Category: PRs

Oman Air is the latest airline to become part of TRUEngine, qualifying all 33 CFM56-7B engines in its fleet for the program.

The TRUEngine designation serves as a method for identifying engines with CFM-approved content and facilitates product support of the engine system.  Industry stakeholders can use the knowledge of engine content to evaluate engine value and re-marketability, CFM says.

Oman Air, which was formed in 1993 as the designated carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, became a CFM customer in 2001, when it became the first airline in the Gulf region to order CFM56-7B-powered Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft

“Qualifying our CFM56 fleet in the TRUEngine program is a natural extension of our maintenance philosophy,” said Wayne Pearce, chief executive officer of Oman Air.  “We understand and appreciate the benefits we gain from working with a world-class manufacturer like CFM.  By confirming engine content, TRUEngine streamlines the support process and ensures the applicability of CFM’s extensive fleet knowledge.”

Since the program was launched in 2008, CFM has continued to enhance the program to bring added customer value.  One such enhancement includes the addition of cumulative lease days that qualify customers for complimentary annual spare engine support from the CFM lease pool in the event a TRUEngine qualified engine has an unscheduled removal.

“Oman Air has an exemplary reputation and exacting standards for its fleet,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International.  “They are a great addition to the TRUEnginefamily and will certainly reap the benefits of this program.”
TRUEngine has continued to achieve broad-based industry acceptance.  Currently, more than 7,000 CFM56 engines in service with nearly 75 operators worldwide have been qualified for the TRUEngine program.

The TRUEngine program is available for all CFM56 engines.  To qualify, a customer submits a declared list of compliant engine serial numbers, along with engine maintenance records, to CFM for evaluation to ensure the engine content, overhaul practices, and repairs are consistent with CFM requirements for that engine model.

Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with INAER Maintenance SAU of Spain to explore aircraft maintenance and support opportunities for the Spanish Ministry of Defense. INAER engages in comprehensive fleet Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for commercial and military aircraft worldwide.

“This MOU represents the first step in discussing potential maintenance and upgrade capabilities for the Spanish Ministry of Defense whose Air Force and Navy fleets have a significant number of Sikorsky aircraft,” said Frank DiPasquale, SAS Vice President, Sales & Strategic Relationships. “INAER is a Sikorsky approved S-76 Customer Service Center supporting many of our operators in the region. The objective of this MOU is to strengthen and combine our expertise in providing customized solutions to meet the Spanish government’s requirements.”

In addition to offering maintenance support for a variety of OEM platforms, INAER is a worldwide provider of aerial emergency services. INAER owns and operates a fleet of Sikorsky’s S-61 and S-76 aircraft that are instrumental in helping to execute many critical missions such as search and rescue, civil protection, surveillance and medical emergency. INAER is committed to supporting its government’s armed forces and is currently under contract for many initiatives with the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

“After many years of cooperation between our companies, this MOU helps strengthen our ability to provide customers with unbeatable value-added services,” said Baba Devani, INAER Group Business Development Director. “We are pleased to offer our Sikorsky government operators an experienced, in-country MRO service provider backed by the powerful support network of Sikorsky Aircraft.”

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has signed a letter of intent with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) to supply the cargo door actuation system for the COMAC C919 program. The system’s lightweight design helps reduce overall aircraft weight and improve fuel efficiency. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.

“Our selection by COMAC was based on Eaton’s superior system design and integration capabilities, which optimize aircraft performance and lifecycle cost,” said Joe-Tao Zhou, president – Asia Pacific, Eaton’s Aerospace Group. “Eaton’s innovative solutions are driving growth in China’s emerging aerospace market and extending Eaton’s broad product portfolio to new markets worldwide.

Eaton”s cargo door actuation system will lift the fore and aft cargo doors on the C919 passenger jet. The cargo door actuator contains integrated control electronics, a design innovation that eliminates the need for a separate controller. Eaton says its integrated approach saves weight and volume, leading to overall aircraft weight reductions, improved fuel efficiency and lower environmental emissions.

Engine Lease Finance Corporate has become the first spare engine lessor customer for CFM International “s (CFM)  new product offering for leasing companies called Portable Maintenance for Lessors (PML).  The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with plans to sign a definitive agreement by year-end.

The product will be the first of its kind in the industry and will enable leasing companies to control maintenance costs throughout the life of an aircraft, regardless of the operator to which it is leased.  Under the terms of the agreement, CFM would provide engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for leased fleets.  The PML is designed to be transferrable between lessees, which will enable them to more accurately predict maintenance costs.

