API Deploys ESP
Aerospace Products International has deployed version 5.1 of its Electronic Supply Program, a web-based inventory-management system. API customers can use ESP to track inventory transactions, view inventory status, and automatically replenish their stocks. A new feature offered by version 5.1 is user-defined customizable fields.

Stevens to Complete More Piaggios
Stevens Aviation signed an extention to its completions contract with Piaggio America. Under the contract, new Piaggio P.180 Avanti IIs will be flown green to the Stevens Aviation facility in Greenville, South Carolina for painting and interior installation. Stevens Aviation president and COO Glenn Brown said that Stevens is in discussions with other manufacturers on possible completions programs. "We continue to grow rapidly," he said, "and win new programs."

Piaggio Strengthens Avanti Services
Piaggio America has added two new completions centers for single-owner P.180 Avanti II completions, Jet Aviation West Palm Beach, Florida and Jet Works Aviation of Denton, Texas. Piaggio has also added two service centers, Indianapolis Jet Center in Indiana and TG Aviation in Ontario, Canada, the first Canadian Avanti service center. Piaggio also is helping owners save money on spares by helping vendors work directly with operators for spares and service. One example of this effort is Avanti landing gear manufacturer Messier. All Avanti technical publications will now be easier to obtain through a document distribution agreement with Brisbane, California-based Aircraft Technical Publishers, which publishes and distributes maintenance documents.

Heico Buys Seal Dynamics
PMA parts manufacturer Heico, through its Flight Support Group, purchased a 51-percent interest in Seal Dynamics. David Susser, president and CEO of Seal Dynamics, owns the remaining 49 percent of the company. Seal Dynamics manufactures FAA-approved hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and electro-mechanical components for commercial and general aviation aircraft.

Sikorsky to Purchase Keystone
Sikorsky Aircraft is expanding its aftermarket services in an agreement to purchase Keystone Ranger Holdings, which includes the Keystone Helicopter facilities in West Chester and Coatesville, Pennsylvania and Composite Technology in Grand Prairie, Texas. The purchase is subject to approval by the U.S. government and other regulatory authorities, according to a Sikorsky statement. Keystone and Composite Technology had consolidated annual sales of $100 million during 2004 and employ 650 people.

FAA Targets Outsource Maintenance Providers
The FAA is planning to ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval to conduct what the FAA calls "a new information collection. The FAA will use the data from the proposed collection to target those leading outsource maintenance providers that may have a higher risk level, which in turn would merit an increase of FAA surveillance."

Comments were due by October 17, 2005, so it is now too late to submit comments.

There is not much information in the FAA's proposal to make the request to the OMB. The proposal does mention that 121 aircraft operators would be affected and the information would be collected on a quarterly basis. No information was provided to suggest how the FAA will use the data or if there is some safety concern that prompted this request.