SN selects LH Technik Malta for A330 base maintenance

[RoMax]

Brussels Airlines, the leading Belgian airline, and Lufthansa Technik Malta have signed a base maintenance contract for the Airbus A330 fleet of the carrier. Lufthansa Technik Malta will provide C-Checks for the five A330s of Brussels Airlines starting from now on. Additionally Lufthansa Technik Malta has been selected to do a full cabin retrofit of the aircraft starting in February 2012.

The cabin refurbishment program for Brussels Airlines includes the installation of a completely new cabin with a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system in all classes.

The two companies are currently in negotiations about further maintenance services for Airbus A319/A320.

Something I noticed is that February 2012 is mentionned as the start date for the cabin retrofit. But I tought this would already start this year (in the comming weeks/months)?

http://www.amtonline.com/article/articl ... &pageNum=1

[134flyer]

Something I noticed is that February 2012 is mentionned as the start date for the cabin retrofit. But I tought this would already start this year (in the comming weeks/months)?

I could be wrong, but IIRC, the C-check & cabin retrofit would not take place at the same time. So perhaps the A330's will first go in for a C-check, and only after they've done that, they will be sent in for the cabin retrofit?

[sn26567]

Here is some information about LH Technik Malta from someone who is familiar with the site:

The LHT Malta Hangar has a size of 61.000 square meter and can accommodate 2 wide body aircraft (including painting!) and three medium haul aircraft… Specifically for the Boeing 737-3/4/500 series, Lufthansa Technik Malta offers a separate hangar dedicated exclusively to the incorporation of SB 737-53A1177 (Fuselage Lap Joint Repair) to enhance the life of the airframe beyond 50,000 cycles. Complementing the 24,000 square metres of hangar space are backshops for Composite, NDT, Sheet Metal, Paint, Cabin Seats and Upholstery work. I don’t know a hangar who has that huge capacity here in Belgium/Brussels Airport

Thanks to my source (who will recognise himself) for these details. I had seen the hangar from faraway during my stay in Malta, but I didn't think it was that big!

[tolipanebas]

For reference, the SN hangar in BRU can take 2 A330s and up to 5 narrow bodies at the same time too.
Just proves that hangars are often deemed much smaller than they really are when you peep inside.

[Flanker2]

For reference, the SN hangar in BRU can take 2 A330s and up to 5 narrow bodies at the same time too.

Not really. In H41 if you put 2 A330's, you still only have room for max. 2 A320's in the middle. Sure you can squeeze in a few more midget Avro's here and there but that's not a decent way of working.

[Conti764]

For reference, the SN hangar in BRU can take 2 A330s and up to 5 narrow bodies at the same time too.

Not really. In H41 if you put 2 A330's, you still only have room for max. 2 A320's in the middle. Sure you can squeeze in a few more midget Avro's here and there but that's not a decent way of working.

I think he is referring to the Brussels Airlines hangar at Brucargo (next to the LH Technik one) and not hangar 41.

[Flanker2]

For reference, the SN hangar in BRU can take 2 A330s and up to 5 narrow bodies at the same time too.

Not really. In H41 if you put 2 A330's, you still only have room for max. 2 A320's in the middle. Sure you can squeeze in a few more midget Avro's here and there but that's not a decent way of working.

I think he is referring to the Brussels Airlines hangar at Brucargo (next to the LH Technik one) and not hangar 41.

H117 can't take an A333 at all. Jet Air's OO-JAP barely fits in there and the B763ER is much shorter than an A333.
By the way, if I'm not wrong, B117 has been commissioned by Tec4jets while awaiting the completion of their new facility.

[RoMax]

By the way, if I'm not wrong, B117 has been commissioned by Tec4jets while awaiting the completion of their new facility.

I believe it has Jetairfly or Tec4jets signs on it, so yes it's currently used by them indeed. When are they moving to their new hangar? End of 2013 (around the time the first 787 arrives)? What will happen with B117 then? Undecided or is its faith already known?

Btw, Conti764...it wouldn't be logicall they moved to H41 when it would be smaller than their original hangar. The reason they moved was because they would do more maintenance themself and as a result taking over staff and that bigger hangar from Sabena Technics as they needed it.

[tolipanebas]

I was referring to H41, and it takes 2 A330s and up 5 narrow bodies like said.

[Conti764]

Okay, my bad..

Haven't been in the airport since half a year, so I haven't been able to follow what happened.

[Established02]

H117 can't take an A333 at all.

Southern 747 in H117 with doors that can fully close.

[Flanker2]

H117 can't take an A333 at all.

Southern 747 in H117 with doors that can fully close.

Not on-topic but sure, let's talk about it.
First of all, I'm very surprised to see that a jumbo fit in there.

While SN could never fit an A333 in there without having the tail stick out, and barely fits the A333 in H41 (mainly due to inefficient space management which has them put permanent obstacles there where they don't belong), obviously Jetair / Southern could do it with a B747.

There is a difference between fitting an aircraft in a hangar once and using a permanent hangar.
Also, this topic is about comparing hangars for base maintenance and base maintenance requires docking, including large docks at the tail section and some at the front.

Actually the dynamic of fitting an aircraft in a hangar is more than just shear length.
You have to look at the total length aircraft + tow truck and you need to be able to remove the tow truck.

-A nose-lifter is about 10 meters long and requires to be about 3 meters in front of the nose gear to maneuver out.
-The nose-gear of the A333 is much closer to the aircraft's front end than on the B744.
-On the ground there usually are obstacles that impede the tug's movement.

So if you wish, I can revise my statement to the A333 could maybe fit in B117 but not at all if SN were to manage the project

[sn26567]

Lufthansa Technik Malta expands overhaul capacity

Lufthansa Technik Malta, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik, is expanding its hangar capacity for maintenance and overhaul work on Airbus widebody aircraft.

With the addition of the smallest of the three hangars in Malta, which has been used to date only for narrowbody aircraft, the building will be able to accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A330 or A340.

Engineers and mechanics can now work on up to three widebody aircraft simultaneously and the company can meet the growing demand for technical services from the Airbus A330/A340 family with more flexibility.

Lufthansa Technik Malta has around 600 employees and more than 60,000 sq m of hangar space at Malta International Airport. In addition to maintenance and overhaul work, its spectrum of services includes structural repairs, composite material repairs, aircraft painting and complex cabin modifications.