Category: PRs

Invest Lithuania has announced that Ryanair is preparing to invest around €250,000 ($274,000) to expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, Kaunas Aircraft Maintenance Services (KAMS), located at Kaunas International Airport in Lithuania.

 

The announcement cites KAMS’s accountable manager, Karolis Čepukas, explaining that the investment will be used to acquire a range of new workshops at the facility.

 

“The expected volume of airframe maintenance and aircraft components in Kaunas is increasing,” said Čepukas, “so it was decided to open additional workshops for aircraft components within our existing hangars. We are opening workshops for repairing aircraft airstairs, filling oxygen cylinders, and working on metal and composite parts. In addition, we will be hiring additional aircraft airframe technicians,” he explained. This would represent a 30 percent increase in the number of MRO specialists it employs leading to a total workforce of around 140 specialists.

 

Turnover will reportedly jump 20 percent in 2016. Ryanair’s expansion plan targets a fleet of over 500 aircraft by 2020. Invest Lithuania noted that KAMS could then decide to invest in new hangars for aircraft refinishing and other maintenance at the Kaunas facility in the future.

 

Mantas Katinas, Invest Lithuania’s general manager, has linked the expansion of the country’s aviation industry to improved study programs at Lithuania’s higher eduction institutions. An agreement between aviation companies operating in the Kaunas region with Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) has led to third year students being offered the opportunity to do a full year internship at one of the aircraft maintenance and repair organisations participating in the scheme.

 

Said Katinas: “The aircraft repair and maintenance industry is particularly dependent on the education and experience levels of its engineers…Advances in education programs and the cooperation between universities and the major aviation companies operating in Lithuania will have two important effects. They will enhance the position of the entire industry in Lithuania, and will help to create favourable business conditions both for the growth of existing aviation companies and for the attraction of investments from new players.”

Aviation Electronics Europe is the premier platform for the international aviation electronics industry is delighted to announce the support of Airlines For Europe (A4E).

Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s new and largest airline association, based in Brussels and launched in January 2016, delivering fresh approach to promote the interests of European airlines and their passengers. A4E members account for more than 60 per cent of the continent’s passenger journeys, operating more than 2,500 airplanes and generating EUR 97 billion in annual turnover.

A4E will be supporting Aviation Electronics Europe which will take place on 25th-26th April 2017 in Munich, Germany, where event will deliver a high level conference programme looking at the implications and impact of the Single European Sky and NextGen programmes on the avionics and aviation electronics industry.

Full details of the conference programme will be announced soon and will be available at www.ae-expo.eu.

Adrian Broadbent, Event Director and CEO of Aviation Electronics Europe, said, “We are delighted that the Airlines For Europe association will be supporting Aviation Electronics Europe, with the vested interests of the airlines and operators at the heart of the conference discussions, their representation is important to ensure legislation, standards and technologies are correctly focussed.”

West Star Aviation has achieved FAA approval on its Lear 60 Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) STC. West Star has teamed with Universal Avionics and TrueNorth Avionics to offer this new FANS solution for the Lear 60.

 

This package consists of a Universal Avionics UniLink UL-801 Communications Management Unit (CMU), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and TrueNorth’s FAA C195a TSO’d Data Link Unit granting Lear 60 operators access to North Atlantic Tracks for more efficient routing to Europe.

 

West Star Aviation holds an STC to install Universal Avionics SBAS-Flight Management Systems (FMS) for LPV operation and will be able to provide a solution for ADS-B compliance.

“We are pleased to have received approval from the FAA on the FANS STC installation. The benefit of this system will lead to more efficient travel for our customers with minimal downtime,” said Aaron Berg, Avionics Technical Sales Manager, West Star Aviation. “It has been great being able to grow our Lear 60 avionics capabilities first with LPV and now with our FANS STC,” Berg continued.

 

The downtime for this installation can vary depending upon the work scope (i.e. if LPV has been previously accomplished downtime is reduced.) These avionics modifications can be done in conjunction with other repair services to reduce overall inshop time.

Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP authorised service center Elliott Aviation has begun a second 400E interior retrofit that includes Garmin G5000 touch screen avionics. The first installation was for the company’s own aircraft sales division, Elliott Jets.

 

The 400E program is a weight-saving interior upgrade, that when paired with the Garmin G5000 retrofit, increases the useful load of the aircraft by around 350 lbs.

 

Elliott claims to be the first dealer to retrofit a Garmin G5000 and is currently working on three more G5000 installations. The company has sold 15 Garmin G5000 installations.

 

The Garmin G5000 avionics give the customer a completely new avionics system including a new Garmin autopilot. “The 400E program is a great fit for our company and showcases our innovation and engineering capabilities,” said Greg Sahr, president of Elliott Aviation. “This program gives 400A/400XP the latest avionics and interior while giving the aircraft a significant increase in useful load.”

