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Safety Line & Starburst: Together To Seduce South America

Large U.S. defence contractor expands its relationship with IFS

IFS Applications 9 to be implemented as part of a US$ 30 million contract

IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that a major contractor doing work for the U.S. Department of Defense has chosen to implement IFS Applications across another of the company’s divisions. The total value of the agreement is estimated at US$ 30 million over the next ten years. This includes a total of US$ 5 million in licence revenue, which will be recognised over the next 2 years.

“Defence contractors need solutions that are flexible enough to allow them to quickly adapt to changing military needs,” said Cindy Jaudon, president and CEO of IFS Americas. “We’re excited about this expansion of our existing successful relationship and look forward to continuing to support the important work our customer does for U.S. defence operations.”

IFS is a leading vendor of software to the aerospace & defence sector globally. IFS Applications supports full-spectrum enterprise, project and program-centric manufacturing and vendors serving the A&D sector. IFS Applications also supports heavy, complex, and component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for civil aviation, military and service providers, as well as line maintenance or at-platform/asset support. IFS underpins performance-based logistics (PBL) solutions to support traditional contracting for availability (CFA) through to full contracting for capability (CFC) solutions.

More information about how IFS helps customers in the aerospace & defence sector is available at: http://www.ifsworld.com/uk/industries/aerospace-and-defence/

Scandinavian Avionics Sign MOU On Fighter Jets With Airbus Defence And Space

Billund, Denmark, 26.08.2015

Scandinavian Avionics has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus Defence and Space regarding work related to the Eurofighter Typhoon, which Denmark at the moment is considering as a substitute for its ageing F-16s.

Hardy B. Truelsen, founder of the family-owned company, Scandinavian Avionics:

“ This MoU is of high value to our company in striving to continue our development and extension of our overall capabilities. With its wide scope of business and as a leading manufacturer of military as well as civilian operated aircraft and helicopters, Airbus is an extremely attractive partner for Scandinavian Avionics. We look forward to further developing our core capabilities and jointly working with Airbus Defence and Space on new areas of avionics support to the Danish Eurofighter Typhoon and other relevant projects,” says Hardy B. Truelsen, founder of the family-owned company, Scandinavian Avionics. “

The MoU between Scandinavian Avionics and Airbus Defence and Space primarily involves avionics support as maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as design and development of aircraft and helicopter modifications and associated STC’s (Supplemental Type Certificates).
Scandinavian Avionics sees great possibilities within the agreement to expand and improve their capabilities and along with more than 37 years of experience within the avionics business, it creates a solid foundation for a strong cooperation with Airbus, if Denmark should choose the Eurofighter Typhoon as the next fighter jet.

An order of a value of 30 billion DKK
The MoU with Scandinavian Avionics is part of the European giant Airbus’ plan to involve Danish companies in Eurofighter Typhoon production and maintenance activities in the event of Denmark selecting the aircraft.
Airbus has already identified 25 potential projects directly related to the Eurofighter Typhoon corresponding to industrial benefits of more than 20 billion DKK, spanning the service life of the aircraft.

In alignment with the RDAF, Danish industry will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Eurofighter Typhoon partners on the lifetime sustainment of the Typhoon aircraft , the development of new technologies, the management of the supply chain and on fighter related Arctic capabilities and solutions.
Airbus Group, one of the world’s two leading producers of both commercial and military aircraft, carries an order book of more than 5,500 aircraft with a value exceeding DKK 4,300 billion. An increased Airbus Group presence in country, brought about by a Eurofighter Typhoon purchase, will offer Danish industry opportunities for additional business relationships and benefits beyond activities directly associated with the fighter jet purchase at an estimated value of some DKK 10 billion. Overall, the Eurofighter Typhoon will benefit Danish economy with the estimated generation of in excess of 5.000 jobs in Eurofighter Typhoon related activities as well as a further 2.000 jobs via other, spin-off related, business opportunities.

