Line Maintenance Outsourcing
Line
maintenance is seeing growth as more airlines, struggling with high fuel
prices, see this as another area they no longer need in-house. New generation
aircraft need outside maintenance specialists who can focus on high-tech
entertainment systems, seating, galleys and lavatories.
The one qualification to this is the retirement of older aircraft, with replacement models that have longer specified intervals between inspections. As well as the high tech end, outsourced work will include cabin interiors, which is comparatively low-tech. When you consider repairing an armrest on a seat, for example, that is better outsourced, freeing up skilled mechanics for skilled activities.
The one qualification to this is the retirement of older aircraft, with replacement models that have longer specified intervals between inspections. As well as the high tech end, outsourced work will include cabin interiors, which is comparatively low-tech. When you consider repairing an armrest on a seat, for example, that is better outsourced, freeing up skilled mechanics for skilled activities.
Long-haul, widebody aircraft, operators offering a high degree
of premium class services,legacy carriers, which typically operate large
aircraft on long international flights, will start to shift more of their line
work to third-party vendors. Line work has not been heavily outsourced to date,
but overnight checks can be economically attractive offering efficiencies,
without sacrificing operational performance.
Reciprocal carrier line maintenance contracts may be a casualty
of these developments. High tech tasks will require additional training for
people who work on some of the in-cabin systems, such as in-flight
entertainment, galleys, lavatories and seating.
So, aircraft maintenance, including a comprehensive range of
services from A checks and scheduled engine changes, through cabin cleaning and
servicing, AOG service and total care programmes relating to cabin maintenance,
particularly with respect to in-flight entertainment systems, on-wing engine
support, LRU exchange programs and overnight checks with an efficient use of
ground time, is the future. This future will be evolutionary, dictated by
economics.
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