Category: Commercial

The Philippines’ national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL), announced that it has signed an agreement with the global aviation software provider Ramco Systems,to deploy Ramco’s state-of-the-art Aviation Suite V5.9. The solution will replace standalone legacy systems thereby integrating, automating, and enhancing business performances across PAL and its affiliate PAL Express.

Aligned with PAL’s Accelerated Initiatives for Recoveries and Full Optimization through Innovation and Leadership (AIRFOIL) program, Ramco’s on-cloud, next-gen platform will offer PAL end-to-end optimization of maintenance and engineering business processes that will support regulatory compliance and enable sustainable digital transformation through paperless operations.

“At PAL, our focus has always been on improving our global network infrastructure and making Philippine Airlines worthy of our customers’ enduring trust and support,” said Capt. Stanley Ng, president and COO, Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL). “This has led us to embark on a transformational journey towards technological upgrades and innovation. The extensive functionalities of Ramco’s next-gen Aviation Software, together with our shared values of excellence and customer-centricity, will offer us a technological edge and will help us serve our customers with a robust digital infrastructure.”

P.R. Venketrama Raja, chairman, Ramco Systems, said, “The addition of Philippines’ national flag carrier to our expanding clientele is a testament to Ramco’s track record as a leading software provider in the airlines segment. Embedded with latest technology, best-in-class functionality and user-friendly features, Ramco Aviation Software has gained the trust of many leading operators in the industry. As PAL’s tech partners, Ramco will support PAL organization’s mission of service and propel its global expansion plans.”

Philippine Airlines is engaged in fortifying its network as the recovery of air travel gains steam globally. PAL is the only airline offering nonstop flights linking the Philippines with the U.S. Mainland, Canada and Hawaii, along with the largest network of flights on multiple routes to Japan, Australia and countries in the Middle East. PAL will launch a pioneer direct flight between Manila and Perth, Australia in March 2023, while re-opening flights between the Philippines and Beijing, Shanghai and Macau in addition to other mainland Chinese destinations.

As aviation industry strives for optimization and efficiency, collaboration between businesses is becoming more and more prevalent.  To drive growth and better results, aircraft spare parts marketplace Locatory.com and ERP.Aero, cloud-based ERP for aerospace suppliers, have joined forces.

This new integration automates inventory listing and updates, allowing customers to receive RFQs directly into their ERP.Aero’s RFQ Module. By streamlining the process of uploading inventory to the Locatory.com Marketplace platform, this integration enables suppliers to shift their focus to more strategic tasks, freeing up valuable time and resources.

“ERP.Aero and Locatory.com Marketplace are a great match. With Locatory.com, we’re excited to grow together as a professional and experienced team,” shared Slava Zadorognuk, vice president of business development at ERP.Aero.

Additionally, the ERP.Aero integrations allow suppliers to better manage their inventory, ensuring adequate parts availability and efficient sales. “Our customers benefit from this integration in three primary ways. Firstly, we improve the efficiency of the quoting process. Secondly, automatic updating and listing of inventories. Finally, searching within their ERP systems for repair capabilities and availability,” explained Anton Andrusenko, product owner at Locatory.com.

Delta TechOps continues to enhance maintenance capabilities with its latest milestone – the grand opening of a brand-new engine repair shop.

The facility will be dedicated to performing maintenance on Pratt & Whitney GTF engines including  the PW1100G and PW1500G, which power Delta’s new fleet of advanced Airbus A321neo and A220 airliners, respectively. The shop will service  GTF engines that belong to Delta aircraft alongside customer engines maintained through Delta TechOps MRO business. 

The new shop is 155,000 square feet with room for expansion and includes approximately 60 engine bays with the option to add more in the future. Key areas of the shop include a hospital or quick turn area, engine disassembly and assembly, module disassembly and assembly, work in progress (WIP), cleaning, shipping and receiving, and an administrative area.  

The new GTF engine shop is the latest in a series of investments by Delta to bolster the infrastructure and resources available to the TechOps team. These investments support Delta’s goal of expanding the revenue stream generated by the MRO business. The new facility will also be home to several hundred staff members including more than 100 mechanics along with others working in engineering and supply chain, which reflects Delta’s dedication to creating high quality career opportunities in STEM.

“We are incredibly proud of our new engine shop and what it means for the future of Delta, our partnership with Pratt & Whitney, and our relationships with our other MRO customers,” said Don Mitacek, senior vice president of Delta TechOps and president of Delta TechOps Services Group. “The investments we’ve made in new capabilities and facilities over the past five years solidify our position as a strong global MRO provider and will enable Delta people to continue to provide exceptional service and reliability to our customers.”  

Delta TechOps has invested in other major projects, including a new test cell, hot section repair shop and an additive manufacturing shop.  

Delta hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new facility alongside state government officials and Pratt & Whitney leaders. At the event, attendees heard from CEO Ed Bastian, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development , Pat Wilson, and the president of Pratt & Whitney, Shane Eddy.

