Category: PRs

Air Astana has selected Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000-94 engine for its order of three firm and one option Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft. The contract is valued at approximately $90 million. Delivery of the engines will start in 2013.

“We selected Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000-94” engine for its excellent operating economics and proven dependability,” said Peter Foster, president, Air Astana. “As we expand our fleet, it is imperative that we have world-class service and reliable products, which Pratt & Whitney delivers every day.”

“We are very proud that Air Astana selected Pratt & Whitney dependable engines to power their Boeing 767-300-ER aircraft,” said Todd Kallman, president, Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney.  “The PW4000-94” engine offers the right balance between low maintenance costs and fuel efficiency for the Boeing 767.”

Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan and best airline in Central Asia, was incorporated in 2001 and is based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The airline’s fleet of 26 aircraft offers service to around 50 domestic and international locations. Air Astana is IOSA registered and has four Skytrax stars.

Pratt & Whitney will provide exclusive power for 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) aircraft for an order announced today by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and SkyWest, Inc. The agreement represents 200 PurePower PW1200G engines with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2017.

“We are very proud that SkyWest selected the Mitsubishi Regional Jet with the PurePower engine that powers it,” said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “The PurePower engine family offers significant benefits that have been proven extensively in thousands of hours of full engine testing, including hundreds of hours of flight testing.”

Each Mitsubishi Regional Jet is powered by two PurePower PW1200G engines. To date, Pratt & Whitney has announced orders for more than 2,800 PurePower engines, including options. The PurePower family of engines 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 deliver the improvements in fuel efficiency, environmental emissions and noise.

Comtek Advanced Structures receives PDA design approval from Transport Canada for the Q-series radome which applies to the Bombardier Dash 8 Q100/200/300/400 aircraft. This design approval allows Comtek to manufacture and sell certified airworthy radome assemblies directly to operators flying this aircraft. This is expected to significantly reduce the lead time typically required for an operator to procure a radome assembly.

The aftermarket radomes are guaranteed to meet OEM transmissivity requirements, and include features such as venturis that help resist moisture ingression, a common issue that limits the transmissivity of the radome.

Comtek’s aftermarket radomes will replace the existing configurations of Q-series radomes (P/N 4426X-2-10/11/12).

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.