++ The Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is performing freighter conversions on three Boeing 747-200s simultaneously for the first time. The aircraft belong to GE Capital Aviation Services, Finova and International Lease Finance. IAI is converting a total of four 747s this year, and expects to complete a similar number in 2001. ++ Air France is retrofitting seven 747-200s with BAE Systems Canada multi-purpose control display units, interfaced with the ACARS datalink, to provide initial FANS(Future Air Navigation System) routing capability. ++ Ethiopian Airlines and Xiamen Airlines have awarded Hawker Pacific Aerospace five-year contracts for landing gear overhaul services on their Boeing 757 fleets. ++ Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company has been contracted by Air Macau to perform a C Check on one of the airline's Airbus A321s. The aircraft was due to arrive in Guangzhou at the end of October. ++ American Trans Air has contracted Rolls-Royce to upgrade the RB211-524B4s powering five Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500s. The work involves upgrading the RB211s with a modification package that includes an enhanced standard of combustor and improved high and low pressure turbines, resulting in increased time on-wing and improved fuel consumption. The contract, including spare engines, is valued at $63 million over three years. ++ BFGoodrich Aerospace has signed a life-of-aircraft customer and product support agreement with Pratt & Whitney which will see it providing customer and product support for PW4000 and JT9D-7R4 nacelles and lower aft pylon fairings for Airbus A310s, A300-600s and Boeing MD-11s. ++ Ansett Australia & Air New Zealand Engineering Services (ANNZES) has begun maintenance work on the first of three Airbus A320s for China's Sichuan Airlines. The A$1 million ($530,000) deal covers major maintenance checks and modifications.
Source: Flight International
