In a first, the engineering division of SriLankan Airlines has bagged an exclusive deal to carry out heavy maintenance checks on aircraft belonging to customers. The company is looking to firm up its client base in maintenance operations.

The Engineering division of SriLankan Airlines has bagged a major contract to carry out heavy-duty C-Check on an aircraft belonging to Pakistan-based airline SereneAir.

A C-check is a very intensive check of an aircraft and is normally carried out every 18-24 months or 3000 flying hours of the aircraft, whichever is earlier. A C-check is amongst the most-indepth check of an aircraft and involves every step in A and B checks. The A and B checks include a visual examination of the airframe, engine, avionics, and accessories to ascertain the general condition of the aircraft as well selected operational check, fluid servicing and lubrication as well as an open inspection of the panels and cowlings.

Besides the steps of the A and B checks, the C-check includes detailed inspection of airframe, engines and accessories, heavy lubrication, and a portion of the corrosion prevention programme. It also recaliberates flight controls, tests major internal mechanisms and fulfills Service Bulletin requirements. It takes about 3,000 manhours and a minimum of 72 hours to complete.

There is also a C4 or C8 check depending on the aircraft type, which is called D check sometimes. This check is performed every six years or after 20,000 flying hours and the entire aircraft is basically dismantled and put back together. Everything in the cabin is taken out, from seats, toilets, galleys and overhead bins, so that the engineers can inspect the metal skin of the aircraft, inside out to see signs of metal fatigue. The engines are also taken off the airframe.

The landing gear is removed and overhauled with the aircraft supported on massive jacks.  All of the aircraft systems are taken apart, checked, repaired or replaced and reinstalled. Each of these checks costs several million dollars and takes about three to six weeks, but it’s almost like a brand new plane by the end of it. It takes at least 10,000 manhours to complete.

SriLankan Airlines Engineering says that a heavy maintenance C-Check was performed on an Airbus A330-202 aircraft owned by SereneAir, at SriLankan Engineering’s dedicated European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved wide-body hangar.  SriLankan Engineering has carried out a total of six heavy maintenance checks to date this year for several customers, with each generating a significant inflow of essential foreign currency, says a press release.

The C-Check performed for SereneAir is unique in two ways. Firstly, it stems from the first exclusive base maintenance agreement that SriLankan Engineering has signed with a customer airline. The contract grants exclusivity to SriLankan Engineering in carrying out all base maintenance work for current and planned Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft in SereneAir’s fleet for a three-year period. Secondly, it is the first instance where SriLankan Engineering has performed heavy maintenance work on an aircraft-engine combination that is atypical of the aircraft-engine combinations in SriLankan Airlines’ own fleet.

The press statement adds that SriLankan Engineering has been rapidly advancing its profile and customer portfolio in South Asia and beyond as a highly reliable and capable provider of heavy maintenance services.  It says that SriLankan Engineering is particularly recognised for its outstanding on-time performance; turnaround time (TAT); and workmanship within the industry. ‘‘This is demonstrated through the increasing number of new customer airlines that have come on board for an assortment of aircraft maintenance services including base maintenance; line maintenance; and component maintenance,’’ says the statement.

This year alone, SriLankan Engineering has completed several high-value maintenance projects. This consists of numerous C-Checks for customer airlines in addition to SereneAir such as Nepal Airlines; SalamAir; and Air Seychelles. Additionally, SriLankan Engineering has supplied Aircraft On Ground (AOG) base maintenance services to Turkish Airlines and FitsAir; and its fly-away teams provided major maintenance services for Nepal Airlines, Flyme (Villa Air) and Maldivian at overseas airports.

SriLankan Engineering is a provider of choice in Maintenance-Repair-Overhaul (MRO) activities in the region, with its strong expertise in Airbus aircraft, excellent facilities, and experienced engineering personnel.

 

SriLankan Engineering possesses the prestigious EASA 145 certification for aircraft maintenance and its training facility has the EASA 147 certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency.