An aircraft that changes the perspective on the world

The German armed forces (Bundeswehr) today received one of the most modern observation aircraft in the world for missions under the Treaty on Open Skies. In an official ceremony in Hamburg, Lufthansa Technik AG handed over the converted Airbus A319CJ to the German armed forces in the presence of Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Minister of Defence, and Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office. The aircraft is intended to fly missions within the framework of confidence-building measures but can also be used for medical and conventional passenger transport.

On the customer side, the conversion of the former business jet, which was completed on schedule and within budget, was overseen by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). As the general contractor and system integrator, Lufthansa Technik played the leading role in the construction and the development of suitable solutions in cooperation with more than a dozen industrial partners based on the requirements of the German armed forces.

Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, said: "The Treaty on Open Skies is an indispensable pillar of arms control in the OSCE area. We are committed to ensuring that it continues to work despite some difficulties and is fully implemented by all parties. This way, the contract can create transparency and trust. The Treaty also shows that cooperation between Russia and the USA is still possible even when it comes to sensitive security issues. We want to strengthen the Treaty on Open Skies. That is why I am delighted that Germany is once again providing its own modern aircraft for overflights."

"I would like to thank our customer, the German armed forces, as well as our many industrial partners for their excellent cooperation on this formidable integration task and wish the German armed forces every success with this very special aircraft," said Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG. "Special thanks also go to our colleagues, who have done an outstanding job mastering this far from ordinary task."

During a 26-month layover at the Lufthansa base in Hamburg, the Airbus A319 was first given a complete overhaul and then received more than 150 modifications, ranging from the implementation of minor Airworthiness Directives to fundamental alterations of the aircraft's structure. The structural work included replacing a seven-meter-long part of the outer skin on the upper side of the fuselage as well as cutting openings out of the lower part of the fuselage and fitting them with glass to enable the use of observation and camera technology on Open Skies flights.

Besides the installation of a digital infrared sensor and digital optical camera systems for three different flight altitudes, the layover also comprised major modifications to the aircraft cabin. So that the aircraft can be used for its new purpose, the cabin was equipped with four ergonomic operating stations for the observation team, among other things. In the mission area, the aircraft has a further 16 seats for staff of the overflown state party as well as the staff of partner nations. To ensure that all systems can be accessed and inspected at any time and without great effort, the engineers have provided maintenance flaps and access doors throughout the cabin and its installations.

Three Supplemental Type Certificates were required for the approval: one each for the modification of the structure, the camera windows in the fuselage and the modification of the cabin and cockpit. The aircraft will be approved by both civil and military aviation authorities. Before it can be used for observation flights over other state parties, it must be accredited by all member states. Other countries will then also be able to rent the aircraft for their mission flights.

Images: Copyright Lufthansa Technik. Photographer: Jan Brandes

Meggitt PLC, a leading international company specialising in high performance components for the aerospace, defence and selected energy markets, and Lufthansa Technik AG, a world leader in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, have signed an agreement for the provision of comprehensive component MRO services for commercial aircraft in mainland China.

PARIS AIR SHOW –-June 19, 2019—GE Aviation and Lufthansa Technik AG enlarge their collaboration on Boeing 777X MRO services. The companies have signed a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) agreement  under which Lufthansa Technik will be GE's authorized service provider for the backup generator/converter (BUG and BUC) and for certain Electrical Load Management Systems (ELMS) components on the new Boeing 777X aircraft. This long-term cooperation will cover the maintenance service offerings, warranty support and 24/7 asset exchange/loan services to worldwide 777X operators.

"We are pleased to enter into a long-term cooperation with Lufthansa Technik, a global world-class MRO and asset services provider. Lufthansa Technik is strategically positioned to support the 777X customers and our GE Power components with high-tech quality repairs and overhaul services.  Lufthansa Technik also brings a breadth of engineering expertise and extensive experience in maintaining civil electrical generators along with their global logistics network to provide seamless support to our mutual customers," said Joe Krisciunas, General Manager, GE Aviation's Electrical Power Systems.

Dr. Georg Fanta, Lufthansa Technik Vice President Aircraft Component Services stated, "This long-term agreement enhances Lufthansa Technik's position as a key MRO provider on 777X components.  I am very pleased that we could further extend the long-standing relationship between GE and Lufthansa Technik. Together, we will generate additional customer value by combining GE's vast experience in design and product engineering with Lufthansa Technik's comprehensive strengths in repair development, MRO, and the management and handling of valuable assets."

Lufthansa is currently one of the launch customers for the new Boeing 777X aircraft with 20 total aircraft ordered.  Boeing offers the 777X in several passenger aircraft configurations all powered by the GE9X engine.
Under the agreement, Lufthansa Technik will provide various 777X power component MRO services, including OEM approved repairs, warranty corrections and component modifications on behalf of GE.

Lufthansa Technik will also provide and maintain a global pool of spares to support AOG services and offer customers exchanges or loans while their GE power components are being repaired.  These serviceable spare components will be available to worldwide customers on a 24/7 support basis and be deployed in several stocking locations worldwide within Lufthansa Technik's vast global component supply network.

