Page 13 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019 Online Magazine

“Through our intensive, long-standing coop-
eration with Airbus, our participation in all the
expert symposia related to the A350, and our
ongoing experience with the first commercial
customers for this aircraft type, we are also
able to offer all the engineering, completion
and technical services for the ACJ350 at the
highest possible level,” Wortmann adds. A ded-
icated “Entry-into-Service” Team is currently
preparing the phase-in of the company’s own
Lufthansa A350XWB aircraft, planned to arrive
in November 2016, being the first out of 25
orders joining Lufthansa’s fleet.

French maintenance provider Sabena Technics
has also been certificated to support the Airbus
A350. Sabena Technics airframe maintenance
sales head Alain Leboucher says, “We have
been studying the aircraft [A350] and its con-
nectivity systems so we could come up with
solutions especially designed for the Airbus
A350 operators.” Sabena Technics’ services
for the A350 will cover airframe maintenance,
posite materials, with a hitherto unrivaled degree of precision,” advanced composite repairs, modifications and
Terner adds. The Airbus A350 XWB is indeed a quantum leap in airworthiness management, says the Paris-
technology, from the large share of carbon fiber composites and headquartered MRO provider.
titanium alloys used in its structure to its highly advanced turbofan
engines. Most of its system technologies such as the solid-state “CURRENTLY THE REPAIR OF
power control, variable frequency generators and high-pressure
hydraulics are derivatives of the larger A380. COMPOSITE PARTS IS EITHER
PROHIBITED, LEADING TO
Lufthansa Technik has been significantly contributing to the devel- AN EXTENSIVE REPLACEMENT
opment and design of the A350 XWB over the past years. Lufthansa PROGRAMME, LABOUR INTENSIVE
Technik, which has already gained substantial experience with the
new systems and their specific features, says its component shops AND THEREFORE EXPENSIVE, TIME
know the technology and have the tools and experience to handle CONSUMING OR EXECUTED WITH
and repair it. “So, in addition to an established supply chain, A350 TRADITIONAL METAL MATERIALS,
XWB operators find in Lufthansa Technik an MRO provider with SUCH AS ALUMINUM OR
the full competence required to provide all-around spares support
from day one. The same readiness applies to the dedicated diag- TITANIUM”
nostic and repair processes established by our renowned Airframe Steve Douglas, VP at CAVOK
Related Component (ARC) services, which draw from decades
of experience in operating and repairing commercial aircraft with Budding Stage
major composite components,” Carsten Wortmann, Corporate MRO observers opine that even though the
Product Manager, A350 Lufthansa Technik Market Entry. A350 is at a nascent age in its lifespan, MRO
leaders will need to think carefully about
Lufthansa Technik, which holds the approval of the European air- whether they can profitably compete for ser-
worthiness authority European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) vice contracts for the fleet, since there is only
as Maintenance Organisation for the new aircraft type (Part 145 limited overall size of the market for these air-
approval) is on track to provide broad A350 component services, craft, and the aircraft are used by a relatively
offering single-source services that greatly reduce the complexities small number of carriers. High capital costs
associated with the provision of spare parts. associated with retooling a shop to gain the
capabilities necessary to service these rad-
“Overhauls and repairs, including warranty handling, are part of the ically different airframes, components and
available package. The combination of strong in-house repair capa- engines are other factors, they say. Aircraft
bilities and supply chain options, ranging from Single Component parts made from composite materials, such
Maintenance to Total Material Operations (TMO), means that A350 as fairings, spoilers, and flight controls, were
fleets of any size will enjoy cost benefits normally only achievable developed during the 1960s for their weight
by the largest fleets,” Wortmann says. savings over aluminum parts.

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