Category: Commercial

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business celebrated the groundbreaking of its expansion at the Spokane carbon brake production facility.

Today local government officials, community leaders, industry partners and Collins leadership met to celebrate the milestone event at the manufacturing site.

The site will add 70,000 square feet to its manufacturing space, increasing the site’s footprint by 50 percent to increase production capacity.

Collins has a significant role in the local economy and this project further enhances the commitment toward growing the workforce to match industry demands by adding approximately 80 jobs. This facility will expand the carbon brakes production capacity in the Spokane region to meet commercial aviation and military customer demand that is scheduled to take place over the next several years.

“Collins Aerospace is a key part of the critically important aerospace supply chain in Washington state, and we are proud to have them in Spokane,” said Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck. “This expansion adds high-quality jobs and reinforces Washington’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and aerospace technologies.”

“We celebrate this milestone today with our industry partners, customers, community leaders, and employees who are crucial in supporting this advancement in technological innovation and that of the local Spokane economy,” said Matt Maurer, vice president and general manager for landing systems at Collins Aerospace. “This expansion is the latest development in the Pacific Northwest region in advanced technical innovation and manufacturing capacity to support the growing demand for our carbon brakes.”

The Spokane facility is one of three carbon brake production sites at Collins Aerospace that specializes in the production of braking systems with DURACARB carbon disk technology.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) welcomed its first Boeing 777 equipped with AeroSHARK. This unique surface technology is inspired by shark skin, reduces drag and enhances fuel efficiency. ANA is the first individual airline to operate both passenger and freighter variants of the Boeing 777 with this innovation.

The first modified Boeing 777F (JA771F) began scheduled cargo flights at the end of August, with plans to extend the AeroSHARK technology to a passenger aircraft (JA796A) by next spring, furthering ANA’s commitment to investment in fuel efficient technologies that reduce emissions.

AeroSHARK, a joint development by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, is a functional surface film inspired by the drag-reducing structure of sharkskin. The film features ribs around 50 micrometers in size, 
called riblets. Closely guided by Lufthansa Technik, ANA’s MRO partner has recently applied several hundreds of square meters of these riblet films to the fuselage of JA771F, which re-entered 
commercial service at the beginning of September with the first AeroSHARK-optimized flight from Tokyo-Narita to Chicago-O’Hare.

Although the riblet modification is almost invisible, it is expected to deliver significant fuel and emissions savings. The contracted Boeing 777F and 777-300ER aircraft will have nearly the entire fuselage covered with the sharkskin-inspired film, resulting in estimated annual savings of approximately 250 metric tons of fuel and 800 metric tons of CO2 for each aircraft.

“The introduction of AeroSHARK technology on our Boeing 777 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our sustainability strategy, in support of our broader goal of reducing carbon emissions across our 
fleet,” said Kohei Tsuji, member of the board, executive vice president, engineering and maintenance center at ANA. “We are proud to be the first airline in the world to implement this innovative 
technology to both passenger and freighter version of the Boeing 777, reinforcing our dedication to delivering excellence and reducing our carbon footprint.”

As ANA begins operations with two Boeing 777 equipped with riblet films, the airline will validate the effectiveness of this technology in ANA’s daily operation, with plans to expand its use across other 
aircraft of the same type. This initiative is part of the ANA Group’s medium- to long-term environmental strategy, which includes the broader “ANA Future Promise” initiative aimed at realizing a sustainable society and promoting ESG management.

“Drawing inspiration from nature is deeply rooted in Japanese arts and culture. Therefore, what airline could be a better fit for our nature-inspired AeroSHARK than the world-famous ‘Inspiration of 
Japan’?” said Dennis Kohr, senior vice president corporate sales Asia Pacific at Lufthansa Technik. “We are delighted to extend our long-lasting and fruitful cooperation with All Nippon Airways onto a 
proven solution to reduce their carbon footprint. I am confident that AeroSHARK will support ANA in becoming an ever-greener ‘Inspiration of Japan’.”

Lufthansa Technik currently holds Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the AeroSHARK modification of various types of Boeing 777, which is now being adopted by various airlines across the globe. Approximately 20 long-haul aircraft are already operating with the technology in worldwide service, and  this number is growing steadily.

BASF and Lufthansa Technik moreover remain committed to further developing AeroSHARK to help more airlines achieve their sustainability goals. Current efforts include expanding approvals to additional aircraft types and covering larger surface areas. Initial model calculations suggest that sharkskin technology could potentially reduce CO2 emissions by up to three percent in its 
maximum expansion stage.