The backbone of NATO
The independent and well renowned British military think tank The Royal United Services Institute for Defenceand Security Studies (RUSI) has just published a report which concludes that the Eurofighter Typhoon today would only be surpassed by the F-22 Raptor, an aircraft which is not available for export and would be more than three times as expensive. This thus leaves the Eurofighter Typhoon at the top of the list, as also concluded by the RUSI-report, being able to match or out-perform all present-day fighter jets.

Eurofighter Typhoon has provided the backbone of the NATO force patrolling the European skies for the past decade and, in particular, in the Baltic in the recent period of increased air space activities there.

Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft , operating from bases such as Lithuania and Estonia, the Falkland Islands, as well as in the Middle East, have now since years been depended upon to provide reliable, quick reaction alert at all times of day and night in environments ranging from Arctic to Desert conditions.

As an example, the current Eurofighter Typhoon Baltic deployment has just been extended for at least another year and the reaction time cut by NATO from 30 minutes to 15 minutes, which was implemented by the Spanish detachment, is now being provided by RAF Typhoons.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, which is produced by Airbus and three other European companies, is one of the three fighters that Denmark is considering as a replacement for the 35-year old F-16s.
This common European fighter jet, which is already in use by Denmark’s closest allies – the UK and Germany–has already proven its value in real combat, such as in Libya. The two other candidates are the F-35 Lightning from Lockheed Martin, which is still being developed, and the F-18 Super Hornet from Boeing.

DAC Signs Distribution Agreement With NDT Systems

AUSTIN, Texas, August 25, 2015 – DAC International, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announced today that it has reached a distribution agreement with NDT Systems, Inc., an industry leader in the design, manufacturing and selling of high quality, advanced ultrasonic testing equipment to the non-destructive testing marketplace.

NDT Systems is based in Huntington Beach, Calif., and has been providing for more than 40 years a wide portfolio of products to support the inspection of almost all materials from metals, ceramics and plastics to advanced composite materials.

“NDT Systems is a forerunner in the field of portable ultrasonic test equipment,” said DAC International Vice President and General Manager Cisco Hernandez. “We are excited to offer these innovative, functional and cost effective solutions to our customers.”

DAC International will represent the NDT Systems products in the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Germany and The Netherlands.

TRAX is extremely pleased to announce that Fly Jamaica Airways has selected TRAX Maintenance and Engineering solution to manage their fleet. TRAX software will ensure that Fly Jamaica’s Maintenance and Engineering work along with records are in impeccable shape.

Jose Almeida, President and CEO of TRAX USA Corp., states, ” Our goal is to provide Fly Jamaica Airways with an exceptional Maintenance and Engineering solution and we are confident that TRAX will help improve the new airline’s overall operations. We are delighted to be a part of Fly Jamaica’s growth strategy and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

Fly Jamaica Airways will be implementing Version 11, the latest version of TRAX Maintenance. This version includes over 20 modules to cater to virtually every aspect of aircraft maintenance. TRAX Maintenance will be able to assist Fly Jamaica Airways in countless ways, from Material Management and Finance to Technical Records and Reliability. Fly Jamaica Airways will now have aircraft, inventory, and maintenance activity information integrated into one single system.
 
About Fly Jamaica Airways

Fly Jamaica Airways is a new airline headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica with flights operating from it’s main hub at the Norman Manley International Airport. The airline was founded in 2011 and commenced scheduled services on February 14th, 2013 between Kingston, Jamaica and New York (JFK). Fly Jamaica is currently operating Boeing 757-200 and Boeing 767-300 ER with routes between Kingston, Georgetown, New York City and Toronto. Fly Jamaica also conducts charters and cargo services.

For more information please visit: http://www.fly-jamaica.com.
 

About TRAX

TRAX USA Corp., with offices in the United States and United Kingdom, is the number one seller of aircraft maintenance software globally.  TRAX Maintenance solution has been developed to provide the most comprehensive and advanced MRO ERP software solution available today. For more information about TRAX, please visit www.trax.aero.

