Inside MRO News Briefs and Contracts, July 2023

Highlights

JAL Opts for 787 Aftermarket Upgrades

Japan Airlines (JAL) is tapping services from Boeing and Collins Aerospace to enhance operations on its Boeing 787 fleet. The airline signed contracts with both OEMs at the Paris Air Show on June 20 related to predictive maintenance tools and interior modifications.

Under the deal with Collins Aerospace, JAL will install the OEM’s Ascentia predictive maintenance tool on its entire 787 fleet. Building further on its predictive capabilities, JAL has agreed to adopt Boeing’s Insight Accelerator digital predictive maintenance solution.

Inside the cabin, Boeing’s latest agreement with JAL will also entail providing the airline with upgraded 787 interior configurations. It will perform the engineering work and supply component kits for the reconfigurations.

MTU Opens Second Zhuhai Engine Test Cell

Following certification for Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G engine in early June, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai has opened its second test cell in China to accommodate the narrowbody engine type.

The 60,000-lb.-thrust test cell is located at the new MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Jinwan Branch and has an annual capacity of around 260 tests. It is located 20 min. from MTU’s existing facility in Zhuhai.

The Jinwan site will focus primarily on PW1100G-JM and V2500 engines, and will be operational starting in 2025.

Once fully operational, the Jinwan site, a joint venture with China Southern Airlines, aims to train 50-100 engine maintenance mechanics annually and reduce engine turnaround times.

ITA Airways Plans A350 Cabin Upgrades

ITA Airways has signed a cabin retrofit agreement with Airbus Services to upgrade its fleet of six Airbus A350-900 aircraft with new premium economy sections.

Airbus’ services business will work with ITA Airways’ team to install the new sections in the cabins over the next year. Airbus will provide service bulletins, kits and technical support during the duration of the contract, as well as on-site support to guide the airline’s first shipset implementation.

The project also will include related installation of one extra galley, class partitions, new lighting and cabling for in-seat power and inflight entertainment functions, as well as modifications to overhead stowage, carpet and seat tracks.

Completion of the project and redelivery of the upgraded aircraft are expected by mid-2024. 

Contracts

AFI KLM E&M has secured a JetBlue Airways contract to provide component support for more than 200 part numbers for its 100 Airbus A220s.

De Havilland Canada has won a Croatia Airlines contract to provide component support for six Dash 8-400s under its DCS program. It also extended existing DCS agree­ments with Luxair through 2028 and with Wideroe through 2027.

EPCOR was selected by Air Austral to maintain GTCP131-9C  auxillary power units for its three A220s.

Liebherr-Aerospace and Aeroman signed a cooperation agreement for maintenance of Airbus A320 heat exchangers. Liebherr will provide repairs out of Saline, Michigan, and qualify Aeroman to join its repair network.

Magnetic Line was selected by Finnair to provide routine Embraer ERJ overnight checks and ATR one-year checks at Tallinn.

Piedmont Aviation Components has its first order to repair a 331-500 auxiliary power unit for a North American cargo airline.

Pratt & Whitney has a Croatia Airlines order to maintain geared turbofan engines via its Engine­Wise program for 15 A220s starting in the second quarter of 2024.

Sanad was selected by GE Aerospace/Safran to provide Leap 1A/1B offload maintenance support out of Abu Dhabi.

SR Technics has won a five-year Safran Aircraft Engines contract to provide Leap 1A offload support. The first engine is due this month.

Turkish Technic was selected by Emirates to perform heavy checks on 17 more Boeing 777s starting in July 2023.

Contract Source: SpeedNews