The German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) has issued Lufthansa Technik a base maintenance approval certificate for the Airbus A350-900, effectively ending more than 18 months of preparations for supporting the new widebody jet, the MRO specialist announced Monday. Lufthansa has ordered a total of 25 A350s to replac its A340-600s on routes such as Munich-Delhi and Boston. During its preparations, more than 100 Lufthansa Technik employees worked on eight related subprojects. Lufthansa plans to roll out the first of 10 A350s stationed in Munich ahead of first revenue service in January, creating what Lufthansa Technik calls a special challenge for the 28 employees in the Bavarian capital already qualified for the type. Plans call for another 200 or so technicians to train in areas such as new methods of damage detection and repair for carbon-fiber-reinforced structures. The company said it will invest just under 10,000 course days in such training.
In terms of new tools, equipment and procedures, Lufthansa Technik calls a new engine transport stand on which technicians can split the engine in two for transport in Lufthansa cargo aircraft “the most significant resource.” Meanwhile, the Munich facility alone carries more than 5,000 part numbers.

The new maintenance concept came about as a result of close cooperation between Lufthansa Technik Aircraft Maintenance in Munich and Engineering in Frankfurt. Plans call for engineers to relocate their offices from Frankfurt to Munich when the A350 operations start, while employees from Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Panasonic support the Munich staff on location during the first few weeks.

Separately, a number of different units have begun preparing the remaining upgrade of the new aircraft. Engineering in Frankfurt has identified special fittings requested by Lufthansa such as self-service racks, for example, for installation by engineering in in the Hamburg aircraft modifications unit. The company has dedicated an entire class for the first time to perform the remaining upgrade because Airbus will supply the aircraft without premium economy class. Because the adaptations equate to a modification, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) must approve a supplemental type certificate (STC). Lufthansa Technik already received an extension of its approval as a design organization for the A350 from EASA at the start of the year. According to the EASA Part 21/J provisions (design organization approval), Lufthansa Technik may develop and approve repairs and modifications to a limited extent under its own responsibility. Although aircraft usually undergo maintenance in accordance with the manual, a maintenance company with design organization approval can independently approve minor repairs without involving the relevant aviation authority. The privilege accelerates the restoration of airworthiness, thereby positively affecting flight operations in terms of punctuality and completion rates.