Norwegian low cost airline Color Air has signed a five-year engine support contract for its three Boeing 737-300s with Shannon Engine Support in Ireland. The deal for work on the CFM56s will be extended to cover five aircraft when the airline increases its fleet size next April. GE Engine Services began maintaining the 260 CFM56-3 engines of Continental's Boeing 737-300 fleet in mid-month under a $1 billion contract. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has granted approval for avionics equipment repairs to be carried out at Airbus Industrie China's Beijing training and support joint venture. The Airbus/China Aviation Supplies Hua Ou Aviation Training and Support Centre can offer repairs for A319/A320/A321s and A330/A340s. Rolls-Royce has landed a 10-year maintenance deal with British Midland for work on V2500 engines powering the Airbus A320 coming into service with the airline. The contract is valued at around £40 million ($66 million). The UK engine builder is also reported to be in discussion with Indian Airlines to set up an engine overhaul joint venture in southern India. Air France Industries and Airspares Management have set up a logistics centre at Manchester to help service a seven-year A320/A321 component maintenance and support contract that the French company has with UK charter operator Airtours. The GE Engine Services/Bedek Aviation Group joint venture GE-IAI Aviation Services International has won a launch order for its aircraft/engine maintenance services, worth more than $70 million, from Translux Cargo Lion. Work will begin in November on the maintenance of the airframes and engines of the carrier's two GECF6-50C2-powered McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s.GE Engine Services will perform the engine maintenance at its Prestwick, Scotland, overhaul and repair shop. Airframe work will be undertaken by Bedek in Tel Aviv.
Source: Flight International
