Aerospace Library, opened earlier this year at the Farnborough Business Park. The RAeS created the library to celebrate Britain’s prominent role in the development of aerospace over the past 150 years. With its own world-renowned collection as its core, the project will ensure that archive material, not already part of an established aerospace library, is preserved for the nation.
Source: Flight International
