MRO News Briefs, May 10-16, 2020

GOL Reopens Bases
GOL Linhas Aéreas plans to reopen bases in Brazil at Foz de Iguacu (IGU), Navegantes (NVT) and Maringa (MGF) in May as the carrier seeks to restore services that were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. GOL returned seven Boeing 787-800s during the first quarter of 2020 and plans to return four more during the current quarter. A total of 18 leased aircraft are expected to be returned in 2020.

AEI Providing Freighter Conversions for Aviation Holdings
Aeronautical Engineerings, Inc. (AEI) has entered an agreement to provide Aviation Holdings III, L.P. with up to three Boeing 737-800SF freighter conversions. The first aircraft will undergo modification by China-based STAECO in June 2020, with scheduling for the other two freighter conversions under discussion.

LHT Announces Leadership Changes
Lufthansa Technik has announced a series of leadership changes across its departments. These include Andreas Drosdowski being appointed CEO of Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International and head of “Maintenance Europe,” Philip Mende becoming head of the Digital Fleet Solutions product division and Michael Kirstein becoming head of Engine Parts Repair and Mobile Engine Services. Michael von Puttkamer will become Head of Operations of LHT’s VIP and Special Mission Aircraft Services division, and Alexander Feuersaenger has taken over management of the Fleet Services product division in Frankfurt.

Rolls-Royce Launches VR Training for BR725 Engines
Rolls-Royce has launched an immersive virtual reality technology for customer training on BR725 engines, which power Gulfstream G650 business aircraft. The OEM says participants will be able to service the engine and undertake non-routine maintenance after completing the comprehensive two-day training course.

AV8 Completes Facility Expansion
The AV8 GROUP has completed the expansion of its landing gear and component overhaul facility in Houston from 20,000-30,000 ft.².

StandardAero Lands Multi-Million Dollar USAF Agreement
StandardAero has secured a $237 million USAF contract to provide J85 maintenance for T-38 trainers at San Antonio through 2028.

Rolls-Royce Reports Reduced MRO Levels For 2020
Rolls-Royce has reported that due to a steep fall in air traffic, it is enacting a significant reduction in the volume of service visits in its MRO shops for 2020 and expects MRO volumes to be below 2019 levels. Despite actions taken to adapt to market conditions, the company’s efforts to restore the Trent 1000 fle3t to health are progressing. The OEM says it has enough overhauled and spare Trent 1000 engines to reduce AOG to around 10 once air traffic resumes. It says that it is on track to reduce AOG to single digits by the end of Q2.

S7 Technics Sees High CFM56 Engine Redelivery Demand
S7 Technics says it is seeing high demand for redelivery of CFM56-3/-5B/-7B leasing engines during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The MRO has capabilities for the service at its home bases in Moscow and Mineralnye Vody, and is also able to perform the service at customer facilities. S7 Technics says full redelivery services take approximately 3-6 days.

Lufthansa Technik Begins A350 Project
Lufthansa Technik has begun working on the cabin conversion of the first of three Airbus A350-900s for the German Federal Government’s Special Air Mission Wing in Hamburg.

Pratt’s China Operation Back Online
Pratt & Whitney’s China Customer Training Center reopened in early April and has since delivered three in-person GTF engine courses to members of the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corporation and Chinese carrier Qingdao.