NEWS
Virgin Renews Maintenance AMES Celebrates Anniversary
Contract for its 747s of Independence
Virgin Atlantic Ltd. extended its contract with Air For 29 years Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services
France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AMES), in Worthington, Ohio, has been part of ABX Air.
(AFI KLM E&M) for heavy airframe maintenance on Now it is an independent aircraft maintenance and engi-
its fleet of Boeing 747-400s. The first heavy mainte- neering company under Air Transport Services Group, an
nance agreement between the airline and MRO part- aviation conglomerate. Air Transport Services includes
ners was signed in July 2008 and is due to expire in various subsidiaries, including air cargo carrier ABX Air,
December 2010. which has had to restructure after its main customer,
However, AFI KLM E&M has provided various DHL, reduced demand for its service.
maintenance services for Virgin Atlantic as far back AMES recently celebrated its first 100 days as an
as the 1990s. Under the newest contract, nine C- and independent subsidiary by listing several milestones
D-checks for Virgin 747s are scheduled for 2011 at during that time period. These include:
AFI KLM E&M’s facilities at Schiphol Airport in • Completing 15 heavy maintenance checks on a range
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. of aircraft, including DC-9s, B727s, B757s and B767s;
• Accommodating the move of a DHL hub to Greater
Blackhawk Gives 208B Caravan New Muscle
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, where
Single-turboprop Cessna 208B Caravans can receive its line-maintenance technicians and support staff handle
a boost in power, speed and operational efficiency nightly aircraft support;
thanks to an engine swap developed by Blackhawk • Completing more than 1,100 component repairs;
Modifications. The Waco, Texas-based firm’s exchange • Fabricating more than 25 kits for flight-deck retrofit;
package has the Caravan’s Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A • Installing flat-panel displays in a Boeing 757;
powerplant, providing 675 shp, replaced by the 850- • Gaining European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
shp PT6A-42A. approval; and
The company expected certification of the re-en- • Completing 9,000 hours of classroom instruction on
gined aircraft by late 2009. Flight-testing is underway the B727, B737 and B757 aircraft.
and certification is expected in November 2009. With more than 370 licensed technicians, AMES pro-
The upgrade of this venerable workhorse, in opera- vides a range of aircraft maintenance services: heavy and
tion since 1986, is meant to reduce takeoff distances line maintenance, engineering and manufacturing, compo-
by 45 percent, boost the climb rate, decrease fuel nent overhaul and material sales.
burn, and increase both the max cruise speed by up
to 40 knots and gross weight by 300 pounds (136
Two Companies Install Winglets on the Falcon 2000EX
kg). Blackhawk Modifications specializes in engine
upgrades for turboprops. Duncan Aviation and
StandardAero both
Western Aircraft Updates Falcon 50 Cockpit
recently completed install-
ing “High Mach” blended
A Falcon 50 business winglets designed by
jet has been enhanced Aviation Partners Inc. for
with a Universal the Dassault Falcon 2000.
Avionics package (See related story on page
installed by Boise, 18.) The after-market wing
Blended winglets on the Falcon 2000 reduce fuel
burn and emissions.
Idaho-based Western modifications are said
Aircraft. The installa- to reduce emissions and add 260 nm to the Falcon 2000’s range.
tion – which includes Duncan Aviation installed the winglets to a Falcon 2000EX at its
a terrain avoid- Battle Creek, Mich., facility. Aviation Partners has chosen Duncan to
The Universal package in the Falcon 50 cockpit
includes flat-panel displays.
ance warning system be an installation center for its winglets on the Falcon business jet.
(TAWS), application Duncan also fits blended winglets on the Hawker 800.
server unit, WAAS/SBAS-capable flight management StandardAero, an authorized service center for Dassault Falcon,
system and four flat panel displays – was carried out installed the blended winglets on a Falcon 2000 at its Springfield, Ill.,
in conjunction with a major inspection and interior facility.
refurbishment. Meanwhile, Aviation Partners recently gained supplemental type
Western Aircraft is a fixed-base operator, certified certificate (STC) approval for the Falcon 2000 blended winglets
repair station and factory-authorized facility for Dassault from Brazil’s Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC) and from
Falcon, as well as for Hawker Beechcraft, Honeywell, Transport Canada. The winglets received FAA and EASA approval
Rockwell Collins and Pilatus. earlier this year.
12 Aviation Maintenance | avmain-mag.com | Oct/Nov2009
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