AFI KLM E&M, Triumph Group create aftermarket alliance

Major maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers Triumph Group Inc. and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) plan to partner to give airlines and MRO customers global aftermarket services coverage. The arrangement, subject to approvals, will support airline customers regardless of location while simplifying airline supplier bases.

The parties plan to offer MRO services, spares pooling, transregional coverage, and develop repairs for new-generation aircraft aerostructures and engine nacelles.

With a workforce of more than 14,000, AFI KLM E&M supports almost 2,000 aircraft operated by 200 major international and domestic airlines.

Triumph Group designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls aerospace and defense systems, components, and structures; serving global military and commercial aircraft operators. 

Satair, Crane Aerospace & Electronics sign exclusive deal

Satair, which supports more than 7,000 in-service Airbus aircraft, will exclusively distribute Crane Aerospace & Electronics’ tire pressure indicating system (TPIS) for the Airbus A320neo and A330neo aircraft families.

Using Crane Aerospace & Electronics’ SmartStem passive, wireless technology, the TPIS will reduce time for daily tire pressure checks while improving reliability and accuracy for safe operations. Certified as standard line fit on all A330neos, a similar system is planned for certification on the A320neo in 2020. Both systems will be available for retrofit on existing aircraft.

AAR to distribute Woodward parts

Chicago-area based commercial airline and government aviation services provider AAR has been selected as Woodward’s exclusive distributor of spare parts for U.S. government fleets. AAR OEM Solutions provides piece-part distribution for components on military T700, LM2500, and TF34 engines. Woodward is a Fort Collins, Colorado-based independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of fluid, combustion, electrical, and motion control systems.

Piece-parts included in Woodward’s current long-term contracts with the U.S. government are excluded from the agreement.

Columbia Manufacturing reports record year in maintenance, repair, and overhaul

Columbia Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of precision metal components for domestic and international turbine engines in Columbia, Connecticut, is on track to achieve record revenues for fiscal 2019 for its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business. Year-over-year growth is expected to be at least 30%, based on deliveries during the first half of 2019, its current backlog, and expected new business – the highest-grossing revenue year for the MRO business since it was founded in 1980.

“We are very pleased with the growth of the MRO business over the last six months,” says president and CEO Rob Friedland. “Our increased focus on the expansion of this business segment to a diverse customer base continues to gain momentum.”

“Our turnaround times are steadily improving as we constantly strive to increase our operational effectiveness,” says Bob Nieszczezewski, CFO and vice president of the MRO business.

Columbia Manufacturing’s FAA and EASA certified repair operation offers in-house turbine engine and repair solutions for domestic and international customers. They specialize in producing complex components and multi-component fabricated assemblies. The company operates two shifts with more than 100 employees and holds AS9100D with ISO 9001:2015 and Nadcap certifications.