Category: PRs

STS Aviation Group has announced several executive level promotions due to the exceptional growth of all four divisions. Mark Smith is now the group president of STS AeroStaff Services, STS Line Maintenance, and STS Engineering Solutions. He has been with STS for over 12 years. STS Aviation says Smith excelled in the role of senior vice president where he was instrumental in the purchase, startup and continued growth of the three divisions listed above.

Tom Covella has been promoted to group president of STS Component Solutions. Covella has led this division to very impressive levels of expansion in revenue, product lines, customer base, staff and inventory offerings, according to the company. He will continue to lead new diversifications of product offerings and growth.

Philip Anson, Jr., previously president, has assumed the role of CEO of the STS Aviation Group. Anson started his career with STS in 1997.  He spearheaded the STS Aviation Group development from a mechanic staffing company to a diversified aviation company with four divisions; each with unique yet complementary service offerings. Anson will identify new prospects for acquisitions, lead the vision of the company, and be responsible for the continued growth of the STS Aviation Group in its entirety.

Bob Greene, previously CEO, has been named executive chairman.  As executive chairman, Mr. Greene will be responsible for providing top level leadership throughout the STS Aviation Group.  He will continue to be involved with operational issues of each division, acting as the liaison between the executive team and board of directors while also concentrating strategic focus on the company’s continued expansion.

ST Aerospace and AirAsia jointly announced today that the companies have signed a 10-year agreement worth approximately US$80m. The contract involves component repair management Maintenance-By-the-Hour (MBH) support for 75 of AirAsia’s Airbus A320 aircraft, and is expected to commence immediately.

ST Aerospace is currently supporting AirAsia on an existing component repair management MBH program for 100 A320 aircraft. With this contract, ST Aerospace will effectively support 175 of AirAsia’s A320 aircraft.

“Through high aircraft utilization and paramount importance placed on flight safety and quick turnaround time, AirAsia has managed to achieve high efficiency in operations to keep our costs low. ST Aerospace has been a reliable partner, consistently providing us with high quality and cost effective maintenance, repair and overhaul services,” says Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia. “We have enjoyed 10 years of partnership, and we look forward to continuing this successful relationship.”

“ST Aerospace is honoured to further our partnership with AirAsia. This contract is a testimony to our performance and ability to provide our customers with safe and dependable maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions. It also reflects AirAsia’s confidence in ST Aerospace’s services over the last decade. ST Aerospace is fully committed to building our relationship with AirAsia as the airline continues to grow its operations worldwide” says Chang Cheow Teck, president, ST Aerospace.

This contract marks the 10 years of partnership between ST Aerospace and AirAsia. ST Aerospace first provided AirAsia’s fleet of five Boeing 737-300 aircraft with component rotable management and support services in 2002. Through the years, ST Aerospace has steadfastly supported AirAsia’s fleet with an integrated range of solutions that includes airframe maintenance, avionics upgrades, cabin interior reconfiguration, component rotable and maintenance services, as well as engine MBH support. When it introduced its new fleet of 100 A320 aircraft in 2007, AirAsia extended its partnership with ST Aerospace for component repair management MBH services on this new aircraft fleet.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $185,750 against Kingfisher Air Services Air Safari, Inc., of San Juan, P.R., for allegedly operating a Cessna 208B on 44 flights between June 2 and June 11, 2010, when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA alleges that three pilots reported that the aircraft’s engine temperature exceeded the take-off limits before the carrier took the required maintenance action and had the engine repaired. The engine maintenance manual requires the operator to send the engine to an overhaul facility for a light overhaul when such problems are reported. The carrier failed to send the engine for overhaul after the first and second pilot reports.

Kingfisher Air has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing two civil penalties totaling $987,500 against Delta Air Lines of Atlanta, for allegedly operating an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 737-800 on flights when they were not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

In the first case, the FAA alleges Delta failed to repair a chip in the nose radome, or nose cone, on the B-737 after an FAA inspector conducted a pre-flight inspection and informed Delta he had observed chip damage. Delta’s structural repair manual requires the airline to seal radome chip damage before further flight. The enroute inspection took place Feb. 25, 2010, and the airline operated the plane on 20 additional flights between that date and March 1 while the aircraft was not in compliance.

The FAA further alleges Delta again failed to repair the radome during layover inspections of the aircraft on Feb. 25 and 28. The proposed civil penalty is $687,500.

“Safety is our highest priority,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta.  “Operators must follow the proper procedures to maintain their aircraft.”

The FAA also proposes a civil penalty of $300,000 against Delta for allegedly operating an Airbus A320 on 884 flights between May 25, 2010 and Jan. 3, 2011, when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations.

