Collins Aerospace has opened an additive manufacturing facility across the street from its MRO facility in Monroe, North Carolina, that will focus on manufacturing aluminum and titanium parts. The $15 million investment comes on top of $30 million in investments in the MRO site since 2018. Collins already has "a very large network of additive [manufacturing] machines that do nothing but tooling" across its facilities, says Sam Mehta, Collins Aerospace president of advanced structures. The new facility is focused on "production readiness design," or parts that can fly on aircraft. While Collins did not disclose specific part numbers that it intends to manufacture there, it is likely they will be those with complex geometries that traditionally would be made from multiple pieces bolted together. Additively manufacturing those parts would reduce material waste and strengthen them. Brazil has joined Latin America's Multinational Agreement for Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMO), clearing the country's approved repair stations to be certified by the other 11 member states with minimal additional regulatory red tape. The move means Brazilian AMOs can serve operators from the 11 member states without certifications from individual regulators, based on a single audit carried out by the Regional Safety Oversight Cooperation System (Srvsop). Established in 2002, the Srvsop focuses on regulatory harmonization, producing related guidance and other documentation, training and targeted technical assistance within member states. The harmonization effort has aligned 90% of maintenance safety and oversight regulations, Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency said. Future tasks include focusing on air navigation services and the multinational certification of aircraft and components, it added. The 12 Srvsop member states are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
展开▼
