Guangzhou-based Hangxin Avionics is to support Smiths Aerospace equipment on aircraft operated by China's airlines under a workshare agreement whereby Smiths will provide technical assistance and other expertise to the Chinese company. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines has selected Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as the location of its primary overnight maintenance base for Bombardier CRJ regional jets serving the Dallas/FortWorth, Texas, hub. The centre will open in the third quarter of next year. In a bid to rationalise its organisation and improve its financial performance, Varig's aircraft maintenance division is being transformed into an independent company operating under the name VarigVEM (Varig Engenharia e Manutençïo - Varig Engineering and Maintenance). With a workforce of 3,000 engineers and technicians, VarigVEM will utilise Varig's two maintenance centres at Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, as well as 47 line stations in Europe, South America and North America. The Kharkov, Ukraine based interior supplier InterAMI has signed a contract with FAST (Farner Aircraft Seat Technology) of Switzerland to equip the passenger cabins of the new Antonov An-74-300 and An -140 regional aircraft with FAST "Primo" seats. The Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is to convert between 20 and 30 Boeing 757-200s to cargo configuration on behalf of Boeing Airplane Services for DHL. The subcontract is part of a 44-aircraft conversion deal with DHL on which Bedek and Singapore Aerospace are subcontractors. Two 757s are already undergoing conversion at Bedek facilities in Tel Aviv, and a third will arrive this month. IAI says that if it converts all 30 aircraft, the deal will be worth some $80 million. In addition, IAI's Ramta plant has a $20 million contract to manufacture all major structural components for the conversion kit except the cargo door which is produced by Boeing.
Source: Flight International