The FAA alleges the carrier incorrectly deferred repair of a broken cockpit floodlight socket at the first officer’s position. Maintenance procedures allow the airline to defer repairs on a dome light for no more than 10 days before repairing or replacing it.  The FAA discovered the alleged violation during a routine inspection.

Delta has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letters to respond to the agency.

Southwest Airlines, the largest commercial customer for CFM56 engines, signed a 20-year OnPointSM solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of 156 CFM56-7B engines, that will power 78 Boeing 737-800 Next Gen aircraft. The OnPoint agreement is valued at more than $1 billion (USD) over the life of the agreement.

CFM56 engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.

“Southwest is very pleased to extend our strong partnership with CFM through this agreement,” said Brian Hirshman, Southwest’s senior vice president Technical Operations. “This deal is unique in many ways, and it will help ensure Southwest maintains the lowest maintenance costs and supports the daily operation in the most efficient manner possible.”

“Southwest Airlines has worked with CFM International for more than 30 years since its first order for CFM56 engines, and GE has been servicing Southwest’s CFM56 engine fleet for many years. This new agreement demonstrates the carrier’s continued confidence in GE Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities,” said Kevin McAllister, vice president and general manager of Global Sales at GE Aviation.

“Southwest Airlines’ continued faith in our service offering is a testament to the quality work GE employees provide, and we look forward to continuing to provide the highest level of service and support to Southwest Airlines,” said Paul McElhinney, president and chief executive officer of GE Aviation’s Services organization.

TaxiBot — a new aircraft tractor controlled by the pilot from the cockpit that pulls aircraft from the gate to the runway without using engine power — is set to take the next important step on its way to series deployment. A joint developing program of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the vehicle manufacturer TLD, Airbus and Lufthansa Technik’s subsidiary Lufthansa LEOS is preparing for a 6-months test of TaxiBot fleet under normal operating conditions at Frankfurt Airport in spring 2013.

The new tractor is designed so that the aircraft’s nosewheel connects to a rotary table on the TaxiBot. This allows the pilot to control the aircraft using the cockpit steering systems just as the cockpit crew would if the aircraft were moving under its own engine power. Sophisticated sensors combined with velocity control and GPS enable the pilot to maneuver the aircraft easily.

The system passed its early tests in spring 2011 with flying colors. Experts and the Lufthansa pilots involved spoke of a promising step into the future of ecologically improved aircraft towing.

As a result, starting in May 2013 three TaxiBot Narrow Body tractors will be subjected to intensive tests with the Lufthansa B737 fleet in a normal operating environment at Frankfurt Airport, Lufthansa’s hub. The tests will include the collection of extensive operating data, the optimization of ground processes from push-back to take-off, and further refinement of the TaxiBot system with an eye toward planned full series production of the vehicle. During the remaining months of 2012, maintenance documentation and a training concept will be produced, and in early 2013 the certification process of the TaxiBot will be finalized and personnel will be hired and trained for the system tests.

Following the most recent tests in spring 2011, experts and the Lufthansa pilots involved spoke of a promising step into the future of ecologically improved aircraft towing. “We’ll be supporting the next test phase closely and are very interested in using this cost-efficient, ecologically promising new aircraft tractor in normal operations after it has passed all its tests,” said a confident Kay Kratky, Member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board / Frankfurt & Flight Operations.

Traditionally, aircraft tractors have been used only to push the aircraft away from the gate and pull it into the correct position. Afterwards, the pilot starts the engines and the aircraft taxis to the runway under its own power. Yet a Boeing 747 consumes up to 700 kg of kerosene over the average distance it travels when taxiing to a runway at Frankfurt Airport.

With TaxiBot, in contrast, the pilot moves the aircraft to the runway with the help of the tractor and without the need to start the aircraft’s engines, which results in significant cost savings and a reduction in the CO2 emissions.

Air India, Hainan Airlines and China Southern have all selected Rockwell Collins Dispatch Program to service and support their fleets of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Rockwell Collins will provide guaranteed spares availability, systems configuration updates, technical repairs, and performance monitoring on Rockwell Collins’ comprehensive suite of communications, surveillance, displays and pilot controls systems onboard the 787.

Air India selects Rockwell Collins’ Dispatch Program to provide long-term B787 avionics support

Air India has selected Rockwell Collins to service and support its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft through the company’s Dispatch Program. The program is scheduled to begin upon delivery of the first Boeing 787 to Air India.

Under the agreement, Rockwell Collins will provide Air India with guaranteed spares availability, systems configuration updates, technical repairs, and performance monitoring on Rockwell Collins’ comprehensive suite of communications, surveillance, displays and pilot controls systems onboard the 787. The total life cycle solution is coordinated by a dedicated program manager.

