Page 8 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015 Online Magazine

COVER STORY LANDING GEAR

LEfT: A landing gear
combines a multitude of parts,
large and small, all of them
intricately meshed
OPPOSITE PAGE: Landing
gear MRO is one of a few
component MRO segments
characteristic of a high
proportion of labour
Rick Anderson, vice president of Sales, tracking during operations are especially proper control and maintenance, it is able
Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. sensitive processes. This is exactly why to withstand these stresses and perform to
during long- and short-term lease it is a desired standard,” comments Jurkstas.
New Technologies critical to have prompt solutions in case “A technician should inspect the landing
However, the market for landing gear MRO of an aircraft on ground (AOG), bird strike, gear including its wheels, tires, and
is changing as older aircraft leave service powerplant failure, in-flight shutdown brakes whenever possible: any missing
and newer types appear on the horizon. or any insurance related discrepancies. bolt is grounds for removal.”
As a result, the major challenge for the Optimal workscope preparation, material For this reason, for some time many
market is the increase in technological management, and cost control as well airlines have sub-contracted the landing
advancements in the aircraft. as maintenance reserves compensation gear overhaul work to organisations with
Lufthansa Technik official says and final invoice reviews before, during commensurate equipment and know-how.
it cooperates in basic research with and after a shop visit may potentially Before each and every flight the
universities, for instance in pioneering cut the expenses by up to 50 per cent. landing gear oleos, tires and brakes are
the automated stripping of landing gear By launching a new range of consulting inspected by mechanics and flight crew.
components, which reduces undesirable services, we aim to provide just that For example, after no more than 120
material stress. “We’re also anticipating – proper expert advice on the ways to months of flight operations a Boeing 747
future technologies such as HVOF, Zn- ensure reasonable technical condition landing gear is fully overhauled. Generally,
Ni plating and composite parts. All these and residual value of our clients’ highly- the so-called D-check full overhaul will
efforts ensure that Lufthansa Technik is valuable assets,” says Deividas Jurkstas, become due before expiry of this period.
ready for new materials, manufacturing the Head of Engines and Components Depending upon the airplane type, the
methods and repair processes as soon as Management Department at FL Technics. D-check is due every six to eight years, at
they are implemented,” he says. which time it is completely disassembled,
According to FL Technics, during Making it Stand checked, repaired as necessary and
2015 – 2018 Airbus A320, Boeing 737 A full landing gear overhaul is a task for reassembled. This likewise holds good for
and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft type specialists that requires the use of special the landing gear. During the course of this
Engine and APU segment is expected to tools, equipment and technology. operation the landing gear is examined
generate a significant increase in shop “Certainly, life is hard for an aircraft to locate the smallest signs of damage
visit and maintenance demand. In turn, it landing gear, as it supports the entire such as tiny fractures or any indication of
will cause a surge in short-term and long- weight of an aircraft during landing and corrosion. “The aircraft is first jacked up
term spare lease asset activity. ground operations. Moreover, additional for the removal of tires and brakes; the
“As the value of a spare engine asset wear or damage can result from extended landing gear legs, which weigh many tons,
may range anywhere between US$0.5 and taxiing, short field or hard landings are then removed to a specialist workshop.
US$6 million, proper delivery/re-delivery and exposure to extreme operational Next, the landing gear legs are thoroughly
process management and performance conditions and elements. However, with cleaned and completely disassembled
8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM