Aircraft Maintenance Technology

APR 2017

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AIRLINE 54 APRIL 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY or any airline, the introduction of a new aircraft type is a major event, involving cost, a learning curve, and the adjustment to new operating realities. Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) has signifi- cantly increased that equation by bringing two new types into the fleet simultaneously, with prepara- tions and planning ratcheted up accordingly. The airline began operations April 1, 2002 fol- lowing Swissair's (SR) demise at midnight on March 31st. The new Swiss national carrier was created using the corporate structure of the former Swissair associate airline, Crossair (LX). The newly estab- lished carrier created a fleet from its own existing aircraft and a portion of the now-idle Swissair air- craft. That meant former Swissair MD-11s and A330- 200s for the long-haul routes, and assorted members of the A320 family, Avros (BAe RJ-100s), Saab 2000s, and ERJ-145s were available for European services. In 2005, SWISS was purchased by Lufthansa and is now part of the Lufthansa Group, though it main- tains a separate management structure. Swissair had also operated its own maintenance facility, which also did a large volume of third-party maintenance work. Cognizant of the potential that could be tapped by making the operation more independent, in 1997 Swissair spun off SR Technics as a separate company within the Swissair Group. When Swissair failed, SR Technics was transferred to new owners, who began to expand its operation across the globe. Despite this reordering of the Swiss aviation scene, SWISS continues to use SR Technics as its primary partner. By Ronald Kuhlmann For any airline, the introduction of a new aircra type is a major event, involving cost, a learning curve, and the adjustment to new operating realities; read how SWISS did it

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