Image: Copyright GE Aviation

Lufthansa Technik supports South African owned carrier Comair Limited with comprehensive technical services and integrated fleet management. Operations at the first two local line maintenance stations of the MRO company have already begun.

Comair has contracted Lufthansa Technik to provide Total Technical Support (TTS®) for its Boeing 737 fleet. The agreement includes integrated fleet management, known as Technical Operations Management (TOM), engineering services, the provision of consumables and expendables, integrated component delivery as part of Total Component Support (TCS®) and the establishment of local line maintenance stations.

The first two such stations providing comprehensive line maintenance services have been set up in Johannesburg (up to A-checks in an own maintenance hangar) and Cape Town (up to weekly checks). Full technical support for the first Boeing 737-800 of Comair started in the middle of May 2019.

"We have worked with Lufthansa Technik before and had very good experiences with the work they do. The benefits we will see for our fleet and flight operations are more efficient maintenance processes, with our aircraft spending less time on ground," comments Erik Venter, Chief Executive Officer of Comair. "This partnership is an important component of Comair's ongoing fleet upgrade strategy. Comair already operates South Africa's most modern and efficient fleet, and our partnership with Lufthansa Technik will enhance that position to the benefit of our customers, investors and other stakeholders."

Lufthansa Technik AG and Italian aircraft interior specialist Iacobucci HF Aerospace S.p.A. have reached an agreement on the integration of the »chair« family into Iacobucci´s cabin seating portfolio. After completing an optimization of the mechanical design, Iacobucci is ready to build and distribute the product to VIP and commercial aircraft customers around the world. Work has already started for an undisclosed VIP launch customer.

"For a successful establishment of »chair«, the supply chain needed to be optimized," stated Andrew Muirhead, Vice President Product Division Original Equipment Innovation at Lufthansa Technik. "Iacobucci turned out to be the best partner for a fast and robust implementation and we are looking forward to seeing the first »chair« finally being handed over to a customer."

"To our experienced seating experts, Lufthansa Technik's »chair« is one of the most advanced VIP aircraft seats available to date", stated Lucio Iacobucci, President and CEO of Iacobucci HF Aerospace. "It also offers innovative solutions for first class airline cabins. We are excited and proud having been selected to bring the much-awaited product to market. »chair« is a perfect extension for our comprehensive cabin product portfolio and will enable us to offer an optimal seating solution to almost any VIP cabin completion project on the market today."

The »chair« seat design is ETSO-certified (European Technical Standard Order) for 9g and 16g and can hence be installed in any cabin based on narrowbody or widebody aircraft. A fully functional and airworthy »chair«, inspired by the design of the renowned studio PIERREJEAN, is publicly displayed in Lufthansa Technik's booth #H71 at the 2019 European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

As the first VIP aircraft services provider in the world, Lufthansa Technik AG is ready to offer cabin completions for Airbus' smallest commercial aircraft family, the A220. The company has already developed a first VIP cabin interior concept. Parts of this concept will be showcased for the first time on this year's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. The full concept will be unveiled during the Monaco Yacht Show in September.

The spacious SkyRetreat concept will feature a totally new and unconventional design approach. As a consequence, the cabin interior envisaged by Lufthansa Technik's designers for the Airbus A220 calls for a reduction to the essential, thereby cleverly and discreetly integrating latest cabin technologies, from 4K roll-up displays and smart touch surfaces to a totally unique Observation Lounge to be revealed in the coming months.

"Although the A220 represents the new entry level of our completions offerings, it already provides an incredible amount of space for breathtaking VIP interiors," states Wieland Timm, Senior Director Sales, VIP & Special Mission Aircraft at Lufthansa Technik. "Our SkyRetreat concept makes optimum use of this spacious cabin and its technical features will provide our customers with a whole new sense of space and a unique travel experience."

Besides the VIP completion capabilities, Lufthansa Technik already supports the Airbus A220 family with a comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from line maintenance and component services to engine services for its PW1500 geared turbofan engines.

Lufthansa Technik AG and Bombardier are celebrating the installation of the 1,000th »nice« cabin management (CMS) and inflight-entertainment (IFE) system. Representative »nice« systems are installed on the Bombardier Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Challenger 650, and the Global 7500 aircraft at the static display of this year's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

To commemorate the recent milestone, Bombardier and Lufthansa Technik will host a catered media reception Tuesday from 12:30 to 13:00 at the Challenger 350 aircraft parked at the static display - lot #SD_400. Representatives from the media will have the opportunity to take photos and meet the key people behind the »nice« cooperation between Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier.

"Bombardier aircraft are renowned for their impeccable design, superior comfort and their use of the latest advanced technologies, including the »nice« system, which ensures exceptional cabin efficiency," stated Brad Nolen, Vice President, Marketing and Product Strategy, Bombardier Aviation. ‘'Providing instant access to an array of cabin entertainment and connectivity settings, Lufthansa Technik's cutting-edge »nice« system allows for effortless control and elevates the overall in-flight experience of our customers."

