As part of our regular series of maintenance special reports, we chart the key recent market developments

  • The EU's Technologies and Techniques for New Maintenance concepts project has completed its definition of a future integrated health management architecture. With one more year to go 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.

  • Designed and developed for regional aircraft, the biggest in-service challenge for the SaM146, the Sukhoi Superjet's all-new Franco-Russian powerplant, will be in establishing a well-defined and effective engine support network. SaM146 support will, however, reap the immediate benefit of Snecma's relationship cemented over recent years with Russia's NPO Saturn, through which the French engine maker subcontracts on parts for the 441 CFM56 engines active within the Russian fleet. PowerJet, a joint venture between the two, will handle all aspects of the SaM146 programme including MRO. It will offer power-by-the-hour support for the propulsion system through Snecma Services and NPO Saturn, with a dedicated services division determining where overhaul and repair work will be sent.

  • Star Alliance members Austrian Airlines Group and Lufthansa have firmed the details of co-operation between their technical divisions, Austrian Technik and Lufthansa Technik, initiated through a memorandum of understanding in April. Under the deal, Austrian Technik says it will provide C check and component maintenance capacity.>

  • Adria Airways is planning to start construction of a third maintenance hangar this autumn to cater for rapid growth in its maintenance business. Over the first six months of 2006 the Slovenian carrier's maintenance centre posted 64% profit growth. The airline expects to exceed its forecasted 12% maintenance revenue growth.

  • Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is continuing its rapid expansion with the $1.9 billion acquisition of Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation from private equity company Carlyle Group. Standard Aero and Landmark will be merged under the Middle Eastern group's technical subsidiary DAE Engineering. Standard Aero handles commercial aircraft engines such as the General Electric CF34, Rolls-Royce AE3007 and Model 250, and Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW100 and PT6. It also deals with propellers, auxiliary power units and other systems.

  • Boeing's online Maintenance Performance Toolbox has been ordered by 14 airlines in the first half of this year, bringing the number of carriers using the programme to 38. Aeroflot, Air China Southwest Branch, Air India, Air India Express, Emirates, Hainan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, S7 Airlines (formerly Siberia Airlines), Southwest Airlines, Transavia and Turkish Airlines were among those to sign.

  • Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines has awarded contracts for the construction of a crew training centre and engineering and maintenance hangar, as it continues to forge its independence from former shareholder All Nippon Airways. Local company Taisei will build the training centre. Nippon Steel Engineering will plan and construct the hangar.

Source: Flight International

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