For further information about TRAX Maintenance or media related inquiries call +1.305.662.7400 or e-mail sales@trax.aero

FlightTracker uses multiple sources of data, including air traffic control information, terrestrial and satellite feeds, and the airline’s flight plans, to provide real-time aircraft position monitoring. These include the Department of Airspace Control’s air traffic management network, which is managed by SITA.  FlightTracker generates automatic alerts when an aircraft goes outside pre-determined parameters, giving flight controllers full information at all times.

“Our flight tracking brief, through ICAO and IATA, was two-fold,” says Dawkins. “Flight operations teams need to be able to follow aircraft positions and identify any unexpected deviations or gaps in position reports, while using existing equipment and procedures, without adding significant cost. We can also exceed the initial specification for reports every 15 minutes, depending on an airline’s requirements.”

AIRCOM® FlightTracker is used in every phase of the flight. More frequent reports can also be provided, for example in the case of an emergency.

More than 90 airlines around the world use SITA OnAir’s AIRCOM® technology. Several have already deployed FlightTracker, with more expected to follow.

SITA OnAir’s announces first EASA STC for GX Aviation

Introduction of GX Aviation moves a step closer

Geneva, 14 August 2015 – SITA OnAir is developing the first EASA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Inmarsat’s high speed Ka-band broadband service, GX Aviation. SITA OnAir is working with EAD Aerospace, an Eclipse company, on the STC to retro fit Boeing 777 series aircraft, on behalf of an undisclosed Airline.

The development of this first GX Aviation STC brings the commercial availability of GX Aviation closer. Combined with the expected launch of the third and final GX Aviation satellite at the end of August, momentum is building rapidly.

“This STC will allow the installation and activation of connectivity covering SITA OnAir’s nose-to-tail e-Aircraft portfolio. This includes solutions and products for passengers, cabin crew, cockpit crew, aircraft data and maintenance, flight operations and air traffic control,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of SITA OnAir. “What’s new is that inflight connectivity using high throughput satellite networks extends the possibilities for passengers as well as airlines’ professional use. Airlines will be able to exchange data for operational purposes, and passengers will have the same Internet speed they are used to at home.”

GX Aviation will provide 50MB/s to the aircraft, in particular, giving passengers high-speed Wi-Fi. This is the new reality of inflight connectivity. For the very first time, there really is no difference between being in the air and being on the ground.

Click on the image to learn more about the benefits of GX Aviation

SITA OnAir already has over 40 STCs, covering the retro fit of inflight connectivity systems on Airbus aircraft, including the A320 family types, A330s and A340s, as well as Boeing aircraft including B737s, B767s and B777s. In addition, SITA OnAir systems are available as line fit on the entire Airbus fleet as well as on Boeing B777s and B787s. It is also a line fit option on selected VIP aircraft, including the Dassault Falcon 7X and Airbus Corporate Jets.

SITA OnAir’s STCs have been awarded by the major certification authorities across the world, including the FAA in the US, EASA in Europe, the Singapore CAA, and Japan’s CAB. Importantly, existing STCs can be reused for new airline orders. SITA OnAir can also adapt the STC to meet airlines’ specific technical, cosmetic and/or maintenance requirements.

“We have worked closely with EAD Aerospace on many STCs and I fully anticipate this will be a smooth process,” continued Dawkins. “In tandem, we are also working together to kick-start similar GX Aviation STCs on other aircraft types, including the A320 family.”

Marc Pinault, General Manager of Eclipse, said “Our cooperation with OnAir is a good example of how the Eclipse acquisition of EAD Aerospace earlier this year allows our partners to benefit from Eclipse’s extensive background in satcom issues and EAD Aerospace’s Part 21 skills to ensure all variables relating to a satcom installation are taken into account when delivering an STC.”

The STC is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016.

SITA OnAir is a key Distribution Partner for GX Aviation. With 400 airline customers operating over 14,000 aircraft, SITA OnAir is ideally placed to be the Tier One provider of connectivity solutions across the globe.

