Gemini Air Cargo has contracted Boeing Wichita and Israel Aircraft Industries to undertake freighter conversions of two leased ex-Varig McDonnell Douglas MD-11s. London Heathrow-based British Airways franchise operator British Mediterranean Airways has awarded Monarch Aircraft Engineering a four-year base maintenance contract for its three Airbus A320s. Overhaul specialist Triumph Air Repair (Europe) has signed an agreement with BAE Systems at Titchfield in the UK to offer jointly one-stop-shop integrated drive generator and generator adaptor maintenance and service exchange for all BAe 146 and RJ aircraft. BFGoodrich has signed a letter of agreement with UK charter airline Sabre Airways for the conversion of two Boeing 727-200Adv to the Super 27 configuration. GE Engine Services and the Bedek division of IAI have formed a joint maintenance company, GE-IAI Aviation Services International. The new venture has won a $70 million contract from Translux Cargo Lion to maintain its McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s and their GE CF6-50C2 engines, and a $7 million contract from new Israeli cargo airline CAL to maintain its Boeing 747-200F. Engines will be maintained at GE facilities in Prestwick, Scotland, and airframes at Bedek's Ben-Gurion airport site in Tel-Aviv. Bedek's Euralair Industries joint venture has also concluded a tripartite deal with the Solair division of Kellstrom Industries to offer Boeing 737 maintenance to European airlines. Japan Air System (JAS) has signed a 10-year, $150 million engine maintenance contract with Pratt &Whitney Engine Services covering 63 P&W JT8D-200 engines powering its Boeing MD-80 fleet. P&W's Columbus Engine Center in Georgia, USA will undertake the work. Air Maldives has signed a $30 million contract with P&W Engine Services to provide its fleet management programme for its PW4000-powered A310 fleet.
Source: Flight International
