Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) completed the twelve-year check on an Airbus A380 in Manila, facilitating the return of the superjumbo to Lufthansa’s passenger aircraft fleet. After completing the maintenance program, the A380 registered as «D-AIMC» has returned to Germany.
Compared to the more thorough checks every three to six years also performed at LTP on the first four Lufthansa A380s to be reactivated, the planned twelve-yearly check involves more stringent inspections of the aircraft structure. To ensure optimal access, 500 passenger seats were removed and reinstalled on the aircraft in Manila. The inspection also involved the complete replacement or temporary disassembly of several aircraft components.
One of the checks highlighted is the complete replacement of the landing gear, which on the A380 consists of five individual gear assemblies with a total of 22 wheels. Lufthansa Technik Landing Gear Services (LTLGS) in London is overhauling all four landing gear parts to near-new condition, while the manufacturer is repairing the nose gear.
The four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines on the A380 will be removed temporarily as part of the 12-year overhaul, and a more detailed structural examination will be carried out on the aircraft’s wings and undercarriages.
During a 12-year overhaul, D-AIMC employed more than 100 aircraft mechanics. Despite having logged more than 42,000 flight hours and 4,300 flight cycles, the D-AIMC is now close to returning to regular Lufthansa service and is ready for the next overhaul.
«The return of the A380 to many airlines’ fleets has also greatly boosted demand for maintenance services. We benefit quite a bit from this with our A380 expertise here in Manila, which we have recently expanded with the third overhaul line. Given the delays in the delivery of numerous new widebody aircraft, I am confident that A380 services will continue to be an integral part of our portfolio in the coming years,» explains Elmar Lutter, CEO of Lufthansa Technik Philippines.
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