Travel Service, largest airline group in Czech Republic, becomes latest OASES user

13th August 2015 – Commsoft, a world leader in aviation engineering and maintenance systems, is delighted to announce that Travel Service, the largest airline group in the Czech Republic, has signed a five year contract to use OASES to manage its current fleet of 31 Boeing 737NGs and two Airbus A320s. The contract provides for 25 concurrent users.

Founded in 1997, Travel Service operates an extensive European route network under the SmartWings brand as well as charter flights and ACMI operations. With subsidiaries in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, each of which operates under a separate AOC, Travel Service aircraft fly to more than 300 airports on four continents.

The OASES project team will commence implementation in late 2015 in readiness for the summer 2016 season.

Commsoft’s flagship product, OASES is a ‘best-of-breed’ MRO IT system which offers an industry-leading technical sophistication whilst being intuitively user-friendly. To allow for scalability, OASES is structured in a modular format and Travel Service has selected the following modules: Core, Continuing Airworthiness, Planning, Materials, Line Maintenance, Warranty, Production and Commercial.

Nick Godwin, Commsoft Managing Director, commented: “We’re delighted that Travel Service has chosen OASES, further building on our strong market presence in Central Europe. Their decision is a further validation of our commitment to developing an MRO IT system that fully reflects the needs of our customers. We’re now looking forward to working closely with the Travel Service team to ensure a successful implementation.”

Ludek Stasek, Technical Director of Travel Service commented, “OASES was chosen over other MRO IT systems because of its flexibility and adaptability to our challenging needs. I am confident that OASES will make a major value contribution to our business operation as we work in close co-operation with the Commsoft team”.

Babcock International Selects CORENA Suite to Power the Delivery of S1000D Technical Information for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD)

Adoption of CORENA Suite by Aviation OEMs Accelerating in 2015

Irvine, Calif. – 10 August, 2015 – A Babcock International business, one of the United Kingdom’s largest defence contractors and a key provider of support services to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), has selected the Flatirons S1000D Solution to power their S1000D technical publishing efforts. Babcock’s Analytic Solutions business will use the Flatirons S1000D Solution to manage its creation of maintenance and operational documentation for a range of complex military and commercial assets. In addition to helping to meet commitments for its S1000D compliant outputs, the solution being adopted will also enhance support for conversion and reuse of legacy content to its many clients, as well as provide new technical publishing capabilities, including 3D enhanced and mobile accessible technical publications.

Manufacturers of capital-intensive assets such as aircraft, watercraft, rail transport, or energy facilities use the S1000D specification to provide customers with documentation that is concise, modular, and optimised for the complexities of modelling “as operated” conditions for large assets having a lifespan that may be measured in decades. The CORENA Suite-based Flatirons S1000D Solution, which has become a de facto standard for aviation manufacturers seeking to lower their cost of technical publications while improving content usability, is the leading independent solution for the delivery of compliant S1000D-based data modules and publications. By combining support for the S1000D specification with the ability to process both legacy content, the solution will provide a means of “future proofing” technical information used by Babcock International and its customers worldwide.

“Our customers increasingly see delivery of technical manuals in S1000D format as a core requirement to support maintainability and high utilization” said Babcock’s Analytic Solutions Martin Cooper, Technical Communications Team Leader. “With the power of the Flatirons S1000D Solution, our authors and engineers will be able to deliver compliant S1000D technical information with substantial savings in traditional authoring processes and procedures, and with improved quality and consistency,” Mr. Cooper noted. Just as importantly, the increased flexibility of content written using the S1000D standard will help thousands of maintenance task performers and equipment operators in the field be more productive, safe, and efficient.

Flatirons CEO Geoffrey Godet noted, “Our team is thrilled to be working with Babcock, and sees tremendous opportunity in supporting MoD suppliers and OEMs in providing the information used to build, operate, and maintain complex assets like the QEC carriers.” Godet continued, “With a mission this important, innovation matters. CORENA Suite solutions are the world’s most innovative thanks to a level of R&D that is unmatched in the industry.”

