Tag: maintenance (Page 2 of 15)

Korean Air now using RTX to improve predictive maintenance

November 8, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Collins Aerospace Ascentia^® tool to be installed on Korean Air 787 Fleet

Charlotte, North Carolina, November 8, 2023, PRNewswire – Collins Aerospace, an RTX business (NYSE: RTX), announced today that its Ascentia^® Prognostic and Health Management (PHM) solution has been selected by Korean Air Lines Co. (Seoul: 003490) for use on its growing Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 fleet.

The cloud-based solution uses advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms to help airlines improve maintenance operations and increase aircraft reliability. Analyzing flight data and maintenance records in real-time allows Ascentia to help predict potential maintenance issues and provide recommendations for corrective actions, improving aircraft availability and reducing unscheduled downtime.

Collins Aerospace’s Ascentia solution is currently in use by several major airlines around the world. Equipping KAL’s Boeing 787 fleet with Ascentia represents a significant milestone as Collins Aerospace expands its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Airbus signs 1.2 billion Euro contracts for support of France’s A330 MRTT fleet

October 24, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Spain – 23 October 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has signed two contracts valued at 1.2 billion euros in total with France’s Direction generale de l’armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aeronautique (DMAe) for the Capability Enhancement and the In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTT’s (Multi Role Tanker Transport) fleet.

Standard 2 contract: Stepping stone of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of the future

The Standard 2 contract provides for the capability extension of the French MRTTs, focused on connectivity as a key pillar and also self-protection capabilities. With the aim of being connected in all circumstances, including jammed environments and extreme weather conditions, the aircraft will be equipped with the MELISSA satcom station.

These new capabilities will convert the French A330 MRTT into a high bandwidth communication relay node, with command and control capabilities, and will build the stepping stone of the A330 MRTT’s integration into the future air combat cloud within the FCAS.

10 years In-service support

The second contract covers the In-Service Support of the ‘Phénix’ fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres Air Base, southern France, home to the 31st Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing. Airbus, as the prime contractor, together with its preferred partners in France, will be responsible for fleet modernisation, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft’s operational availability. The local Airbus team in France will be doubled to support these activities.

Boeing enhanced AH-64E Apache helicopter completes first flight

October 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Mesa, Arizona, October 11, 2023 – The newest version of the AH-64E Apache has successfully flown with an upgraded capabilities suite as Boeing (NYSE: BA) continues to modernize the platform. The upgraded E-model Apache, known as Version 6.5, or V6.5, is the next configuration of the world’s premier attack helicopter.

Building onto V6.5, the company is working with the U.S. Army to integrate the Improved Turbine Engine (ITE). The engine, a General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) Aerospace T901, will offer improvements in reach, available power, time on station and fuel efficiency, as well as sustainment improvements like health and usage monitoring, maintenance and engine lifespan.

V6.5, awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense in December 2021, includes software updates enhancing capabilities and improving the pilot interface. Some of those enhancements include:

Optimized route and attack planning
Enhanced Link 16 features
Integration of an Open Systems Interface, setting the stage for Modular Open Systems Approach for maximum interoperability, faster integration and advanced capabilities fielding.

Regional Express Holdings Ltd (REX) takes delivery of airline’s ninth Boeing 737-800NG

September 24, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Rex-Media-Release-9-25-23

Overland Airways of Nigeria receives its first E175

September 14, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Abuja, Nigeria, 14 September 2023 – Overland Airways of Nigeria has received the first of three new Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) E175 E-Jets. The aircraft was delivered to the airline last week. The twenty-year old West African carrier, an affiliate of the Landover Aviation Services Company, also holds options for three additional aircraft.

Concurrent with the arrival of its new E175s, Overland is aggressively ramping up its presence in Nigeria. It has built a new corporate office and hangar facilities in Lagos. The airline is an Approved Maintenance Organization under the certification of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Overland’s partner, Landover Aviation Services, runs one of IATA’s top ten aviation training institutions in Africa. The Landover Aviation Business School specializes in airline technical and operations, aviation management, and travel and tourism.

LATAM Group receives new Boeing 787-9

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Santiago, Chile, September, 2023 – LATAM group (OTC: LTMAY) has received delivery of a new Boeing 787-9 directly from Charleston (United States) to Santiago (Chile), and is the only group of airlines in South America operating this model.

The Boeing 787-9 is equipped with advanced technology that allows it to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20-30% compared to the previous technology thanks to its lightweight materials, state-of-the-art engines, and modern aerodynamics.

Its arrival is part of LATAM group’s fleet renewal and modernization strategy, which will enable it to have 37 Dreamliners including the 787-8 variant by the end of this year, becoming one of the most modern and efficient fleets in South America. With this, the LATAM group aims to finish 2023 with a fleet of 332 aircraft, of which 78 are Wide Body and 254 are Narrow Body.

LATAM group’s new aircraft will feature 300 seats and has the capacity to cover an approximate distance of 14,010 km. Additionally, it boasts larger windows, spacious overhead compartments, technology that detects and counteracts turbulence for a smoother flight, and onboard diagnostic systems that allow the aircraft to self-monitor and automatically report maintenance requirements to ground systems.