"This year, at least one »nice« shipset leaves our Hamburg base every second day on its way for installation in a new business jet," stated Andrew Muirhead, Vice President Product Division Original Equipment Innovation at Lufthansa Technik. "Thanks to the trust placed in us by Bombardier, it has become what it is today, the leading line-fit CMS/IFE system for business aircraft all over the world."

Being at the forefront of CMS/IFE since its introduction on the market, »nice« has been continually enhanced over the years, adapting not only to current technology but also introducing advanced features which are well ahead of the competition. Meanwhile, the fourth generation of the system is in development - targeting customers who wish to personalize or customize their onboard experience, to a level yet to be experienced in a business jet cabin.

Honeywell and Lufthansa Technik AG will heighten their collaboration on Airbus A350 maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the Asia Pacific region. Lufthansa Technik will act as a licensed component repair center and exclusive global asset service provider in Asia Pacific for more than 200 Honeywell shipped components onboard the Airbus A350.

Greater accessibility to services, parts and best-in-class engineering support will help A350 operators in the region maximize operation of their aircraft through improved fleet availability and readiness.

"Maintenance is a costly and complex process, but we see our work with Honeywell as an opportunity to help A350 operators in Asia Pacific simplify their maintenance experience," said Gerald Steinhoff, Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales, Asia Pacific, Lufthansa Technik. "Honeywell provides top-of-line technologies that are crucial to the A350. By integrating our world-class asset management and in-region repair centers, we can provide operators in Asia Pacific with better access to support all of Honeywell's key components on the A350. Over the next one and a half years we will significantly expand our local capacities in this area."

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Lufthansa Technik have been working together to provide A350 operators with maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services since the aircraft first entered service in late 2014. Through this strengthened partnership, A350 operators in Asia Pacific will receive quicker access to Lufthansa Technik's in-house services, including single-component MRO or more integrated flight-hour based "nose-to-tail" asset availability solutions.

Increased quantities of A350 components for exchange or rental will be readily available, thanks to Lufthansa Technik's global logistics network. Operators can also be assured of a holistic approach to their MRO needs through Honeywell embedded support at Lufthansa Technik, and integrated engineering and customer support teams to ensure key product and repair performance requirements are met.

"The Airbus A350 is in service with many airlines across the Asia Pacific region. As an aircraft that is so widely depended upon, airline operators feel a mounting pressure to do everything they can to keep their A350s performing at optimally," said Sathesh Ramiah, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, Commercial Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. "By increasing the number of serviceable components and using our Connected Aircraft technologies, we are confident that customers will have hands-on access to support all their Honeywell-related maintenance needs."

Lufthansa Technik has four years of operational experience with more than 2,000 repairs completed across the entire fleet of A350s in operation. It currently provides direct service for more than 12 in-service A350 fleets, including seven operators in Asia Pacific under exclusive contract, representing more than 200 aircraft in service or on order.

This extended agreement reinforces Honeywell's relationship with Lufthansa Technik as a Honeywell-licensed repair facility for mechanical parts, avionic components and hydro-mechanical units. Together, both companies can help reduce aircraft downtime, providing faster turnarounds for getting aircraft back in service for operators in Asia Pacific.

SafeDrone by Lufthansa Technik has signed comprehensive contracts with drone manufacturers Matternet and SwissDrones. Both companies will use SafeDrone Health to improve the efficiency of their maintenance programs.

At ABACE 2019, Ameco and Lufthansa Technik present a jointly developed narrow-body aircraft cabin for the first time. ‘Nature's Touch' is based on an Airbus ACJ320 Business Jet as cabin concept, but the design anticipates the adaption to a Boeing 737 BBJ configuration as well. The VIP cabin is one of the first concrete and publicly visible results of the cooperation in business aircraft services for Chinese clients, which both companies signed at ABACE 2018.

The new business jet cabin layout combines the cultures of East and West, exploring the harmonious beauty in the symbiosis of nature, technology and human demands offering a brand new business jet travelling experience for customers.

Feng Bin, Ameco's Deputy General Manager of Beijing Base & Leading Head of Aircraft Cabin Solutions Product Business Unit, said: "With the rapid development of the times, the combination of advanced intelligent technology and a humanized cabin, which is the embodiment of the innovation concept, engineering technology and process quality, will be supported. Inheritance of intelligence and culture, combination of smart and comfortable cabin, all of this is the common expectation of Ameco and Lufthansa Technik technology. The collision between the East and the West brings a new development direction for business jet cabin products."

Jan Grube, Head of Asia Sales at Lufthansa Technik, added: "With this new concept we want to showcase our joint vision for the next generation of cabin technology. Here, Chinese design and German technology play hand in hand. Lufthansa Technik's many years of experience in perfect craftsmanship and engineering know-how and Ameco's deep insights into the Chinese culture and customer wishes form a symbiosis that can fulfil every wish - expressed or unspoken - for Chinese customers."