Page 34 - AAA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012 Online Magazine

MRO

IN THE HANGAR

Boeing ecoDemonstrator plane to be tested
In early July, Boeing announced the completion of the assembly of the
ecoDemonstrator, a flying test bed for environmentally progressive technologies. The
plane then underwent a month of intense testing in Montana. The ecoDemonstrator
programme is a partnership between Boeing, American Airlines and the US FAA. ST Aerospace and
“The goal of the ecoDemonstrator programme is to take action and accelerate
technology for fuel efficient, quieter, cleaner, and more advanced sustainable Madrid Aerospace to
material solutions for the future,” said Jeanne Yu, Boeing Commercial Airplanes market landing gear
Director of Environmental Performance. “Demonstrations create focus for aviation ST Aerospace Solutions and Madrid
and give us a platform for faster learning about new technologies in application. This Aerospace Services have agreed to
helps us get them airplane-ready more rapidly.” American Airlines loaned one of its collaborate to provide global landing
new Next-Generation 737-800s to Boeing for three months, to test technologies and gear maintenance services for the
equipment aimed at reducing fuel consumption and lowering noise, among other Airbus A320 family, A330 and A340, in
things. After that, the plane will be returned to standard configuration. As part of the addition to the Boeing 737NG, MD80,
programme, next year, a wide-bodied airplane will serve as the test bed. MD90 aircraft platforms. Together,
they will market their landing gear
ST Aerospace Blackhawk XP42A maintenance and engineering services
and AirAsia sign Caravan Upgrade to customers worldwide. The companies
also say that the alliance will promote
10-year contract gaining ground operational excellence through the
ST Aerospace and AirAsia have signed Blackhawk debuted the upgrade for the sharing of best practices and capacity
a 10-year contract involving component Cessna 208B Caravan utility aircraft growth for both participants.
repair management Maintenance-By- last year, and has since completed
The-House (MBHTM) support for 75 of 18 XP42A upgrade packages, and Sikorsky Aerospace
AirAsia’s Airbus A320 planes. Worth signed contracts for four more orders.
around US$80 million, the contract is Blackhawk recently noted in an Services launches
expected to commence immediately. announcement that the package has mobile app
President of ST Aerospace Chang Cheow gained popularity amongst skydive, Sikorsky Aerospace Services has
Teck said, “ST Aerospace is honoured cargo and bush operators. The company launched a mobile app for the
to further our partnership with AirAsia. also said it expected to add at least 10 Sikorsky360 web portal, allowing access
This contract is a testimony to our more XP42A sales this year. Blackhawk to maintenance information. Peter
performance and ability to provide our CEO Jim Allmon said, “We’re adding Fuchs, Sikorsky Aerospace Services
customers with safe and dependable more muscle to an already capable Senior Manager, Support Technology
maintenance, repair and overhaul workhorse, enabling operators to get and Analytics said, “From anywhere –
solutions. It also reflects AirAsia’s in and out of places that were once out 24 hours a day, seven days a week – our
confidence in ST Aerospace’s services of reach.” Blackhawk said that a recent customers can access their aircraft fleet
over the last decade. ST Aerospace is fully analysis has shown that the XP42A management information directly from
committed to building our relationship offers significant advantages to those their personal mobile devices. This new
with AirAsia as the airline continues to who fly in remote, cold or rugged and feature offers unrivalled convenience and
grow its operations worldwide.” challenging environments. flexibility for maintainers worldwide.”

34 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM