Industry News

March 13, 2008

Carburetors available from Kelly
Despite the discontinued sales of float carburetors and component parts by Precision Airmotive, there is still a source for carburetor overhauls and component parts. Kelly Aerospace has been overhauling Facet/Precision carburetors and providing new FAA approved replacement parts for more than 20 years. With fast turn times on overhauls, carburetor overhaul quick kits, and unmatched quality, the general aviation community will continue to have long-term carburetor support from Kelly Aerospace.

“Kelly Aerospace has a longstanding history in overhauling float carburetors and providing new carburetor component parts and even though the current insurance liability issues are troublesome, we will continue to service the general aviation market just as our company has done for over 20 years,” says Jeff Kelly, president of Kelly Aerospace Power Systems.

Your input needed
Safety Research Corporation of America, LLC (SRCA), has been awarded a contract by the FAA for the rewrite of Advisory Circulars 65-12 and 65-15, Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Powerplant and Airframe handbooks, respectively.

SRCA is currently working with industry leaders and suppliers to determine critical content for the handbooks. AMTs are encouraged to review the two circulars, and forward comments and suggestions to [email protected]. Bob Rendzio, president of SRCA, says, “Any input to our developmental process is of value, but we’d really like to know what the end users want to have. These two documents provide a basis for FAA knowledge tests, as well as helping establish critical tasks for the practical exams. It’s important for us to find out what the “wrench-benders” need, and try to support that.”

The SRCA project is expected to take some two years, and the handbooks will be reprinted as FAA-H-8083-31 (Aviation Maintenance Technician – Airframe) and FAA-H-8083-32 (Aviation Maintenance Technician – Powerplant) when complete. AMTs can expect to see documents with up-to-date technology such as composites and cockpit electronics being addressed, as well as full-color graphics throughout the books.

Kelly Aerospace receives PMA
Kelly Aerospace Inc. announces receiving FAA-PMA approval for the manufacturing of the new Lycoming engine X-Drive starters. The X-Drive starter is the newest in the lightweight, high torque starter lineup from Kelly Aerospace. Targeted toward users that want the lightest but most powerful starter on the market, the X-Drive delivers the same high torque, low current draw, and superior duty cycle previously available only to E-Drive customers.

Tool discount for AMT readers
Klassic Tool Crib announces the availability of its 2008 catalog. The 96-page catalog has been greatly expanded with more than 350 new line items. AMT readers are eligible for a 10 percent discount off all catalog orders through Dec. 31, 2008. To receive your free copy of the catalog call (866) 760-6931 or e-mail [email protected].

Aircraft maintenance professionals can also visit www.klassictoolcrib.com to view a wide assortment of tools including rivet guns, rivet squeezers, rivet sets, squeezer sets, tungsten bucking bars, angle drills, pistol drills, air screwdrivers, threaded shank & jobber drill bits, and Eckold metal fabricating equipment, plus a host of hand tools used by aircraft mechanics on a daily basis.

AAR selects Component Control
AAR Landing Gear Services, a Malaysian-based joint venture between Illinois-based AAR and AIROD Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia, recently selected Component Control’s Quantum Control aviation enterprise resource planning (ERP) software as its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) system. Quantum Control combines aircraft maintenance, shop floor control, inventory management, accounting, e-commerce, sales and invoicing, and other business functions in one dynamically updatable software suite. The Quantum Control software, powered by an Oracle 10G database, will be hosted at AAR’s Chicago data center, with the Malaysian repair station remotely accessing the solution.

FAA awards Airwolf AMOC to Robinson Rotor Blade AD
Airwolf Aerospace was recently granted an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) by the Federal Aviation Administration for Airworthiness Directive 2007-26-12. The AD was issued for delamination of Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters’ main rotor blades. Installation of Airwolf’s Rotor Blade Protective Tape system is found by the FAA to provide a permanent and acceptable level of safety.

The AMOC permits all R22 and R44 operators to use Airwolf’s Rotor Blade Protective Tape which eliminates the need for preflight inspections and entries into the aircraft’s permanent maintenance record, which would otherwise be mandatory under the requirements of the AD. The AMOC also legally eliminates the restriction on the installation of “blade tapes (anti-erosion tapes),” which was recently added by Robinson to its maintenance manuals.

