Aviation Fleet Solutions Brings Newfound Civility To 'Mad Dogs'

Sky Wings, a growing Greek operator providing worldwide charter services, in partnership with Khors Air Company of the Ukraine, has successfully completed installation of its first Aviation Fleet Solutions QuietEagle Noise Reduction System on their MD-83 aircraft. The installation was accomplished during a routine maintenance check at the MNG Technic facility in Istanbul, Turkey.

Sky Wings/Khors Air Company has ordered three QuietEagle kits. Company Line Maintenance Manager John Tantiras, who was on-site at MNG Technic for the installation, remarked the "Installation process is well defined and easily executed. The installation of the AFS QuietEagle system integrated efficiently with our scheduled maintenance plans for the aircraft."

"The AFS QuietEagle system can be installed anywhere the customer chooses," added AFS Installation Manager Steve Buckbee. "The system, as developed and engineered by Pratt & Whitney, is designed to install ‘on-wing’ or off. Our expanding installation experience bears this out."

The QuietEagle system includes a 16-lobe internal mixer, a muffler, a tabbed nozzle and an improved front fan case. The new technology hardware replaces the original hardware and is seamlessly integrated into the P&W JT8D-200 engine. AFS says the QuietEagle is transparent to the engine maintaining thrust performance and operability levels.

"We are very pleased to have Sky Wings as a QuietEagle customer. Sky Wings should begin to see immediate noise surcharge savings that will translate into bottom line savings for their operation. Noise surcharges are only going to continue to increase in Europe and elsewhere," says Kevin Bartelson, AFS President and CEO. "Air carriers like Sky Wings, who are proactive with their planning, stand to benefit the most from incorporating the OEM-backed noise reduction technology of the AFS QuietEagle® Noise Reduction System."

The QuietEagle System is comprised of Pratt & Whitney technology that has been licensed to AFS for the MD-80. It exceeds all the requirements of FAR Part 36 Stage 4 and ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 4 noise standards, which became effective January 1, 2006. The QuietEagle is immediately available.

Airlines can purchase the QuietEagle system separately from Aviation Fleet Solutions or as part of JT8D-200 service contracts through Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners. The JT8D is one of the most ubiquitous engines in commercial aviation with 8,000 in service and more than 2,100 powering MD-80 aircraft.

FMI: www.afsol.net