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Low sales due to the financial downturn are affecting the business prospects of commercial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for aircrafts. This is leading to a conflict of interest between the office of emergency management (OEM) and MRO companies.

The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses in the commercial aviation sector appear to be emerging much stronger than before the global financial crisis. MROs that offer differentiated plans and services and tailor made plans are the ones that will definitely succeed.

Business and growth prospects for the aerospace and defense industry maintenance, repair and overhaul sector appear to be quite grim with the industry just beginning to recover from recession. The only way of overcoming the difficult period is by bringing about efficiencies as well as trying to develop partnerships.

Strategies that commercial aviation companies are adopting to capitalize on the growing aftermarket service through partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions are discussed.

The article discusses the efforts being undertaken by many airports and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangars around the world to upgrade their building facilities to bring about energy as well as cost savings. Some examples of cost and energy cutting initiatives undertaken by various airlines and others are highlighted.

The non-availability of technicians and mechanics for maintenance of aircrafts is a cause of concern among industry officials. Another key area that is deficient is the lack of IT knowledge and skills among technicians required to maintain next-generation aircrafts.

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has converted the former Griffiss AFB hangars in Rome, New York, into Empire Aero Center, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in North America. There is a growing trend among the airlines of outsourcing maintenance, as less infrastructure and liability results in reduced expenses , and Empire Aero Center is capitalizing on this trend.

The article profiles individuals under the age of 40 who are noted for their success in the global aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. These individuals include Keith Allen, senior navigation and controls engineer for avionics company Rockwell Collins, Marc Allen, president of the aircraft manufacturer Boeing China, and John Brutnell, general manager of aviation organization ExecuJet UK. Topics covered include individuals' accomplishments, career histories, and job responsibilities.

The article focuses on commercial aviation maintenance in 2012. It states maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft engines will outpace the total commercial aviation MRO market growth in 2012 as a larger number of powerplants propelling the narrowbody jet fleet require overhauls. It suggests the narrowbody airframe MRO market is showing signs of recovery from the economic downturn. Consulting firm TeamSAI president David Marcontell talks about drivers increasing engine maintenance costs.

Boeing is introducing radio-frequency identification (RFID), which it had originally wanted to earlier. Boeing and Fujitsu are partnering to offer comprehensive automated identification technology (AIT) packages for retrofit on commercial aircraft of any type or any manufacturer by the second quarter of 2012.

Lufthansa Technik and British Airways (BA) Engineering are two European airlines' maintenance and engineering operations that are making use of apprenticeship programs to progress in the future. Details of the programs and how they are to progress are highlighted.

The article discusses the rapidly growing aviation parts distribution market that has consolidated significantly over the past decade. The solution lies in combining bundled services and deep distribution options, with individual product expertise.

Bundled engineering and maintenance services for airlines are expected to increase in the near future, as a means of reducing costs and improving business. The importance of aligning the supply chain in order to decrease costs for customers is highlighted.

Northrop Grumman will be taking over the maintenance of the KC-10 aerial refueling aircraft contract for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) from Boeing in 2010. The move follows USAF's award of a contractor logistics support (CLS) contract to Northrop Grumman for a period of nine years.

Environment friendly aircraft maintenance hangars could reduce operating costs and improve productivity and health of workers. The Hangar 25 at Bob Hope Airport built by Shangri-La Construction has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGB's) and awarded a 'Platinum' rating of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The operationally oriented maintenance training as the trend of the future with the use of digital training tools making it more practical is discussed.

Bombardier Aerospace is offering to provide operators with more reliable aircraft and easier ways to support them in order to boost its aftermarket business. It is projecting to announce updates to the C-Series aircraft program by the end of March 2007, where the packages will include component, engine, airframe and line maintenance and training.

The International Civil Aviation Organization's new Multi-Crew Pilot License program (MPL), which would prepare pilots to operate as first officers in as little as 13 months, is prompting the industry to reevaluate aviation maintenance training requirements. Traditional maintenance training comprises 'chalk and talk' classroom sessions followed by written tests and practical or on-the-job training and no organization has defined an accelerated maintenance license, similar to the competency-based MPL program.

Carlyle Group has renamed its business aviation unit - Carrett/Peidmont Hawthorne/Associated as Landmark Aviation. The Group, planning to make two more acquisitions, is looking for other companies, particularly fixed-base operators (FBOs) in 'high-profile locations' and component and accessory companies to supplement its business aviation group.

The article reports on the global expansion of the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry. Consolidation is likely to continue, partly because the market is still highly fragmented, says August Henningsen, chairman of Lufthansa Technik (LHT). The growth of the MRO market is being driven, at least in part, by the growth in outsourcing. To increase market share, LHT continues to expand its service offerings and innovations, grow its global group of companies and invest in efficiencies.

The article focuses on the efforts of recycling centers to find new uses for old airplanes. The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association has been established to develop best-practice standards to manage retired aircraft parts. Airbus and its partners are establishing a center at Tarbes Airport in France to look for the best ways to decommission and recycle aircraft. Aircraft aluminum can be recast into car wheels, automobile transmission casings or lawnmower engines.

The article reports that United Airlines has taken steps to improve its customer services and communication services to improve its efficiency. Topics discussed include views of Jim DeYoung, network operations control managing director at United, on the importance of proactive approach in profits of the company, opening of a center to see aircraft routing, customer service and maintenance control together, and the firm's plan to continue with innovation.