“As both a customer and a member of our GTF MRO network, our relationship with Delta is one underpinned by transparency, teamwork and commitment. For more than 90 years, we have worked together to overcome challenges and find creative, mutually beneficial solutions,” said Shane Eddy, president of Pratt & Whitney. “This beautiful larger facility marks the latest chapter in our shared commitment to providing customers with world-class MRO service and exemplifies the growing demand for GTF engines.”

Pratt & Whitney has been a long-standing partner of Delta Air Lines and the TechOps division.

TechOps announced it would become an MRO provider for the PW1100G and PW1500G engines as a part of Pratt & Whitney’s global GTF MRO Engine Network — one of 10 active overhaul centers and piece-part repair providers.  

“Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will not only power Delta’s fleet of the future but will also support many other commercial airline operators in the Americas and beyond,” Bastian said. “The opening of this new facility will help us continue to provide dependable jobs and dependable engines for years to come.” 

Through expanded capabilities and new facilities, Delta’s MRO is projected to grow significantly in the coming years.  

Lufthansa Technik and Colombian carrier Avianca have signed a five-year contract that will provide digital Condition Monitoring through the AVIATAR platform. With the new contract, Avianca will be able to receive instant and real-time information about the configuration and condition of its Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft as well as their engines and components – during flight and on ground, all consolidated in one place.  

Avianca will be joining a growing list of customers in the Americas taking advantage of AVIATAR products. Based on aircraft and maintenance data, Condition Monitoring provides an overview of the 
overall operational aircraft condition. The immediate detection of faults increases troubleshooting efficiency and enables proactive corrective actions leading to higher aircraft availability. With Condition Monitoring, aircraft data (e.g. from the Central Maintenance Computer, the   Aircraft Condition Monitoring System, or the Aircraft Movement Message) is collected via ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) or the SITA network and visualizes the aircraft status and flight schedule. In addition, this health data is combined with work orders and position data. Condition Monitoring provides customizable alerts and notifications on aircraft or fleet level as well as for certain ATA (Air Transport Association) chapters. Thus, the user gains an 
excellent overview of potential corrective actions for the respective maintenance and repair operations. 

Álan Oliver, Avianca’s Maintenance Control Center director, said: “The agreement we have signed with Lufthansa Technik shows our commitment to the digitalization of our airline and aircraft 
maintenance. Through the AVIATAR platform, we will be able to receive in-depth data access to each one of our Airbus aircraft and its maintenance messages, which enables our work order tracking and 
scheduling to be much more seamless and integrated in the future.” 

“Avianca has been a partner of Lufthansa Technik for more than 16 years and this agreement further solidifies the trust we have in each other as we continue to move together towards the digital age of condition monitoring. With the technologies provided through our AVIATAR platform, Avianca will be able to proactively manage its fleet’s condition by coordinating and preparing maintenance activities in a more efficient and effective manner,” said Georgios Ouzounidis, vice president corporate sales for The Americas at Lufthansa Technik. 

Launched in 2017 and developed by Lufthansa Technik, AVIATAR is the independent platform for digital products and services. It offers its users digital solutions ranging from predictive maintenance to automated fulfilment solutions. AVIATAR combines fleet management solutions, data science and engineering expertise to provide a comprehensive range of integrated digital services and products for airlines, MRO companies, OEMs and lessors that seamlessly integrate with physical fulfilment in TechOps and beyond. 

An emblematic project consists of using a hydrogen fuel cell power source to generate sufficient electrical power, in the range of 400 kW, to feed all the non-propulsion systems of next-generation aircraft. Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is developing this power generation system as part of the France Relance (France Relaunch) plan with the support of the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile).

In order to test and assess this solution in a representative environment, Liebherr, supported by the Région Occitanie, recently installed a hydrogen test bench in its test center at its Toulouse site.

This new investment in test facilities will enable Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse to demonstrate the ability to generate electrical power, using fuel cells, to supply the major non-propulsive electrical systems of a new generation single-aisle aircraft, while ensuring the thermal management of the whole (fuel cells and electrical systems).

In addition to these substantial investments in hydrogen, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is also developing new systems and equipment with lower emissions, particularly of CO2, and is working with the wider aeronautical industry and other academic institutions to step up development of the systems and equipment needed for the next generation of zero-emission aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $1,149,306 civil penalty against United Airlines for allegedly conducting flights from June 2018 to April 2021 in Boeing 777 aircraft that were not in airworthy condition.

The FAA alleges United in 2018 removed the Fire System Warning Check from its Boeing 777 Preflight Check List, an inspection task required in its Maintenance Specifications manual. Removal of the check resulted in United’s failure to perform the required check and the operation of aircraft that did not meet airworthiness requirements. 

United Airlines has 30 days to respond to the FAA after receiving the agency’s enforcement letter.