Industry News

Helicopter Specialties’ ground breaking
Helicopter Specialties, Janesville, WI, held a ground breaking ceremony the end of August. According to president Jim Freeman, “We should be moved in to our new facility in December of this year.” The finished size of the new hangar will be a little over 28,000 square feet.

Hawker Beechcraft expansion
Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) celebrated the grand opening of its newly expanded, factory-owned aircraft maintenance and service facility at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in August. The new facility is three times the size of the previous one. It boasts a staff that includes several Master Technicians who collectively have nearly 200 years of experience. In addition, Indianapolis facility plans to add many new jobs over the next 18 months.

The facility includes a 7,700-square-foot line service terminal operated by Signature Flight Support, a 47,300-square-foot maintenance hangar space and 23,000 square feet of customer areas, administrative offices and back shops. The new service center will be offering custom interior modification services, with paint capabilities becoming available this fall.

Kraft at Lycoming Engines
Lycoming Engines, a Textron Inc. company, names Michael Kraft as its new senior vice president and general manager, replacing Ian Walsh who was promoted to chief innovation officer at Textron Systems. As Lycoming’s senior vice president and general manager, Kraft will oversee all aspects of the business, reporting to Fred Strader, chief operating officer of Textron Systems.

Maintenance study
A study by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) provides fresh insights about the aviation maintenance (MRO) industry. The report prepared by AeroStrategy, determined that spending in the global MRO market exceeded $50 billion in 2008, with North America (the U.S. and Canada) accounting for $19.4 billion of the total. When related economic effects are considered, the MRO industry’s impact on the U.S. economy is $39 billion per year.

AeroStrategy found that North America is a major net exporter of aviation maintenance services, enjoying a $2.4 billion positive balance of trade in this arena. One dollar of spending on airframe heavy maintenance generates just $1.38 in additional economic activity, while a dollar spent on engine overhaul and component maintenance services generates $1.85 and $1.67, respectively.

The report noted there are nearly 4,200 firms with more than 200,000 employees involved in the U.S. civil MRO market.

Mirgle retires from ERAU
Nick Sergi congratulates Fred Mirgle on his retirement as Chair of the Charles Taylor School of Aviation Maintenance Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mirgle’s tenure at ERAU exceeded 33 years.

Correction
Our apologizes, the phone number for Eastern New Mexico University was incorrect in the August issue. It should be (575) 624-7024 to contact Bob Elliott.

For the most up-to-date news information visit www.amtonline.com