Royal Air Maroc Picks Snecma for CFM56-7 Mx
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has chosen Snecma to maintain the CFM56-7B engines that power its Boeing 737s. The by-the-hour contract covers 36 aircraft, 26 of which RAM already operates, and runs until December 2018. Snecma Morocco Engine Services, a Snecma-RAM joint venture in Casablanca, will supply the service.
Separately, China’s Spring Airlines has selected the CFM56-5B engine to power four new Airbus A320 aircraft. At list price, the contract is valued at $70 million.

Aero Sekur To Be Part of Future’s Day
Flexible structure specialist Aero Sekur (Hall 4 Stand B8) will host an “international futures for young engineers” program tomorrow and at the weekend. A multinational team of post-graduate students will provide first-hand advice on engineering careers, the company said. Presentations are scheduled to run hourly from 10 a.m. tomorrow, which is the show’s Future’s Day.

Aero Sekur is also displaying its new helicopters survival system. Made of a pair of external airbags, the system is designed to attenuate shock in crash landings, and also can be used as a flotation device. Designed for both civil and military applications, the Aero Sekur survival system is due to be available in 2012.

Qatar Taps SR Technics for Airbus Cabin Makeovers
Qatar Airways is enlisting SR Technics to modify the cabin layouts of three of the airline’s Airbus A321s and two A319s. The cabin modifications include installation of new seating layouts, in-flight entertainment systems and a global communication suite that will allow passenger use of personal mobile phones in flight. SR Technics plans to complete the work in Zurich, Switzerland, by the end of this year. Separately, Thomson Airways signed a five-year, $100 million component contract covering nine Boeings.

Software Upgrade Enhances Global Express Cabins
Rockwell Collins announced the release of a software upgrade for the cabin management systems in the Bombardier Global Express XRS and Global 5000 that includes dozens of enhancements to the look and feel of the system. The software adds an icon-based menu co-developed by Teague, a U.S. industrial design firm, with additions including “At a Glance” and “Favorites.” New aircraft are now being delivered with the V7 software upgrade and operators of in-service Globals can receive it free of charge starting this fall, according to Bombardier.

Eaton Has Shanghai Connection for C919 Work
Eaton Corp. and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (SAMC), a subsidiary of Chinese manufacturer Comac, are forming a 49:51 joint venture to supply fuel and hydraulic “conveyance systems” for the C919 narrowbody airliner. Based on the production of 2,500 aircraft and including after-sales, potential business on the C919 is estimated at $1.8 billion. The joint venture’s products will also be offered for other aircraft.

Eaton has received a letter of intent from Comac and Shanghai Aviation Electric (SAE) to supply the C919’s cockpit panel assemblies and dimming controls system. Eaton and SAE have signed a “strategic cooperation agreement” to jointly develop and manufacture the components. The program is valued at a total $425 million.

Sikorsky Inks Services Deal with Jordanian Air Force
Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced it has made a support agreement with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) for its fleet of 13 S-70A Black Hawk transport/utility helicopters. The one-year contract, estimated at $8 million and renewable every year, allows the RJAF to order parts and services at preset terms and includes volume discounts and prompt-payment incentives.

Separately, Sikorsky Aerospace Services subsidiary Derco, whose core activity is spare parts, is teaming up with test equipment specialist Testek. Under the agreement, the two companies will offer customers in-house repair and testing capabilities, which includes tooling, training, engineering, program management and parts.