KiwiRail announces changes to avoid repeat of Wellington rail disruption

September 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

September 3, 2023

KiwiRail has welcomed the Government’s rapid review into its handling of disruptions to passenger services in Wellington earlier this year and has already moved to change its systems.

Improvements made include:

Use of the TEC to achieve network compliance is now part of a wider Infrastructure Integrated Plan, with a longer-term (12 month) plan around its use nationally. While there have been detailed operating plans for each area the TEC assesses, this change introduces a national level of oversight, linked into when track safety cases expire.
Developing robust processes and procedures around the escalation, prioritisation and approvals required where the TEC schedule cannot be met.This is an important backup if it is looking unlikely the TEC will be able to carry out required work in time. The issues that resulted in the Wellington disruption were escalated too late for KiwiRail to take effective action to avoid the speed restriction being put on the Kāpiti Line.
Developing better resilience around the TEC, through a review of the tasks needed to ensure its successful operation – including a review of existing staff resourcing and formalising training processes. This is to ensure the TEC is able to operate effectively.
Reviewing the maintenance programme for the TEC. The TEC is 41 years old and will be replaced in FY2027. A procurement process for a new vehicle is well underway. The maintenance programme review, and any changes that come from it, will help ensure the TEC can continue operating reliably until the new vehicle arrives.

General Manager Metros Jon Knight says KiwiRail has made a huge commitment to the local commuter rail network, and will work hard to deliver on the Government’s investment.

Air France-KLM enters into discussions with Apollo Global Management for financing

July 30, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Air France-KLM (OTC: AFLYY) today announces that it has entered into exclusive discussions with Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) regarding the potential financing of E1.5bn to a dedicated operating affiliate of Air France-KLM. This entity will hold the trademark and most of the commercial partner contracts related to Air France and KLM’s joint loyalty program “Flying Blue”, and will become the exclusive issuer of miles for the airlines and partners.

This financing would be non-dilutive, structured through a quasi-equity instrument, similarly to those raised by Air France on a pool of spare engines in July 2022 and maintenance activity components in July 2023. Under this agreement, Apollo-managed funds would subscribe to perpetual bonds issued by this dedicated operating affiliate of Air France-KLM.

This financing would be accounted as equity under IFRS, allowing Air France-KLM to make a further step towards its commitment to restore its equity and strengthen its balance sheet, aside from net profit generation and/or straight hybrid bonds.

The contemplated structure related to this financing would incur no change on the operation of the program vis-à-vis the Flying Blue members, no change on social aspects nor Air France, KLM or Air France-KLM employee’s contracts.

Air France-KLM would pursue managing and operating its loyalty program and Air France and KLM would keep full ownership rights of the Flying Blue customer database.

NASA and Boeing unveiled the new X-66A livery at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. (Image: Boeing)

U.S. Airlines to Support NASA-Boeing Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Project

July 27, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

OSHKOSH, Wis., July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and NASA will collaborate with U.S. airlines to advise the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) project and development of the X-66A research aircraft. As part of a new sustainability coalition, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines will provide input on operational efficiencies, maintenance, handling characteristics and airport compatibility.

NASA and Boeing also unveiled the new X-66A livery today at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

The X-66A will test the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) airframe configuration and will be built from a modified MD-90 aircraft at a Boeing facility in Palmdale, Calif. It is NASA’s first X-plane focused on helping achieve its goal of net-zero aviation greenhouse gas emissions.

When combined with expected advancements in propulsion systems, materials and systems architecture, a single-aisle airplane with a TTBW configuration could reduce fuel consumption and emissions up to 30% relative to today’s domestic fleet of airplanes.

The U.S. airlines will offer feedback throughout the project, including:

Design: Airline participants will share feedback on sustainable operations and airport compatibility. While the X-66A will have a wingspan of 145 feet, the TTBW design could be used by airplanes of different sizes and missions and may benefit from folding wing tips to accommodate existing airport infrastructure.
Simulation and lab testing: Airline pilots will have a chance to experience the X-66A through a flight simulator and assess the vehicle’s handling characteristics.
Flight testing: Airline operations and maintenance teams will assess the X-66A as modifications are made to the airplane. Flight testing is slated for 2028 and 2029 out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

JetBlue Names Susan Pfingstler as Vice President JetBlue University

July 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

New York, July 24, 2023, (BUSINESS WIRE) – JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced the appointment of Susan Pfingstler to vice president, JetBlue University. In this role, Pfingstler will oversee the carrier’s award-winning training programs and facilities. She will report to Warren Christie, JetBlue’s head of safety, security, fleet operations and JetBlue University.

From locations in Orlando, New York and Salt Lake City, JetBlue University offers new hire and recurrent training for JetBlue’s airports, customer support (reservations), flight operations, inflight, system operations, and technical operations (maintenance) crewmembers, as well as pilot training services for a variety of other airlines around the world.

Pfingstler comes to JetBlue from United Airlines where she served as the managing director, network operations, air traffic control strategy. Previously, she held positions with the Federal Aviation Administration, the International Air Transport Association, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. She spent the first decade of her career as a New York City-based pilot in both the corporate and Part 121 airline arenas.

Pfingstler holds a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a Board Member of NASA’s Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

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