The delivered system, which includes CORENA Knowledge Center for content management and optimization, as well as CORENA Studio for guided authoring and revision management, is expected to be in production before the end of spring, 2015 and will begin providing value almost immediately. For more details on the Flatirons S1000D Solution and its benefits for manufacturers of capital-intensive assets in aerospace, shipping, rail, and energy, visit http://www.corena.com/solutions/flatirons-s1000d-solution/.

About Babcock International – Analytic Solutions
Babcock’s Analytic Solutions business (www.babcockinternational.com) works with UK Government and Industry clients to help them deliver their business objectives through maximizing the utility of data and provide decision making insight across the asset and service lifecycle.  Providing consultancy services and solutions, Analytic Solutions helps its clients deliver information strategies and infrastructure, and deploy big data and predictive analytics solutions using cutting edge technologies and multi-disciplinary insight.

About Flatirons Solutions
Flatirons Solutions (www.flatironssolutions.com) provides consulting, technology, and outsourcing services for content lifecycle management. For more than 20 years, it has served global Fortune 1000 customers in aerospace, automotive, electronics, financial services, government, healthcare, and publishing. Its customer engagements help organizations efficiently deliver the right information, at the right time, to the right people by leveraging structured content and digital media — Turning Content into Knowledge®. Flatirons operates from offices in Asia, Europe, and the United States and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Sagem, champion of maintenance data

As an expert in collecting and analyzing maintenance data, Sagem (Safran) is now offering a system for automatic transmission of this information from the aircraft to the airport infrastructure. It is an asset to airlines in that it saves time and improves operability of their fleets.

The Sagem WEFA* system was certified by Boeing for the 737 in 2014, and since last February is approved for the Airbus A320 family. This acronym represents a circuit board that can connect automatically to a telephone network to transmit the data. “This card is designed to be connected to the ACMS, the maintenance support system that records all the flight data generated by the aircraft’s electronics equipment,”  explains Philippe Arnaud, SVP Sales & Marketing at Sagem. “At the moment these data are recovered manually. A maintenance operator has to board the aircraft, extract the memory card, download the data on a computer and then load it into the ACMS: a tedious and time-consuming process that is prone to error. This new system does away with this, transmitting the data automatically as soon as the engines shut down.”

Another advantage of this device is that it is easy to install. The memory card is simply replaced by the WEFA card, with a simple computer update of the ACMS making the system operational.

Simple and efficient
The WEFA card also meets stringent security criteria. The data is encrypted before transmission, so that only the airline can access the information. The card is also compatible with all telephone networks, from 2G to 4G. “On the latest models of aircraft, the quantity of data recorded for each flight has risen from a few kilobytes to several megabytes, and it can take several minutes to transmit it to the ground,” explains Philippe Arnaud. “Our system can also allow for the quality of the communications link before it connects to the network, and decide whether or not to send the data.” If the data are not sent, they are then stored and downloaded next time the aircraft lands.

A commercial success
With WEFA, Sagem has increased its technological expertise, now covering the whole of the maintenance data chain. For the past 25 years, Sagem has been producing ACMS for Boeing and Airbus, equipping a large number of aircraft in service around the world. Over the years, the company has developed new skills and offered new services to airlines: filtering and formatting data, checking consistency and accuracy and more recently, providing advice on maintenance, analyzing events or optimizing flight paths, with its Cassiopée software suite. “Our WEFA card has great potential: with its “plug and play” architecture, it is suitable for fitting on both new and old aircraft,” notes Philippe Arnaud. The system has been on the market for two years and is already a success, with several important contracts signed, notably with IndiGo and Lufthansa. “We are currently producing about twenty cards a month, but we expect to double or triple production between now and the end of the year to meet demand,” says Philippe Arnaud.

The next step for Sagem: speed up data transmission, sending in real time to the ground during the flight, with the development of high-speed satellite links. “We are working on this with Morpho (Safran) to ensure a highly secure serve for our clients, as soon as this type of solution is launched”, ends Philippe Arnaud.

* WEFA: Wireless Extension For ACMS (Aircraft Condition Monitoring System)