Category: Commercial

Kaman Measuring Announces ThreadChecker with Inspection Capabilities

The Measuring Division of Kaman Precision Products has announced the availability of its improved ThreadChecker. This line of non-contact application-specific sensors provides rugged, reliable verification of thread presence or absence in nearly any electrically conductive material. The ThreadChecker is a teachable eddy current inspection tool, widely used for thread detection, material sorting, plating presence, and absence of heat treatment, as examples. Any physical property difference that relates to material conductivity is readily detected. These sensors are available from stock and ready to ship immediately.

The ThreadChecker is ideal for use in any automated inspection process. Consisting of a single electronics module compatible with any probe/material combination, the ThreadChecker can check threads regardless of part cleanliness, reducing the cost of implementation.

With Kaman’s proven eddy current technology at its core, the ThreadChecker is designed specifically for in-die use. It features four internal probes, ranging from 4 to 10 millimeters (mm) and two external probes, 6mm and 8mm. Available with a DIN rail mounting option, ThreadChecker is CE-compliant and features IP-67 rated probes and electronics.

The ThreadChecker is available with both switched and analog outputs. With the switched output option, the sensor is wired to a PLC or other controller, programmed to alarm when no thread is detected. As an alternative, users can monitor the analog voltage and program the PLC or other control device with limits suitable for the application.

Harald Gloy Becomes Member of Lufthansa Technik Executive Board

The Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Technik has appointed Harald Gloy as a member of the Executive Board for five years, effective July 1, 2022. As chief operating officer (COO), he will be responsible for Operations and Logistics. In addition, Harald Gloy will have responsibility as Accountable Manager” in accordance with EASA Part 145 and will be the contact person for aviation authorities with regard to Lufthansa Technik AG’s maintenance operations. Gloy succeeds Soeren Stark in this position, who at the same time will become the new Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik.

As chief human resources officer (CHRO) and labor director, Harald Gloy will also take over the Executive Board department Human Resources, which is currently still headed by executive board 
chairman Dr. Johannes Bussmann, who will, however, leave the company at his own request at the end of June 2022.

Dr. Detlef Kayser, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Technik AG and member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said after today’s decision: “It is very good news for Lufthansa Technik that we have been able to win Harald Gloy for this task. He has already successfully demonstrated his great expertise and competence in various responsible positions at both Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo. This makes him the ideal person to fill this important position.”

Gloy, who is currently on statutory parental leave, was chief operations officer at Lufthansa Cargo from January 2019, and in March 2021 he took on the additional role of chief human resources officer 
and labor director there. 

Graduate engineer Harald Gloy studied industrial engineering at the Technical University of Berlin as well as Arizona State University. He started his professional career in the Lufthansa Group in  1999 at Lufthansa Technik Logistik in materials management, where he quickly assumed operational management responsibilities. In 2003 he joined Lufthansa Technik in Corporate Development and Strategy, and in 2006 took over as head of the Aircraft Overhaul and Modification production unit in Hamburg. After holding various management positions as head of Component Maintenance Services and head of Engine Services he was heading Lufthansa Technik’s entire component business from 2014 before being appointed to the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo in Frankfurt.

In addition to his duties in the companies of the Lufthansa Group, Gloy was also actively involved as a member of the Executive Board of the Aviation Cluster Hamburg Aviation and the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt, as a member of the Supervisory Board of the ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research and as a member of the Innovation Commission at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.

JetBlue Submits Proposal to Acquire Spirit

JetBlue has submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors of Spirit to acquire Spirit for $33 per share in cash, implying a fully diluted equity value of $3.6 billion and providing full and certain value to Spirit shareholders. The proposal represents a premium of 52% to Spirit’s undisturbed share price on February 4, 2022, and a premium of 50% to Spirit’s closing share price on April 4, 2022. JetBlue says it firmly believes its proposal constitutes a “superior proposal” under Spirit’s merger agreement with Frontier and represents the most attractive opportunity for Spirit’s shareholders.

The combination of the two airlines would position JetBlue as the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the four large dominant U.S. carriers by accelerating JetBlue’s growth and expanding the reach of the “JetBlue Effect,” which occurs when legacy carriers react to JetBlue’s unique combination of low fares and award-winning customer service with lower fares. JetBlue triggers significantly greater fare decreases from legacy airlines when it enters a new market than when ultra-low-cost carriers enter a market.