The body of a maintenance worker who died Tuesday in an explosion in the Delta TechOps maintenance facility at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jakson Intl. Airport was unrecognizable, according to his son. He said the family had to rely on tattoos and a lanyard to positively identify him.

Mirko Marweg, 58, was one of two workers who died when wheel components were being disassembled for maintenance at the company’s wheel and brake shop. A additional worker was seriously injured.

Marweg’s son, Andre Coleman, told Atlanta’s 11Alive news station that he wanted to see his father because he didn’t believe he was dead. A medical examiner told the family the body was unrecognizable.

Marweg lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia and had worked for Delta for more than 20 years. He was planning to retire in a few months, according to a report on local news channel 11Alive. Coleman said his father was “a loving man” and that on the previous Sunday had helped change the oil in his motorcycle.

The Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the second victim as Luis Aldarondo, 37, of Newnan, Georgia. The worker who was seriously injured remains under medical care, according to a Delta spokesperson.

The wheel parts that were being disassembled when the explosion occurred were not attached to a plane at the time, according to information released by Delta.

The Atlanta-based wheel and brake shop of Delta TechOps experienced a tragedy Tuesday when two workers were killed and third was seriously injured during a maintenance procedure.

The accident happened at the Delta TechOps maintenance facility near the international terminal at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl. Airport, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Atlanta Fire and rescue, as well as police, came to the scene just after 5 a.m.

Reports say the incident involved components of an aircraft wheel in the shop. The wheel was not attached to an aircraft, Delta said. The company released very few details. But the two people who were killed were reported to be Mirko Marweg, 58 and Luis Aldarondo, 37, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s office.

In a memo to workers after the accident, John Laughter, president of TechOps said, “We are extending out full support to their families at this difficult time and conducting an investigation to determine what happened.” Delta said it is working with OSHA and the FAA to investigate.

JPB Système has expanded its Smart Washer tightening monitoring technology portfolio with a new version engineered to extend its benefits to broader applications.

The Smart Washer solution enables intelligent monitoring of bolt tightening, which improves maintenance efficiencies by reducing the need to manually check torque levels. Instead, engineers are able to check assemblies in real time via touchless and wireless measurement of bolt tightening before being alerted to fasteners that are too tight or too loose. This capability is particularly advantageous in environments in which bolts are difficult to access, facilitating easier predictive maintenance and reducing costs.

Complementing its RFID version of Smart Washer for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, JPB Système has introduced an alternative, WIRED Smart Washer and app. The new version extends its application use into other applications and sectors where accessibility due to significant height or distance is an issue and where remote monitoring from the ground is required.
This makes it especially suited to address obvious challenges when accessing, for example, certain elevated amusement park rides and aerial ski lifts, as well as scaffolding and other temporary structures in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings.

Unlike the RFID variant, which requires a manual check with an accompanying Smart Reader, the new WIRED solution is a connected ‘always-on’ device. As such, maintenance engineers enjoy measurement of tightening level anywhere and at any time. Automatic checks can be set at the desired time intervals, which in the event of tightening levels dropping below a pre-defined setting, would generate a text or email alert so that issues can be immediately addressed.

A log within a webapp also provides an historical record of measurement activity to enable quick and easy retrospective traceability. For many applications, maintenance checks using WIRED now take seconds compared to the minutes or hours of the classical manual solution – not only significantly reducing costs but minimizing the risk of bolt breakages and potentially fatal accidents.
Jocelyn VECCHIO, Engineering & Innovation Director at JPB Système, adds: “There are many instances in which bolted assemblies are negatively subjected to prolonged vibrations, repeated stress, variations of temperature and shocks – all of which can lead to nut loosening, which in certain scenarios could be catastrophic.

“Our Smart Washer Program addresses such issues head-on, by providing the means to install periodic checks to monitor bolt tension and perform preventative maintenance before a situation escalates. In doing so, the eventuality of breakages or equipment malfunction is eradicated, avoiding costly shutdowns and invariably more expensive repairs. Essentially, Smart Washer can at the very least save significant financial cost, while potentially avoiding serious or lethal accidents, J.VECCHIO concludes.”
JPB Système Smart Washer – The Core Technology

Smart Washer’s technology is based on a very thick metal body – only 5mm for both versions – that performs the role of a standard washer but uses intelligent connectivity and proprietary strain gauges to undertake the measurement and data transmission. Values are then relayed to maintenance engineers via the Smart Reader (RFID version) or app (WIRED version).