Airwolf’s solution STC-SR02491CH is a one-time application, using a unique adhesive polymer tape to prevent permanently the leading-edge skin debonding, which occurs when the bond line is exposed due to excessive erosion of the blade’s painted finish.

Turbomeca selects BorescopesRUs
After extended tests and evaluation Turbomeca’s facility in Mirabel, Canada, chose the BorescopesRUs Videoscope model for its current visual inspection requirements with options for additional units. The 4mm videoscope toolcart/tabletop model met the requirements of ease of use in multiple applications, recording capability, size of display, and resolution of image. The compact design of the video processing and display and its ability to accept and use existing rigid and fiberscope kits complements the capabilities for recording inspections and transmittal of data.

SW receives SAE certification
Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings now has a complete coating system, including pretreatment, corrosion protective primer and topcoat, certified with SAE International’s Aerospace Material Specification 3095 (AMS 3095) for Airline Exterior Systems. The certification now actually approves two of Sherwin-Williams’ complete painting systems: Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings CMO483928 with traditional High Solids Chromated Epoxy Primer; and CMO481968 High Solids Chrome Free Epoxy Primer/Surfacer (for an environmentally preferred option). Both systems are finished with Jet Glo Express Polyurethane topcoat for global aftermarket use as complete painting systems for commercial airline fleets. Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings is now one of the first major aviation industry paint and coatings suppliers to have a chrome-free system achieve AMS certification.

Landmark adds toll-free number for mobile network
Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero has implemented a national toll-free number for its Mobile Service Team (MST) network, a national network of MRO field-service engineers who offer on-site consultation, line and on-wing troubleshooting and repair services for business aircraft operators. The number is 1-877-GO-MST-99 (1-877-466-7899).

Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero MST teams are based in Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Van Nuys, and Islip (Long Island), NY.

Precision receives EASA approval
Atlanta-based Precision Aviation Group (PAG), exclusive provider of “ISMRO” (Inventory Supported Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), announces its Vancouver-based MRO facility Precision Accessories & Instruments Canada (PAI-C) has received EASA approval. PAI-C was acquired in April 2007 by PAG to extend ISMRO services to its existing customers in the expanding Canadian market operating both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. PAI-C has expanded its MRO function and inventory levels by 15 percent since acquisition by PAG 10 months ago.

PAI-C provides a full range of repair and overhaul services to helicopter operators, and also supports regional, corporate, and charter turboprop operators.

AAR expands composites business
AAR Corp. is expanding its composites manufacturing operations with the lease of a 90,000-square-foot facility located at the McClellan Business Park, formerly McClellan Air Force Base, in Sacramento, CA. AAR will occupy the portion of the McClellan facility formerly used by the U.S. Air Force for manufacturing composite replacement aircraft parts. The expansion provides more than four times the company’s current composites manufacturing capability through additional equipment and added capacity at the facility.

Hamilton Sundstrand signs spare parts agreement
Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has signed an exclusive spare parts purchase agreement with Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp., which will include all Hamilton Sundstrand detail spare part purchases in support of Evergreen’s component repair shops. Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. is a joint venture engineering and maintenance provider between EVA Airways and General Electric Co.

Avidyne weather detection system receives ETSO
Avidyne Corp.’s TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system — the first color, real-time, lightning-based tactical weather avoidance system for general aviation aircraft — has received European Technical Standards Order (ETSO) authorization from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It provides real-time weather avoidance capability out to 200 nautical miles (nm), which is valuable for customers operating aircraft outside the United States where datalink graphical weather is unavailable.

Joint venture: Iberia and ST Aerospace
Iberia and Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd. (ST Aerospace) have signed a joint venture agreement to set up a landing gear and overhaul company in Madrid. Madrid Aerospace Services S.L. will be equally owned between Iberia and ST Aerospace. It will operate as an independent third-party maintenance, repair, and overhaul service provider with an initial focus on Airbus A320, A330, and A340 landing gears. The new company is expected to start its operations by the second half of 2008.