Overhaul & Maintenance MRO Blog

Turner Out at SR Technics

The acquisition of SR Technics by a consortium of UAE investors was finalized on Tuesday, 28 Nov. Surprisingly, however, SRT Chairman Frank Turner, who a few years ago led the buyout of the former MRO arm of the now defunct Swissair, is out. When the UAE investment was announced in September, Turner made it clear that he would stay on once the deal closed. Today (Wednesday) I called SRT in Switzerland and they assured me it was Frank's decision to leave the company and the board, citing personal reasons. Hans Lerch, CEO of SRT, takes over as chairman until further notice.

P&W's Matthew Bromberg on Global Material Solutions

Matthew Bromberg, the head of Pratt & Whitney's Global Material Solutions business talks about the decision by an engine manufacturer to get into the alternative parts or PMA business. In this telephone interview with AVIATION WEEK Conference Editorial Director, Ed Hazelwood, he also addresses the potential customer base for GMS beyond launch customer United Airlines, certification issues for life-limited parts, the availability of the first parts for the CFM-56-3 and potential expansion of the business beyond making parts for this one engine type. Download bromberg_pratt.mp3 This interview runs 12 mins. 47 seconds.

Pratt & Whitney went public with its decision to launch Global Materials Solutions in February 2006. That decision stunned many people in the business. It's primary competitor, General Electric, which manufacturers the CFM-56-3, along with partner Safran, has been remarkably quiet about the announcement. PMA parts maker HEICO has said the Pratt & Whitney decision has given added credibility to the alternative parts marketplace.

AVIATION WEEK invites your comments on Matthew Bromberg's statements, or your thoughts on the PMA/alternative parts market in general.

MRO Europe 2007 - Where Do You Want to Go?

We are in the final stages of selecting a location for MRO Europe 2007. The two final candidates at this point are Lisbon, Portugal and Copenhagen, Denmark. Aviation Week would like to know your thoughts about each of these venues. Which city would you most like to see as the site for next year's MRO Europe and why?  Please use the commments section here on the blog page to let us know.

Thanks,

Ed Hazelwood, Editorial Director, Conferences

MRO Asia 2007 - Return to Shanghai

Aviation Week Conferences & Exhibitions has just announced that MRO Asia 2007 will return to Shanghai, China.  This world-leading conference & exhibition will be held at the Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Centre (SECEC) October 16-17-18, 2007.

Ameco Beijing Tour

At the conclusion of MRO Asia 2006 in Xiamen, China this past September, I had the opportunity to fly to Beijing for a tour of the Ameco Beijing maintenance facility and to take a series of photographs. Executive Director, Harry Seeger, graciously conducted the tour and talked about coming plans for the expansion of the facility.  Here's some of the pictures I took.

This first photograph is of a United Airlines 777 in the main hanger where it will undergo a heavy check.

Here we see the tail end of a Boeing 747 cargo plane operated by El Al. This 747 is undergoing a heavy check in what is normally the paint hanger at Ameco Beijing.

This is the front end of that same El Al 747. I must say the photographer was a bit nervous standing on top of an unsupported ladder to get this picture. But worth the shot.

Finally, here's a group of mechanics working on an Air China 767-200ER also in the main hanger.

I hope you enjoyed them. Let me  know what you think.

Ed Hazelwood

Editorial Director

Aviation Week Conferences

Tiger Airways Chooses V2500Select

Singapore-based Tiger Airways awarded a long-term V2500Select contract to IAE International Aero Engines to support its fleet expansion of eight V2500-powered Airbus A320-family aircraft. Tiger Airways, which is the first Asian carrier to opt for V2500Select, also extended the agreement to cover its existing fleet of eight A320-family aircraft in a deal valued at more than $300 million to IAE. The V2500Select program is designed to improve fuel burn, reduce operating costs and provide time-on-wing improvements.

Some of the other carriers who have selected V2500Select include Sichuan Airlines, Wizz Air, GATX Air, Air Deccan and Adria Airways.

IAE is an engine consortium whose shareholders include Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, the Japanese Aero Engines Corp. and MTU Aero Engines.

KLM Expands Engineering in UK

KLM UK Engineering has opened a new hangar for aircraft maintenance at Norwich International Airport to enable it to service and overhaul larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 737NG. The company now has three hangars, with up to eight bays and an extensive workshop. The £1 million ($1.9 million) remodeled and extended facility will help the MRO create about 50 new jobs, taking the workforce to 350 by the end of the year.

The EASA Part 145 facility, which already services narrowbodies and regional aircraft, is a wholly owned subsidiary of KLM Engineering & Maintenance.

Ryan MRO Award Nominations Due Nov. 15

Nominations for the Charles B. Ryan MRO Award are due November 15. The award is presented annually by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance in two categories: airline or military operator, and MRO supplier. For more information and nomination forms, please visit www.aviationnow.com/conferences/mro_ryanawardform.pdf

$450 Million Spares Contract for Boeing

Boeing received a whopping $450 million order from the U.S. Department of Defense for F/A-18 Hornet spare parts on Nov. 8.

The order consists of two contracts: one for more than 3,000 flight controls surfaces for F/A-18 A-D models valued at $391 million. Boeing’s St. Louis facility will assembly these parts, some of which can be as large as a compact car, and will deliver them this year through 2013.

The second contract, worth $59.5 million, includes 23 spare inner wings that will restart a portion of the production line, which closed in 2000. The inner wing is the part that does not fold when the plane is on an aircraft carrier. Boeing’s St. Louisfacility also will build the wings, with first deliveries scheduled for 2009.

Lou Mancini - Boeing

Lou Mancini

Vice President & General Manager

Boeing Commercial Aviation Services

In this interview with Aviation Week’s Ed Hazelwood, Lou Mancini discusses e-enabled aircraft, the next step in enhanced maintenance programs, new technical services facilities in China and India, Training, GoldCare and the freighter conversion marketplace.

Mancini Interview