Lufthansa Technik AG has started installing the latest Ka-band satellite technology as standard equipment for the Lufthansa Group’s entire Airbus A320 aircraft family which now covers short and medium-haul flights.

 

Around 300 aircraft will be fitted with the necessary antennae and routers in parallel in up to ten production lines by spring 2018 at  various Lufthansa Technik locations.

 

The engineers at Lufthansa Technik have optimized the system installation procedure and minimized the required intervention in the aircraft structure. This allows the fastest possible integration even in large fleets – generally in four days per layover. Subsequent modifications and even complete dismantling of the installation to cater for any future as yet unknown technology developments are feasible without costly replacement of large structural elements.

 

Lufthansa Technik currently holds Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) for the Airbus A320 family and the Airbus A340 for installing the system. It is planned to include the Boeing 737 family and the

Airbus A330 in the short term in order to provide full support for customers in particular in the Asian market for equipping their fleets with broadband communication technology.

 

“The procedure we have developed combined with Lufthansa Technik’s wealth of experience in the project management of extensive modification programs ensures that we can equip even large fleets with this technology in the shortest possible time,” said Lukas Bucher, Head of Connectivity at Lufthansa Technik. “We also want to  make sure from the very outset that any technological advances that we may not yet be aware of or any changes in customer requirements can be retrofitted or converted with minimum overhead,” stressed Heike Handke, Product Manager Strategy and Business Development in the Aircraft Modification business unit of Lufthansa Technik.

Thomas Global Systems has received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for its TFD-8601 Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) upgrade on Embraer EMB 120 aircraft.  The STC was achieved as part of a collaborative effort with leading EMB 120 operator Ameriflight, and is available now through Thomas Global and Thomas Global authorized dealers. The Company has entered into a multi-year Preferred Supplier Agreement with Ameriflight covering these products.

 

The TFD-8601 display is a pioneering plug-and-play, Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD) replacement for legacy cathode ray tube (CRT) displays. Incorporating a high-performance, high-resolution AMLCD, the TFD-8601 provides improved reliability and reduced costs compared to legacy CRT displays, with lower weight, less heat and reduced power consumption. The product retains the use of all existing cockpit systems and makes provision for additional functionality to be included to suit current and evolving mandates, technology and operator requirements.  The upgrade can be completed quickly with no changes to existing cockpit panels or wiring, and no crew retraining or changes to flight simulators – minimizing disruption to aircraft operations.

 

“Thomas Global’s TFD-8000 family of AMLCD displays has been developed based on operator requirements for a cost effective, practical solution to aging CRT issues,” said Andrew Hutchinson, vice president of Business Development, Thomas Global.  “The TFD-8601 eliminates the issue of CRT obsolescence risk, helps drive down maintenance costs and allows operators to avoid expensive full cockpit retrofits – without compromising capability or compliance. The TFD-8601 displays are increasingly recognized as the obvious choice for long term sustainment of regional and business aircraft cockpits.”

 

“We’re excited to be flying this upgrade for EMB 120 flight decks,” said Brian Randow, CEO, Ameriflight. “Having reviewed the options to manage CRT display obsolescence and long term EMB 120 cockpit sustainment, we concluded the TFD-8601 was the practical solution — and importantly will lead to more reliable and more efficient operations.  We look forward to flying our EMB 120s with these new displays well into the future.”

 

The TFD-8601 AMLCD display was developed in partnership with Regional Express, one of the world’s leading regional airlines and the world’s largest operator of Saab 340 aircraft. The display was designed with specific objectives to be cost effective, truly plug-and-play and with very high standards of fidelity to the existing CRT display.  Thomas Global is now leveraging its Adaptive Display Architecture 2.0 technology embedded in the TFD-8601 to address CRT obsolescence in an increasing range of narrow and wide bodied aircraft.

Kymeta has announced a development agreement with Tecom to incorporate its mTenna technology into an aviation terminal to demonstrate connectivity to a Ku-band satellite.

 

The flat panel satellite antenna is light and has a low profile which, the company states, helps to reduce drag, weight, and maintenance when in position. The Kymeta satellite antenna is being sold on its ability to deliver high-speed, global connectivity.

 

Bill Marks, chief commercial officer, Kymeta said that the agreement meant that the company was “one step closer to delivering the benefits of Kymeta’s satellite antenna technology to our aviation market customers.”

 

Greg Lackmeyer, director, Business Development at TECOM stated: “Coupling Kymeta’s mTenna antenna technology with our next generation RF transceiver is transformational for the global IFC marketplace. We consistently get requests for flat panel solutions from airlines and IFEC providers. The combination will provide our customers with unique technology that will enable lower operational costs while delivering high quality data throughput.”

Boeing has selected Rockwell Collins to provide its industry-leading touchscreen flight displays for all five flight deck displays on the new Boeing 777X. The advanced touchscreen capability will make the flight deck more intuitive for pilots and more efficient for flight operations. This is the first time a commercial air transport aircraft will be equipped with touchscreen forward flight displays.