“Air India’s selection of Rockwell Collins’ Dispatch Program provides the airline with the most proven, cost-effective global service and support solution for our avionics and pilot controls,” said Scott Gunnufson, vice president and general manager, Service Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “We’re the most prepared in the industry to deliver fast, reliable service to Air India and other airlines adding 787s to their fleet.”

“As the Asia Pacific airline market segment continues to grow, we are positioned to provide swift, highly reliable service to our customers that keeps downtime to a minimum and cost predictable,” said TC Chan, vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific for Rockwell Collins.

GKN Aerospace has established a new composites manufacturing facility in Mexico. The new 80,000 square foot Mexicali composite manufacturing facility is expected to employ over 100 staff by 2017 and will manufacture composite airframe structures. The site’s first products will be structures manufactured for the Sikorsky BLACK HAWK helicopter, with first parts scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2012.

Commencing with the Sikorsky BLACK HAWK work package, further production work will be transferred to the new site over time, with almost all staff recruited locally and trained in the range of manufacturing skills required to produce structures for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

The new Mexicali composite manufacturing facility will provide direct manufacturing support to the company’s Alabama operation which has multiplied its annual sales by 500 percent over the last decade and is continuing to see additional growth. The Alabama site provides aerostructures for customers such as Sikorsky, GE, HondaJet and Airbus.

Marcus Bryson, CEO and President, GKN Aerospace and GKN Land Systems explains: “The new composites operation will extend our very successful Mexico production activities and will play a key role in supporting Sikorsky and other major customers in the long term. The skills we will develop in our new Mexicali team will grow the valuable expertise we have in the country and help us extend our aerostructures business by manufacturing consistently high quality components at a very competitive cost to our customers.”

“Mexico is a strategically important country for us, and this move by GKN to place BLACK HAWK helicopter component work in-country coincides with our plans to increase our presence and work content in Mexico,” said Steve Estill, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Sikorsky.

The new site will be situated in the PIMSA industrial park. PIMSA is the oldest full service Industrial Developer in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. PIMSA’s General Director, Francisco J. Fiorentini, comments: “We welcome GKN Composite Structures to Mexicali as the fifth aerospace company in the PIMSA group. We’re very pleased to contribute to the continuing development of the aerospace sector in Baja, California with more than 50 companies in the State and comprising some 25% of the total aerospace companies in Mexico.”

The Mayor of Mexicali, Mr. Francisco Perez-Tejada Padilla, who has been very active in Mexicali’s economic development, states: “Mexicali is very glad that GKN has decided to bring a new division to town. Companies that choose our city as their manufacturing location and decide to expand are the best evidence of the City’s competitiveness and quality of life. We have a very skilled labor force, a strategic geographic location, a safe environment, among other competitive advantages. Composite materials are part of the future of the aviation industry; Mexicali is proud to be the new home of GKN’s composites manufacturing activity.”

The new plant extends the GKN Aerospace’s established operations in Mexico, adding a third facility. The company’s established plants manufacture engine fan cases, containment cases, fan ducts and shroud assemblies for major aero-engine primes such as Honeywell, GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Allison.

Rockwell Collins has completed on schedule its first software delivery to The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] for the U.S. Army’s Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) program. This software provides additional EMARSS mission-specific functionality for the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 flight deck. The EMARSS program previously selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Pro Line 21 flight deck and additional mission capability for the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft.

The software enhancements integrate military mission specific equipment including communication systems and military GPS as well as modified display interfaces, while retaining the civil certification of the avionics system. A key element of the program includes Rockwell Collins integrating the presentation of critical mission information on flight deck displays.

“The EMARSS flight deck will give Army pilots unprecedented mission capability and situational awareness,” said Dave Nieuwsma, vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “The civil certification will allow the aircraft unrestricted access to commercial airspace, providing additional operational flexibility for training and peacetime missions.”

EMARSS is a manned, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system. It will provide a persistent capability to detect, locate, classify/identify and track surface targets in nearly all weather conditions, day or night, with a high degree of timeliness and accuracy. Boeing will be conducting flight tests to evaluate the performance of the system.

Rockwell Collins has been awarded a three-year, $8.8 million contract to provide Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force with sustainment services for  cockpit displays on 187 F-22 aircraft.

As part of the sustainment program, Rockwell Collins will train U.S. Department of Defense personnel to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul on the F-22 displays. The work will take place at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, and at the company’s repair facility in Atlanta.

“We’ve formed a strong public-private partnership with the Air Force and Lockheed Martin, which is essential to the success of these types of programs,” said Scott Gunnufson, vice president and general manager of Service Solutions for Rockwell Collins.  “By providing sustainment services while also sharing our technology and skill sets, the Air Force can be assured of enhanced operational readiness.”

Each F-22 aircraft cockpit features six Rockwell Collins combination projection and light-emitting diode displays.