Intelligence: Briefs

Design Review Complete

Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney joint venture, Advanced Turbine Engine Co., has finished a preliminary design review (PDR) for the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate’s Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine (AATE) technology demonstrator. The engine is intended to be a potential retrofit for the T700-powered UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Awarded in May 2008, the AATE contact is valued at $109 million.

Duncan Boosts Avionics Shops

Lincoln, Neb.-based Duncan Aviation has partnered with Hill Aircraft to establish a satellite avionics location at Fulton County Airport (FTY) in Atlanta, Ga. According to Hill Aircraft President Larry Westbrook, becoming a Duncan avionics shop will "compliment our aircraft maintenance and management operations and provide another service to our based and transient customers." Duncan’s network of satellite avionics sites comprises more than 20 locations.

Additional Layoffs at Cessna

Following job cuts for more than 500 company workers in November 2008, Cessna announced that more layoffs are likely to occur in 2009. Cessna CEO Jack Pelton sent an e-mail to employees on Jan. 6 that announced the possibility of another workforce reduction, but did not give a specific number of jobs that will be eliminated. Cessna employs around 12,000 people in Wichita, Kan. and another 450 in Bend, Ore.

Banyan, Odyssey Partner

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Banyan Air Service has joined forces with Odyssey Aviation Services for satcom installations on five Cessna Citation Sovereigns. The aircraft, operated by an undisclosed customer, will receive inspections from Odyssey personnel at Cessna’s delivery center in Wichita before moving to Banyan’s facility at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). The installations are scheduled to occur during 2009.

Embraer Depot Certified

Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has certified Embraer’s distribution center at Louisville Intl Airport (SDF) in Kentucky. Home to an inventory of repairable, expendable and structural parts for the company’s Phenom line, the facility is run in partnership with UPS Supply Chain Solutions. It serves as a support center for operators in North America and the Caribbean. Embraer also plans to stock critical parts throughout its U.S. network of three service facilities and a company-owned distribution center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Luton Gets G150 Approval

Gulfstream’s facility at London-Luton Airport (LTN) in England has received Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval to perform maintenance on EASA-registered G150s. The center has also been designated an EASA Part M, Subpart G organization, which means it can manage continuing airworthiness for aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 5,700 kg (12,565 lbs) or higher. The Luton complex also services the G550, G500, G450, G350 and G200, the G400, G300 and GII through GV.

JetDirect Picks eMan

Burlingame, Calif.-based JetDirect Aviation has selected AviIT’s eMan technical publication management software to help lower maintenance costs. The AviIT program allows access to aircraft technical publications, OEM manuals and maintenance-related websites from a central location, helping to lower maintenance costs. The software also includes library management tools to assist with administrative workloads. "We are already realizing the organizational and economic benefits of eMan," says Thomas Mealie, senior vice president of maintenance for JetDirect.