“Customers shouldn’t have to choose between a low fare and a great experience, and JetBlue has shown it’s possible to have both,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue CEO. “When we grow and introduce our unique value proposition onto new routes, legacy carriers lower their fares and customers win with more choice. The combination of JetBlue and Spirit – coupled with the incredible benefits of our Northeast Alliance with American Airlines – would be a game changer in our ability to deliver superior value on a national scale to customers, crewmembers, communities, and shareholders. The transaction would accelerate our strategic growth and create sustained, long-term value for the stakeholders in both companies.”

Pratt & Whitney Adds SR Technics to the GTF MRO Network

Pratt & Whitney announced that it will expand its global network of providers that maintain the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine to include SR Technics. The Zurich-based facility will serve PW1100G-JM engines for the A320neo family with full disassembly, assembly and test capability. The announcement was recognized at an in-person signing ceremony in Zurich.

With more than 10,000 engine orders and commitments from more than 80 customers, GTF engines now power more than 1,200 aircraft with 62 operators across three aircraft families. To keep pace with the growing fleet, the GTF MRO network continues to expand around the globe.

“The GTF engine and its latest GTF Advantage configuration serve as the most fuel-efficient and sustainable single-aisle aircraft engines in the aviation industry,” said Marc Meredith, executive director of GTF Engine Aftermarket at Pratt & Whitney. “With increasing engine orders, we continue to grow our MRO presence with capable, quality maintenance providers worldwide to ensure proximity and seamless service to our customers. We are excited to welcome SR Technics to this distinguished network of shops.”

SR Technics is the latest engine center to be announced in Europe within the GTF MRO network, alongside MTU Aero Engines and two Lufthansa Technik facilities in Germany; EME AERO in Poland; and OGMA in Portugal.

“We are very excited to join the esteemed Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network,” said Jean-Marc Lenz, chief executive officer at SR Technics. “This is a major cornerstone in our company development in line with our SR Technics strategy to extend our capabilities by providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the GTF engine at our facilities in Zurich. By adding the PW1100G-JM engine we are not only broadening our product portfolio, but we are also expanding our highly skilled workforce and footprint in Switzerland.”

Global MRO Group Invests in Hanover-Based Wheels and Brakes Business

FL Technics is set to enter a segment of wheels and brakes maintenance as the group launches a dedicated business line and a specialized shop with an experienced team of engineers and technicians in Germany, Hanover International Airport.

A dedicated facility for servicing commercial aircraft wheels and brakes, as well as tires and components, started operations under the FL Technics name as of the 4th of April and will serve as a support hub within the global network of groups’ MRO markets, ranging from Americas to Asia-Pacific.

The company says their expansion of business areas is a natural continuity of the current FL Technics groups’ operations, including a global integrated supply chain and the largest independent line maintenance network with more than 70 stations in service worldwide. Established infrastructure and pool of partners create a perfect ecosystem to develop operations that create new prospects as well as the ability to tailor FL Technics’ solutions based on market needs to both lessors and operators.

“The successful start of the wheels and brakes business marks a new era for FL Technics and FL Technics group as we fill in a service area, previously outsourced by our MRO and sales teams,” said Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO at FL Technics. “The expansion is our next step in strengthening FL Technics’ position as a global one-stop-shop service provider of MRO services.”

This is the first major launch of a new business line for FL Technics this year, symbolising successful continuity of the company’s long-term strategy, powered by both organic growth and mergers & acquisitions.

A solid foundation of financial background, ambitious vision, and sound strategy is shaping FL Technics operations as well as attracting highly experienced professionals within the aviation industry. Such is the case with FL Technics Wheels and Brakes launch, as Saulius Bajarunas, COO at FL Technics, states:

“I am personally engaged in every stage of the business model we are now launching. Thus, I am confident this step is a recipe for success, with all the key ingredients: a highly skilled team of engineers, purpose-built facility, certifications, and capabilities in high demand, as well as a strong backup by the global MRO group of FL Technics.”

Putting the new milestone in the context – FL Technics continues to invest in new assets and infrastructure, expand current and enter new markets, as well as grow the team of aviation professionals worldwide.