Flight Data Systems announces a three-year partnership with SmartLynx Airlines, a leading Aircraft crew maintenance and insurance (ACMI) company. SmartLynx has selected Flight Data Systems’ readout solutions for recorder verifications. This strategic decision by SmartLynx, a company with extensive industry experience, ensures the highest safety and efficiency standards for its customers and fleet.

The agreement encompasses the provision of Flight Data Systems’ Handheld Multipurpose Interface (HHMPI) for efficiently downloading Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) and Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) data in conjunction with Readout Services to expedite aircraft maintenance procedures.

Lilija Boltovska, interim chief technical officer at SmartLynx, emphasizes the importance of this alliance with Flight Data Systems in supporting their maintenance processes efficiently. “Flight Data Systems user-friendly HHMPI tool will be used to enhance our maintenance efficiency by ensuring seamless data integration, reducing downtime, and optimizing technician time and work allocation. The comprehensive readout services align with EASA, FAA and global ICAO requirements, leading to significant time and resource savings for SmartLynx because of the numerous maintenance hubs and fleet types. Together, these ground support tools enable us to meet regulatory requirements quickly and efficiently, enabling our employees to focus on other critical maintenance services.”

Besides ACMI leasing, SmartLynx operates charter and cargo services utilizing a fleet that includes Airbus A320, A321, A321F, A330, and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. This strategic collaboration with Flight Data Systems enables SmartLynx to ensure compliance with international regulatory standards for CVRs, Data Link Recorders (DLRs) and FDRs, thereby minimizing operational disruptions for customers and their own fleets.

Shane LaPlante, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Flight Data Systems, said, “I am excited about collaborating with SmartLynx and their distinctive global business approach. The partnership is designed to support SmartLynx’s expansion and operations by reducing time, costs, and maintenance complexities to meet global compliance standards using our HHMPI and Flight Data Systems readout services expertise.”

The HHMPI uses OEM-specific cables, accessories, and software, which ensure compatibility with various manufacturer recorders. This eliminates the need for multiple download tools and reduces download times for CVR, DLR, and FDR data—an advantage for mixed fleet maintenance teams. Moreover, Flight Data Systems’ readout services promise fast turnaround times of three days or less and 24/7 incident investigations and aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations while fully complying with EASA, FAA, and ICAO regulation standards.

SmartLynx’s reputation, built over three decades, highlights its dedication to customer-oriented Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) service excellence. Their choice of Flight Data Systems underscores their commitment to their maintenance planning and reliability programs for aircraft airworthiness.

SkyWest has been named one of America’s Best Midsize Companies by TIME Magazine and Statista. This recognition is the latest in a series of awards that underscore an unwavering focus on providing an exceptional product for their customers and remaining the employer of choice for more than 14,000 aviation professionals.

“We have an incredible team of professionals at SkyWest, and working together we reliably connect nearly 40 million passengers each year,” said Chip Childs, president & CEO of SkyWest. “We’re honored to be named one of America’s Best Companies by TIME.”

America’s Best Midsize Companies selections were made based on employee satisfaction, positive revenue growth, and sustainable transparency.

Earlier this year SkyWest was named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek. Employees’ reviews and feedback have also placed SkyWest on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work and Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers lists.

Honeywell has been selected by Air Arabia Group to supply its 131-9A auxiliary power units (APUs) for the airline’s existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The agreement between Honeywell and Air Arabia provides comprehensive maintenance support for Honeywell APUs, ensuring enhanced dispatch reliability and fleet availability, improved fuel efficiency and lower unplanned maintenance costs across the carrier’s fleet.  

An APU is a critical piece of aircraft equipment that provides electrical power and air conditioning to a plane while it is on the ground. It helps ensure passenger comfort and supplies the air source before a pilot is ready to start the main engines.

“Our APUs are addressing the increasing demands of customers who require more reliable components with improved environmental performance,” said Khaled Hashem, president of Honeywell Middle East and Africa. “This latest milestone in our more than 10-year relationship with Air Arabia highlights our long-term dedication to providing the region’s world-class carriers with the highest levels of technology and innovation.”

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia said: “This agreement builds on our existing partnership with Honeywell and supports Air Arabia’s broader fleet growth strategy, emphasizing our commitment to implementing sustainable practices across our operations while adopting the latest technology to enhance fuel efficiency and passenger comfort”.  

With the integration of the 131-9A APUs, Air Arabia will also be able to implement Honeywell’s High Efficiency Mode (HEM) upgrade, which allows for a 1-2% improvement in fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reduction of up to 22 metric tons per APU per year. The HEM upgrade also supports Air Arabia’s continued industry-wide focus on accelerating sustainability, as the MENA region builds on the outcomes and commitments from COP28.