Q4 2010 Edition/StoriesPresident's Column F108 Contract Win Sanya Conference MARPA Conference Presentation New Briefs From the BELAC Technical Team |
U.S. Air Force selects BELAC HPT blades for F108 engines
"This is the first BELAC agreement of its kind for the use of PMA equipment by the Air Force to replace components in the critical gas path of the aircraft engine," said Chong Yi, President, BELAC LLC. "BELAC HPT blades have demonstrated quality, reliability and outstanding performance over millions of commercial flight hours. The Air Force is saving millions of dollars on the cost of new parts. "BELAC parts are subject to the same FAA requirements and scrutiny as original equipment manufacturer blades - yet they cost significantly less," Yi said. "For the military or commercial aircraft operator, that cost savings translates to significantly lower maintenance costs." |
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BELAC president addresses Independent & Alternative Materials Conference
Yi discussed the exceptional performance of BELAC High Pressure Turbine (HPT) blades and the production process, which utilizes all international quality standards and designations, and adherence to all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, certifications and FAA Continued Operational Safety (COS) guidelines. BELAC customers include major airlines around the world. More than 47,000 BELAC HPT blades are in operation throughout the world. The HPT blades have logged more than 350 million blade hours. Conference topics included performance enhancements and maintenance cost containment associated with PMA parts and DER repairs. Other speakers included representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and airline officials. |
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MARPA conference includes Continued Operational Safety
Attendees to the MARPA workshops and conference sessions included airline and maintenance executives, regulatory officials, representatives from trade offices and others. More information about MARPA can be found at http://www.pmamarpa.com/. |
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In Other News...
James Kerwood, Quality Inspector, attended a 32-hour program covering theory and applications of infrared thermography focused on the detection of subsurface flaws in structural materials. The course focuses on a wide range of nondestructive thermal techniques and written procedures. The class meets the requirements for certification according to the published recommendations of the American Society of Nondestructive Testing. |
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In the first-ever Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) equipment purchase by the U.S. Air Force for the hot section of an aircraft engine, BELAC will provide CFM56-3 first stage High Pressure Turbine (HPT) blades under a new one-year contract valued at $2.6 million.The F108 engine is the military variant of the CFM56-2B commercial aircraft engine. 
Chong Yi, President, BELAC LLC, was a speaker at the recent Independent & Alternative Materials Conference in Sanya, Hainan Province, China. The conference sponsors, Chromalloy and HEICO, are the industry's leaders in alternative materials for the commercial aerospace industry.
Dennis Piotrowski, FRAeS, Vice President, Quality, at BELAC, spoke recently at the MARPA (Modifications and Replacement Parts Association) annual conference, addressing Continued Operational Safety (COS) during a pre-conference workshop. Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) producers are required to have COS systems in place as part of their Safety Management Systems (SMS). Robust COS systems ensure records, detailed analyses and critical data about PMA utilization is maintained and fully accessible to operators. 
BELAC recently hosted representatives from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), which provides contract administration for the U.S. Department of Defense. DCMA personnel toured BELAC relative to
From the President of BELAC LLCBELAC, a joint venture between Chromalloy, Lufthansa Technik and United Airlines, delivered its first High Pressure Turbine (HPT) blades to the world's commercial airlines in 2002 as an alternative to high-cost original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. The vision and technical leadership of the BELAC partnership permeates all of our products, support and services. Savings on BELAC HPT blades that exceed the performance levels of OEM parts? More than 45 percent off OEM catalog prices. Today with more than 350 million flight hours – including hundreds of Lufthansa, United and other commercial flights – BELAC is the choice for 34 airlines worldwide and the U.S. Air Force. More than 47,000 BELAC HPT blades in are operation – all without an Airworthiness Directive ever issued in our history. BELAC blades are subject to the very same FAA requirements and scrutiny as OEM parts. The BELAC advantage also is demonstrated in repair yields. BELAC blades deliver up to 30 percent greater repair yields. That means you scrap fewer parts and use BELAC equipment longer than OEM parts. Lower cost parts and stronger repair yields proven over millions of flight hours. The BELAC team is ready to help you capture real savings. Chong Yi |