OLYMPUS Becomes EVIDENT in Split from Global Medtech Company

Olympus Corp. announced the completion of the separation of its Scientific Solutions business to a wholly-owned subsidiary, Evident Corp. Following the divestiture of its Imaging business, this move further signifies the company’s long-term strategy to cement its position as a major player in the medtech industry.

The proposed split was first announced in June 2021. As a newly-established wholly-owned subsidiary, Evident, headquartered in Japan, continues to operate independently under the Olympus umbrella. Olympus’ Scientific Solutions business encompassed the Olympus Industrial and Life Science businesses.

The company says the reorganization will give the Scientific Solutions business the autonomy and agility to respond quickly and more flexibly to the needs of Industrial and Life Science customers. “Evident, while continuing to provide best-in-class products, will expand its digital and cloud-based solutions to enhance the customer experience and to improve the overall workflow in the research and inspection fields,” said Yoshitake Saito, president and representative director of Evident. “We will shift from a business model centered on the sale of products, to one focused on solving customer issues and challenges. With this greater management autonomy, we will promote agile product development and open innovation, which we believe will increase the speed of product development.”

The company says its new name exemplifies its “unwavering commitment to continue providing high-quality products and technical expertise.” The company also says it is putting a renewed focus on customer collaboration and responsiveness to customer concerns.

FEAM AERO Announces New Hangar Build at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l. Airport

FEAM AERO announced its second hangar at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), that the companys says cements its presence at the global e-commerce hub while creating about 200 additional aircraft mechanic jobs.

The state -of-the-art three-bay, wide-body hangar will be constructed from the ground up and will encompass 150,000 square feet of hangar, back-shop and storeroom space, in addition to 5,000 square feet of administrative offices. This facility will have the ability to accommodate aircraft types up to 767 fully enclosed and will include three wide-body parking spots in the adjacent ramp space.

FEAM’s newest facility, a $40.2 million investment, to be completed by the end of 2023 will complement its existing hangar at CVG, spanning over 100,000-square-feet of state-of-the-art workspace, currently employing 300 technicians.

“It is an incredible accomplishment to continue to expand FEAM’s presence at CVG, an organization who is truly innovating in the e-commerce space,” said Fred Murphy, CEO, FEAM AERO. “This new operation will provide ample aircraft maintenance capacity and resources for CVG’s growing cargo operations. Our initial success with our first hangar, and immediate demand for expansion, confirms that we are in the right place, at the right time, with the right partners. I commend our dedicated and relentless team of professionals that embody the core values of our company every day; it is because of them that we can maintain our high standard of quality and service as we grow and enter new markets.”

“We congratulate FEAM on their success and business growth,” said Candace McGraw, CEO, CVG Airport. “They have been a terrific partner in which we share a vision to further develop needed infrastructure and services to support continued growth of cargo carriers at CVG. The airport’s current strategic plan outlines the transformational impact we can make for our region, and this project does just that through job creation and capacity building to grow and diversify cargo operations.”

FEAM says it is leading the industry in the uncertain times of the pandemic with continued growth and global expansion. As the company works to expand its European presence, it is also investing heavily in creating a resilient and robust workforce in major markets throughout the United States.

The addition of this new hangar to FEAM’s existing presence at CVG will create nearly 200 aircraft maintenance professional positions and more than fifty administrative & material specialist Jobs. FEAM will launch a nationwide recruitment campaign to fill these high-income earning roles, furthering economic development in the local and surrounding communities.

A groundbreaking ceremony for FEAM AERO’s new hangar is tentatively planned for summer 2022 with work to be completed by the end of 2023.

Asiana Airlines Extends Contract for CF6-80 Engine Maintenance Service

South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines and Lufthansa Technik AG have extended their contract for the repair and overhaul of Asiana’s CF6-80 engines powering the airline’s Boeing 747 and 767 fleets. The 
five-year non-exclusive contract is covering a total of 17 B767-300 and B747-400 aircraft. 

This extension will strengthen Lufthansa Technik’s business in the Asian market, one of the strongest growing regions, and generate a stable workload for the CF6 product line over the next years.

“There were numerous good reasons to choose Lufthansa Technik as our preferred MRO partner again,” said Hoon Bae, general manager of  Aircraft & Supplies Purchasing at Asiana Airlines. “With the seamless support and services that have been delivered, we are very confident that Lufthansa Technik will always do their very best to keep us flying.”  