“Our leasing company customers have been asking us for a product like this for along time,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International at today’s signing ceremony.  “There were a lot a challenges to developing this kind of program offering, but we are very pleased with where we have ended up and we anticipate more and more lessors to take advantage of the flexibility the PML provides.”

Conklin & de Decker announced the release of their 2012/2013 Aircraft Performance Comparator with the most comprehensive aircraft comparison data available to the industry. Part of a family of innovative software products created by Conklin & de Decker, the Aircraft Performance Comparator is a must-have tool for anyone that is acquiring a Business Jet, Turboprop, Piston airplane, or Helicopter and needs to compare aircraft performance data quickly and easily.

This newly updated software program allows users to easily overlay, or compare side-by-side, and compare aircraft interiors and exteriors as well as critical performance data that is collected directly from the manufacturer’s approved aircraft flight and performance manuals. Range verses payload, baggage area sizes and critical performance details are all quickly accessible. Users make apples-to-apples comparisons from the extensive database of nearly 300 aircraft that are displayed on the same scale, making it easy to evaluate and print reports.

New in the 2012/2013 edition of the Aircraft Performance Comparator includes:

New Jets: Global 6000; Hawker 400XPR (retrofit)

New Turboprops: King Air 250; King Air 350iER

New Helicopters: Eurocopter EC135P2+ and EC135T2+

New Piston: Piper Matrix

“Conklin & de Decker has always worked to develop the best products that streamline the aircraft acquisitions process,” commented David Wyndham, Vice President and co-owner of Conklin & de Decker.  “The Aircraft Performance Comparator is such an easy tool to use and it gives aircraft buyers, brokers and dealers the most current and comprehensive data when deciding which new or pre-owned aircraft is right for them.”

The price for the latest edition of the Aircraft Performance Comparator is $695 for Jets, $595 for Turboprops or Helicopters and $450 for the Piston database.  Discounts for multiple databases run from $100 to $300. Customized reports for individual aircraft can be special ordered for $100 per aircraft with a 20% discount for multiple aircraft. In addition, multiple user licenses are available.

The Aircraft Performance Comparator databases are conveniently grouped by Jets, Turboprops, Helicopters, and Pistons and can be ordered online or by calling the Conklin & de Decker’s Orleans, Massachusetts office at 508-255-5975, email admin@conklindd.com.

Pratt & Whitney and Norwegian Air Shuttle signed a memorandum of understanding to power 50 firm Airbus A320neo family aircraft with PurePower PW1100G-JM engines with first delivery scheduled in 2016.

“We chose the PurePower engine because we believe it offers the greatest long-term benefits in terms of reduced fuel burn and lower maintenance costs,” said Asgeir Nyseth, COO, Norwegian Air Shuttle.  “We are confident in the geared technology, and it will offer significant savings in overall operating costs for the A320neo aircraft.”

“Pratt & Whitney is proud to welcome Norwegian as a new PurePower engine customer,” said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “We look forward to serving Norwegian’s needs now and well into the future.”

The PurePower engine uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of the gear system and an all-new advanced core delivers fuel efficiency and environmental benefits.  The first PurePower PW1100G-JM engine is scheduled to begin testing by the end of this year.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, is a public low-cost airline noted on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Cebu Pacific Air has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM engines for its order of 30 firm and 10 option A321neo aircraft. The agreement also includes a ten-year PureSolutionSM maintenance package for each engine. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp.

“We selected the Pratt & Whitney PurePower engine because of its fuel burn, emissions and noise benefits over today’s engines,” said Lance Gokongwei, Cebu Air Inc. president and CEO. “We are confident that the PurePower engine will deliver the lowest total operating costs for our fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.”

“Pratt & Whitney is very pleased that Cebu Pacific selected the PurePower engine to power its Airbus A321neo fleet,” said Todd Kallman, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines president. “We look forward to providing Cebu with the best technology available today with the PurePower Geared Turbofan engine.”

The PurePower engine uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of the gear system and an all-new advanced core delivers fuel efficiency and environmental benefits.

Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry.

Rockwell Collins announced a new program to bring a series of innovative technologies to the flight deck of Boeing 757/767 airplanes.

Jointly developed by Rockwell Collins and Boeing, and inspired by flight deck improvements offered on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the advanced flight deck technology will be available for retrofit on existing Boeing 767 and 757 airplanes. Supplemental type certification is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

“The open architecture design of the advanced systems that Rockwell Collins developed for the Dreamliner is what makes its seamless integration into other platforms possible,” said Jeff Standerski, vice president and general manager, Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins. “With more than 1,600 Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft currently in operation, airlines worldwide will benefit from the high levels of efficiency and situational awareness enhancements this new technology brings, all while being installed cost effectively with minimal aircraft downtime.”