The article discusses the commercial production of aerospace developer Pratt & Whitney's PW1000 turbofan engine, focusing on the company's efforts to ensure success with production. Other topics of the article include improvements in the company including the supply chain, manufacturing, and quality assurance, the importance of prioritization and being proactive in business, and collaboration between Pratt & Whitney and original equipment manufacturers.

The article presents information on the opening of a third hangar by United Airlines at the Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. It discusses the size and configuration capabilities of the hangar, its technical operation, the ordering of the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 by United Airlines, and the hangar's electrical pits.

The article presents information on the growth in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the civil aviation industry in 2014. It discusses factors driving M&AC activity, the M&A activity in the maintenance, repair and overhaul industry in North America in 2013, and the acquisition of Timco Aviation Services by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co.

The article provides information on Hangar 25, the first Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-rated aviation maintenance hangar in the U.S. Shangri-La Construction built the $17 million hangar, its inaugural project, using a business model tied to LEED. According to Tim Donovan, chief operating officer (COO) of Shangri-La, Hangar 25 uses 60% less water than comparable buildings. Hangar 25 earned 55 of 69 possible LEED credits.

This article discusses the problem of cost versus performance facing aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as customers demand services that will meet specific return on investment requirements. It explains that because aircraft operators strive to achieve optimal engine peformance for money spent MROs and OEMs must customize services options to succeed. The need for customization is needed by OEMs and MROs because operators define their values differently.

The article focuses on an effort to improve the environmental footprint of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations in the aircraft industry. Given the global, increasingly integrated environment in which the aviation industry operates, maintenance and engineering entities link closer to flight operations, aircraft and engine manufacturers and regulators, according to the author.

The article examines the enormous task being faced by US Airways of integrating the operations of America West and US Airways. Hal Heule, senior vice president of technical operations, started leading the operations integration, which include technical operations, in-flight operations, dispatch, station operations, in-flight and safety. In essence, the management is still running two airlines but also working on a tight transition process. INSET: Aircraft Get Fresh Paint.

Provides information on the results of a survey conducted by "Overhaul &amp' Maintenance" magazine regarding the companies that deal with maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft as of May 2005. Increase in maintenance outsourcing of airlines since 2003; Growth of Varig Engineering & Maintenance; Lead of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. in the aircraft man-hours in Asia-Pacific. INSET: Fleet Changes' Impact.

Presents information on aircraft engines introduced by original equipment manufacturers in 2005. GP7200 engine from Energy Alliance; PW6000 engine from Pratt & Whitney Corp.; Trent 1000 from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

Focuses on the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) policy requiring the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags as part of its supply chain management project beginning January 1, 2005. Reason for adopting the RFID technology; Advantages offered by RFID tags; Components of the RFID system; Criteria to consider for identifying commercial airplane parts with RFID tags.

Focuses on the marketing competition between Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Effect of the competition on the price of aircraft parts; Marketing strategies of PMA manufacturers and OEM; Opinion of executives on the competition. INSET: Optional Methods to Create PMAs.

The article focuses on the airfreight industry in 2012. It states in May 2011 the air cargo market showed signs of shrinking, suggesting businesses' confidence in the economy is weak. It mentions that historic trends suggest each one percent increase in the global gross domestic product results in approximately a two percent increase in airfreight service demand. It comments on the effect the recent recession had on the freighter fleet and talks about the restructuring of the U.S. air express industry.

Focuses on third-party commercial airframe services offered by the maintenance, repair and overhaul companies of the aviation industry in Latin America. Aeroinversiones del Peru SAC; Aerolineas Argentinas; Aeroman/Grupo TACA; AeroMexico; Avant Aviation Services.

Describes the condition of the aircraft maintenance personnel job market in the U.S. as of October 2003. Reason that corporate aviation jobs are hard to fill according to Julie Lewis, senior recruiter for Onsite Aviation in Florida; Status of the maintenance personnel pay rates; Prediction on the need for aviation maintenance technicians.

Presents news on the aviation and aerospace industries. Promotion of Greg Young at Standard Aero USA; Joint venture facility of Rockwell Collins and China Eastern Airlines; Contract of Bedek Aviation Group from Atlas Air.

Discusses the initiatives taken by engine overhaul service providers to better service airline operators. Cause of decline in turntimes; Information on the cellular structure implemented by Pratt & Whitney Canada; Details on the work scope changes implemented by the majority of corporate aviation engines. INSETS: JT8s Not Totally OUt to Pasture;Lufthansa Technik, Rolls-Royce ink Trent Deal.

The article discusses maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) community and looks at its preparedness for the Boeing 787 passenger jet and the Airbus A350. Repair strategies for composite airframes, software, and electric systems are examined, as is the expected revenue of MRO companies. The development of repairs, damage detection systems, and inspection tools is also discussed.

Presents an update on the maintenance, repair and overhaul sector of the aerospace and airline industries as of September 2002. Promotion of Kevin Vail at Avborne; Service introduced by Premier Turbines; Spin-off of the technical services division of Air Canada.

Reports on the financial results of U.S. airlines for the first quarter of 2002. Impact of the September 11, 2001 bombings in the U.S. on the aviation industry; Information on the airline maintenance labor expenses; Description of the Railway Labor Act.

Interviews Robin Wohnsigl, president of Air Canada Technical Services, about his vision for the company's future. Revenue of the company; Forecast on the income of the company for the year 2002; Challenges facing the business; Information on the company called ACETEK.

Provides information on the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council program of the U.S. military. Benefits of the program to mechanics and technicians; Information on how the program began; Background on the certification programs of the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Services.