12 Nov 2018

USA Aviation Industry Newsletter 12 November

AAR and Ameco Sign Long-Term RB211 Repair Deal at MRO APAC AAR signed a long-term contract with Ameco, a world MRO expert in RB211 repair and disassembly at MRO APAC. The deal positions AAR to provide long-term support to customers in the market for this Rolls-Royce engine. The agreement includes AAR’s cooperation with Ameco to provide RB211 repair/exchange and leasing services. AEI Continues B737-400SF Program Success With Order From Automatic Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) recently signed a contract with Automatic to provide the company another B737-400SF freighter. In the beginning of this year, AEI celebrated delivering its 100th B737-400SF freighter conversion and orders for the conversion platform remain strong. American Airlines Confident in UK Nod to IAG Joint Venture American Airlines executives are expressing confidence that the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s review of AA’s antitrust-immunized Atlantic Joint Business Agreement (JBA) with International Airlines Group (IAG) carriers British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia will conclude that the JBA remains in the best interest of air travelers and should remain protected from monopolies scrutiny. “We are very optimistic of how the review is going to come out,” said American Airlines executive v-p of corporate affairs Stephen Johnson during the company’s third-quarter earnings conference call with financial analysts. Bell Opens Expanded Flight Research Center Bell officially opened its expanded flight research center (FRC) in Arlington, Texas, late last week. The expanded FRC will house test programs, including the V-280 Valor tiltrotor, 525 Relentless, unmanned V-247 Vigilant tiltrotor, APT autonomous pod transport, and Hydra. It houses the Bell 525 Relentless Advanced Systems Integration Laboratory, an automated testing lab for the 525, and a remodeled 5,000-sq-ft customer area that showcases aircraft capabilities. Boeing, Safran Joint Venture to Start Operations Boeing and Safran have received regulatory approvals for a joint venture so they can begin designing, building and servicing aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APUs)—onboard engines that are primarily used to start the main engines and power aircraft systems while on the ground and, if necessary, in flight. The companies also named Etienne Boisseau as Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture. Both companies have a 50% stake in the joint venture. The initial team will perform design work in San Diego. Delta Takes Its First A220 from Airbus Delta Air Lines 26 October accepted the first delivery by Airbus of an A220 to a new operator . The delivery ceremony, held at Bombardier’s factory in Mirabel, Quebec, also marked the first delivery of the model to a U.S. carrier. Delta plans to place into service its first 109-seat A220 early next year, when it becomes the fourth airline to operate the aircraft. Delta placed an order for 75 C Series jets with Bombardier in 2016 and ranks as the largest customer for the A220-100, the smaller of a narrowbody duo that includes the A220-300. Flair Airlines Launches First US Flight Flair Airlines launched its first US-bound flight on 8 November when Flight 777 left Edmonton International Airport for Las Vegas, Nevada. As Edmonton’s ‘hometown airline’ Flair’s inaugural trip to ‘Sin City’ was sold-out with a crowd of excited passengers. Flair’s Executive Chairman, David Tait, stated, “Today is a momentous day in our history as it the first of our multiple new trans-border services.” In December Flair will begin flying to Palm Springs, Miami, Orlando and Phoenix/Mesa. UTC Aerospace Systems And Lufthansa Technik Sign Component Service Agreement UTC Aerospace Systems announced 7 November a life of program component service agreement for the maintenance and support of accessories for the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine for the A320neo. Under this agreement, Lufthansa Technik will develop repair capabilities for certain UTC Aerospace Systems' GTF engine accessories. UTC Aerospace Systems will provide GTF engine accessory parts and certain repair services to Lufthansa Technik. By cooperating in repair development and sharing maintenance practices, both companies will be able to offer improved aftermarket services aimed at reduced operating costs. Acumen Aviation © 12 November 2018 All Rights Reserved.