“We are very proud that Asiana Airlines has decided to extend our trustful cooperation. We look forward to further supporting them withour knowhow and engine service capabilities”, said Kijung Shin, 
corporate key account manager at Lufthansa Technik.

Lufthansa Technik and Asiana Airlines have been working together for more than 25 years. Lufthansa Technik also provides component maintenance for the Asiana Boeing 777-200ER fleet, an integrated Total Component Support for the airline’s Airbus A320F and A350 fleets and CF6 engine support and heavy maintenance for the carrier’s Airbus A380 fleet.

THOMMEN Launches Display Solutions for Legacy CRT Upgrades to LCD Displays

Swiss avionics manufacturer THOMMEN AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT announced its display replacement services coming to the broader market for CRT (cathode-ray tube) and first-generation LCD display in legacy aircraft.

THOMMEN says it has brought together “the engineering and manufacturing expertise of more than a century of providing avionics solutions to fixed wing, rotorcraft and special mission type operations.”
THOMMEN offers in-house lamination and assembly services thanks to a state-of-the-art ISO class 5 certified cleanroom with aerospace-grade standards and display manufacturing capabilities. Modern LCDs can be tailor-cut to virtually any size of displays that are used in aircraft cockpits and mission systems. THOMMEN has completed multiple similar upgrade programs replacing aging CRT displays with modern LCD units and is now ready to offer this service to the broader marketplace.

“There are a lot of good avionics systems out there that have old CRT displays on them and are becoming increasingly more costly and difficult to keep airworthy, simply because of the numerous obsolescence issues those CRT units are facing.” said Pete Ring, senior sales executive for North America, “Thommen has solutions available today to update and modernize most aging legacy CRT and older LCD displays, breathing new life into these venerable systems and airframes at a fraction of the cost of a brand-new full panel upgrade.”

In the upgrade process, analog information is converted and processed to color and composite video signals to provide accurate navigation and mission data to the flight crew in a digital format. THOMMEN’s display solutions are fully functional, fully customizable and designed to meet the harsh requirements of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft operating in all environments thanks to its environmental qualifications that meet and exceed most mission requirements. THOMMEN also offers display mounting solutions, custom bezels, and specialized finishes designed to meet any customers unique specifications.

Boeing Announces Senior Leadership Updates

Boeing announced Ted Colbert as president and chief executive officer of its Defense, Space and Security business. Colbert succeeds Leanne Caret who is retiring following nearly 35 years of exceptional service with The Boeing Company. Stephanie Pope has been appointed as president and CEO of Boeing Global Services (BGS), succeeding Colbert.

“We are grateful for Leanne’s dedicated service and I’d like to thank her for her outstanding contributions to our industry, our customers, our company and our employees over her extraordinary career at Boeing,” said Dave Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO.

As president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS), Colbert will oversee all aspects of the company’s business unit that provides technology, products and solutions for defense, government, space, intelligence, and security customers worldwide. BDS had 2021 revenue of $26 billion.

“Throughout his career, Ted Colbert has consistently brought technical excellence and strong and innovative leadership to every position he has held,” said Calhoun. “Under his leadership, BGS has assembled an excellent leadership team focused on delivering safe and high-quality services for our defense and commercial customers. His leadership track record and current experience supporting the defense services portfolio ideally position Ted to lead BDS.” 

As president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, Pope, who is currently Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief financial officer, will lead the company’s business unit that provides aerospace services for commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide, focused on global supply chain and parts distribution, aircraft modifications and maintenance, digital solutions, aftermarket engineering, analytics and training. BGS had 2021 revenue of $16 billion. Prior to her assignment as BCA CFO, Pope was chief financial officer of BGS and was part of the business when it was established in 2017.

“Stephanie brings decades of wide-ranging business and financial leadership to her new role,” said Calhoun. “Given her significant experience in all aspects of BGS, Stephanie’s deep understanding of the global services portfolio since its inception and the needs of BGS customers will help accelerate this meaningful business.”

Colbert and Pope’s new assignments will be effective April 1. Until her retirement later this year, Caret will serve as executive vice president and senior advisor to the CEO, reporting to Calhoun, to support the leadership transition, business continuity and critical talent acquisition efforts.