Welcome
Welcome to Flight Insight’s fortnightly Airline maintenance newsletter.
In this issue we cover news on Boeing 747-400 conversions, the refurbishment market, maintenance company Gamco, Nigeria’s new maintenance complex and more MRO related news. We also feature updates on the Airbus A350 XWB, Bombardier CSeries and 777. The data section lists worldwide maintenance providers for the 747-400.
Just click on the at-a-glance headlines below to link through to the full stories as they appear on our website, with content from our leading aviation titles Flight International and Airline Business, as well as a host of other reports and analysis from our ACAS fleet database and ATI news service. And don't miss the latest selection of jobs at that end of this newsletter.
If you have comments about this newsletter or suggestions as to what we might include in future editions then e-mail me at antoine.fafard@flightglobal.com
Antoine Fafard
Analyst, Flight Insight
Headlines - MRO
Freight frenzy
The market for widebody cargo aircraft is booming, but with the A380 delayed and 747-400s in short supply, how can manufacturers cope with demand?
Flightdeck refurbishment market for older Boeings is set to boom
Pennsylvania-based Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) is positioning itself to be a major player in what it hopes could soon be a bullish refurbishment market for the cockpits on thousands of ageing Boeing 737s, 747s, 757s and 767s, as well as McDonnell Douglas DC-10s.
Beyond the gulf
Abu Dhabi-based MRO provider Gamco plans to expand throughout and outside the UAE - and it is also moving more into the military market.
New facility will put Nigeria on maintenance map
Nigeria's Arik Air will begin construction this month of a new maintenance complex that will become the largest aircraft overhaul facility in West Africa when it opens in 2009.
Messier Services streamlines French facility
Messier Services France has won Boeing-approved supplier status after reorganising its commercial landing gear and equipment shops to improve efficiency.
ST Aero ties up FedEx conversion package
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) landed one of this year's signal deals in the conversion arena when US freight specialist FedEx selected it to modify 87 Boeing 757-200s.
VEM aims to plug Airbus maintenance gap
TAP Portugal plans to turn former Varig maintenance division VEM into a key Latin American Airbus maintenance provider and is in negotiations with General Electric to re-open its old engine shop.
Headlines - Programme Updates
Airbus studies A380-style nose design for A350
Airbus is evaluating a more conventional nose shape for the A350 XWB derived from that of the A380 as it continues to refine the twinjet’s design, Flight International magazine exclusively reveals in its 8 May issue.
CSeries timeframe creates opening for new engine technology
Bombardier believes the narrower time gap between the CSeries and its rivals’ new narrowbody products will add more weight to demands for new engine technology.
Boeing studies next step for 777
Emerging threat from Airbus A350 XWB may see US manufacturer deferring stretched 787-10 and 737 replacement.
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