Singapore-based Fokker Services Asia has received European Joint Airworthiness Requirement 145 approval to perform line and base maintenance on the ATR42/72. The move is part of the company's efforts to diversify to regional aircraft types other than Fokkers. Norwegian regional airline Wideroe's Flyveselskap has signed a five-year, SKr50 million ($4.7 million) contract with Saab Aviocomp for the component overhaul, repair and maintenance of the regional's 27 Bombardier Dash 8 fleet. Saab Aviocomp will work with Wideroe to increase its own Dash 8 maintenance capability. Hawker Pacific Aerospace has signed agreements with majority shareholder Lufthansa Technik under which its London facility will provide landing gear overhaul services for most Boeing aircraft serviced by either company, and eventually for Airbus widebody aircraft. GE Engine Services/Israel Aircraft Industries company GE-IAI Aviation Services International has signed a seven-year, $60 million contract to provide airframe and engine maintenance for Florida-based Southeast Airlines' fleet of seven McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and four Boeing MD-80s. Melbourne-based Hawker de Havilland has signed a memorandum of agreement to become a service centre for its 100% owner Boeing, providing manufacturer product support throughout Asia and Australia/New Zealand. The new service centre, located in Port Melbourne, will service a range of components for all Boeing commercial aircraft. US-based Aeronautical Engineers, Macau's MASC Ogden Aviation Services and China National Aviation have formed a joint venture company in Macau to convert Boeing 737 passenger aircraft into freighters. Macau Aircraft Repair and Conversion includes the three partners as shareholders, and private investors from Macau and Taiwan. It will focus on converting older 737-200/300s, primarily for the Chinese market.
Source: Flight International
