As part of our regular series of maintenance special reports, we chart the key recent marketdevelopments
In May Nigeria's Arik Air began building a maintenance complex that will be the largest aircraft overhaul facility in West Africa when it opens in 2009. The hangar will be capable of accommodating aircraft as large as the Airbus A380.
Messier Services France has won Boeing-approved supplier status after reorganising its commercial landing gear and equipment shops. The company's Molsheim facility now operates under lean principles, the company says, aimed at "better aligning services to customer requirements". The facility is the second of four Messier Services facilities to be approved by Boeing for MRO.
US freight specialist FedEx has selected Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) to modify 87 Boeing 757-200s. The passenger-to-freighter conversions will be carried out by ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering in Mobile, Alabama over a period of seven years. Aircraft will be fitted with a side cargo door and cargo loading system and have a strengthened main deck floor.
TAP Portugal plans to turn the former maintenance division of Brazilian flag carrier Varig, VEM, into a Latin American Airbus MRO provider and is in talks with General Electric to re-open its engine shop. TAP board member for maintenance and engineering Jorge Sobral says: "In South America there is not much MRO competition. There is no serious competitor on the Airbus line. We want [VEM] to get there first. Usually whoever comes first wins."
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) has secured regulatory approval for its new MRO facility in Panama, which has just inducted its first aircraft from anchor customer Copa. Panama Aerospace Engineering is located at the former Howard Air Force Base in Panama. ST Aero says the new wholly owned facility will have four hangars capable of accommodating 12 narrowbody aircraft.
Eurocopter is teaming with Abu Dhabi VIP helicopter operator Falcon Aviation Services to open its first maintenance centre in the Gulf. The centre will be based in Falcon Aviation's 1,600m² (17,200ft²) hangar at the Bateen air base, the former international airport being re-established as a business aviation airport.
Bedek Aviation Group could become the first company to launch a cargo conversion for the Airbus A340, as it expands its after market modification business beyond Boeing types. Sources say Bedek plans to develop its own supplemental type certificate for an A340 Special Freighter, possibly with involvement by foreign investors.
Goodrich is to provide Qantas with aftermarket support for the electro-mechanical braking system on the Australian airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The contract, Goodrich's first 787 maintenance deal, is based on a cost-per-aircraft-landing basis. The value and length of contract has not been undisclosed.
Embraer has launched a software package that will allow its onboard aircraft health analysis and diagnosis programme, an option on E-Jets, to transmit real-time aircraft and engine fault data to maintenance bases on the ground where mechanics can get an early lead on maintenance issues. Embraer says the programme will eventually evolve into a complete health monitoring system.
The European Union's Technologies and Techniques for New Maintenance concepts project has completed definition of a future integrated health management architecture. With a year left in the four-year €40 million ($53.7 million) Sixth Framework research project, its focus is to build and integrate the architecture's elements at a subsystem, system, aircraft and fleet level.
Honeywell has been selected by PSA Airlines, which flies on behalf of US Airways Express, to provide maintenance services for its products on PSA's fleet of Bombardier CRJ200 and CRJ700 regional aircraft. The fleet of 34 CRJ200s will be covered by a Honeywell Maintenance Service Agreement for APUs, while the 14 CRJ700s will be covered by a 10-year Integrated Service Solution for APUs and avionics.
India's Kingfisher Airlines has contracted Lufthansa Technik to provide technical support for its Airbus A320-family aircraft. The Hamburg-based company will extend its support of Kingfisher's A320s beyond the 17 covered by its original contract.
Source: Flight International