 

“Touchscreens are everywhere in our lives and we applaud Boeing for taking the bold step to embrace this next evolution in flight deck technology for an advanced aircraft like the 777X,” said Kent Statler, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Commercial Systems for Rockwell Collins. “A touch-controlled flight deck environment makes it easier for pilots to manage information and do their jobs, and speeds up the process to complete tasks.”

 

The 777X touchscreen flight displays will be multi-touch, so two pilots can touch the same screen at the same time. In addition, the touchscreens will utilize resistive technology (firm touch versus light) for avoiding unintentional interaction with the displays. The touchscreen bezel will provide bracing features for operation during turbulence.

 

As Boeing’s display provider on all of its next-generation aircraft, including the 777X, 787 Dreamliner, 737 MAX and the 747-8, Rockwell Collins is delivering a common graphical foundation for pilots across all of these platforms.

 

Boeing has 300 orders and commitments for the 777X, with first deliveries planned for 2020.

At present, the fast growth of Chinese airlines’ fleets has driven the booming development of aviation maintenance industry whose comprehensively prosperous multiple business patterns also make the demands of aviation maintenance increasingly diversified and personalized. As a result, the competition between MRO service providers and OEMs become increasingly fierce and China aviation aftermarket will meet both opportunities and challenges in the future—How can independent MROs improve their market competitiveness？ Will OEMs monopolize the market? How do airlines choose their partners…many questions are in great need to be solved. Under such circumstances, the 2nd China Aviation & MRO Aftermarket Conference will be held on November 10th-11th, in Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Hotel. Focuses on China aviation aftermarket and maintenance aftermarket, this conference will offer a most valuable industry trends and business development opportunities to related companies, organizing them to discuss current hotspots and satisfying their multiple demands.

China Aviation & MRO Aftermarket Conference is a professional interactive platform created by Pincaux Media, aiming at promoting the healthy development of domestic aviation as well as maintenance aftermarket and assisting related insiders to build effective connection. We have rich experience on holding aviation conference— the first China Aviation & MRO Aftermarket Conference has already got support from our guests and attracted more than 25 airlines in China and abroad, dozens of exhibitors, nearly 200 attendees from all over the world. While based on the first successful summit, this session of China Aviation & MRO Aftermarket conference will set the theme as “Enhance the Level of Information Sharing for Effective Business Cooperation” and add into more hotspots. Our contents will cover three major parts like aviation maintenance aftermarket, aircraft engine leasing, air-material supply chain management, truly building an aftermarket—leasing—air-material triune maintenance value chain platform for information sharing and communication and creating a fairly competitive as well as steadily developed market environment！

Highlights of 2016 China Aviation & MRO Aftermarket Conference:

– Macro View on MRO Aftermarket Development & Trend
– Sifting of MRO Aftermarket Service Providers
– Future Development Prospect and Management of Aircraft Parts Maintenance
– How do Airlines Reasonably Control Maintenance Cost in An OEM Oriented Market
– Aviation Maintenance New Technology
– Aircraft & Engine Leasing Management
– Internet + Spare Parts Pool
– Application of Big Data in Aviation Maintenance and Air- Material Supply
– Value Added Service on Aircraft Parts Supply Chain Management
– Air-Material Inventory Management
– Air-Material Supply Chain Management Information System
– Aircraft Parts Tracking

What’s more, this time we’ll provide 3 sessions of panel discussion
How to Balance the Relationship between Airlines, Independent MRO and OEM?
Aircraft Engine Leasing
Improve the Information Sharing Level of Air-material Supply Chain and Optimize the Inventory Management Mode
with panelists for helping them chat directly with airlines and then better understand the real needs of airlines as well as the business layouts of their counterparts.

For more details of the conference, please visit our official web: www.pincaux.com/mro2016

Duncan Aviation will host three stops in Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion Roadshow during the week of September 12, 2016. The Roadshow gives operators in the Southwestern USA an change to look closely at the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion flight deck upgrade on a King Air 250.

 

The King Air 250 that will be on display has the same flight deck system currently being installed and certified in a CJ3 by Duncan Aviation. At the event King Air and CJ3 operators can experience the cockpit and chat with Collins test pilots.

 

The Roadshows will be held from 10.00 to 14.00 at the following locations:

– September 13, Scottsdale Airport Main Terminal, 15000 N Airport Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

– September 14, LGB West Coast Maintenance / Duncan Aviation, Long Beach Airport, 2881 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90806

– September 15, MHR Duncan Aviation / Mather Aviation, Sacramento Mather Airport, 10360 Macready Ave., Mather, CA 95655

– September 16, APA Duncan Aviation, Centennial Airport, 7375 S Peoria St, Englewood, CO 80112