The all-new 757 and 767 flight deck features the following technologies:

Comprehensive electronic flight instrument and engine indicating crew alerting advanced flight display system featuring three large-format, landscape displays which provide significantly higher levels of situational awareness and reliability. Each display provides two independently controlled display windows to replace six cathode ray tube displays and numerous analog instruments.

Advanced NextGen communication and surveillance systems – with optimized viewing on the advanced displays ? provisions for future airspace modernization around the globe, including ADS-B In applications, controller-pilot datalink, airport taxi maps, and surface guidance.
Additionally, Rockwell Collins will offer an Integrated Head-up Guidance System (HGS) with future SVS capability for improved situation awareness, more efficient operations through all phases of flight, including departures and approaches in low-visibility conditions, thunderstorm diversion, and quick, at-a-glance flight path monitoring.

Donaldson Company announced that US Airways selected the Donaldson Air Purification System (APS) for installation on 57 Airbus A321 passenger jets. US Airways is retrofitting the aircraft with the APS High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and carbon-based chemical filter. The retrofit process began in mid April and is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2012.The APS System and other aerospace filtration products will be on display in Donaldson exhibit C16, Hall 1, at the Farnborough International Airshow, July 9-13.

“US Airways conducted thorough testing prior to selecting the APS for our filtration needs,” said Joe Maloy, director of the Aircraft Acquisition and Propulsion Engineering Group for US Airways. “Odors were reduced by more than 60 percent within the first two minutes of our tests. Within 12 minutes, the odors were gone.”

US Airways’ passengers and crews will benefit from the system’s ability to remove dust and other airborne particulates, as well as allergens, bacteria, viruses and even odors in pressurized cabins and cockpits, according to Sheila Peyraud, general manager, Aerospace & Defense at Donaldson Company. “Donaldson is proud to partner with US Airways to improve cabin air quality and comfort,” Peyraud said, “and it has been a pleasure to work with US Airways throughout the evaluation and testing process.”

Donaldson expects an APS Supplemental Type Certificate for the Airbus A320 series fleet within a year.

Airbus and Boeing are gearing up to roll out large commercial jetliners in ever-increasing quantities over the next 10 years, according to a new report from Forecast International, but will component suppliers be able to keep up with demand?

Forecast International’s newly released “The Market for Large Commercial Jet Transports” projects that 14,655 large commercial airliners will be produced in the 10-year period from 2012 to 2021. The Connecticut-based market research firm estimates the value of this production at $2.04 trillion in constant 2012 U.S. dollars.

Airbus and Boeing, the two dominant manufacturers in the market, are implementing production increases, and are considering additional increases for the future.  However, determining how fast and high to increase production is a tricky proposition for the two companies. In addition to the vulnerability of their supply chains, another concern is the overall health of the airline industry.

The desire of Airbus and Boeing to expand production is putting a considerable strain on their suppliers, especially in light of ongoing global economic sluggishness and uncertainty. In such an environment, a number of suppliers may be unable or even unwilling to support continual production increases. Adding to the pressure on suppliers is the fact that Airbus and Boeing are shifting their focus from manufacturing to integration, and are looking to outsource more design and production responsibilities. According to Forecast International senior aerospace analyst Raymond Jaworowski, “The potential for bottlenecks among suppliers means that Airbus and Boeing need to tread cautiously when it comes to future production increases.”

A second major concern is the health of the airline industry. Air traffic is growing, and the industry as a whole is profitable.  Still, many individual airlines are experiencing financial difficulties, including some carriers that have hundreds of orders on the books for new aircraft.

At the same time, Airbus and Boeing have considerable incentive to keep production rates high and growing. The two companies hold large numbers of unfilled orders, but this means long waiting times for customers to take delivery of their aircraft, which often results in considerable frustration for these customers. A lack of early delivery slots could also tempt potential buyers to take a serious look at new aircraft emerging from manufacturers outside of the Airbus/Boeing duopoly. Such aircraft include the Bombardier CSeries, the COMAC C919, and the Irkut MC-21.

With an eye on this new competition, Airbus and Boeing have launched development of new, re-engined versions of their narrowbody airliner families. The Airbus A320neo series and the Boeing 737 MAX family will battle each other for the lion’s share of the narrowbody market.

In the widebody segment of the large airliner market, the new Boeing 787 entered service in 2011. The Airbus response to this new aircraft is the A350 XWB, which is currently scheduled to enter service in 2014. The A350 is also aimed at the popular Boeing 777, with the result that Boeing is looking at ways to upgrade the 777.