Reliable services and fulfillment

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), a modified Boeing 747SP, is due for another "pit stop": For a routine check at Lufthansa Technik, the flying observatory of the US space agency NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) landed at Hamburg Airport on 30 September 2020. During this layover, which is equivalent to a C-check taking place approximately every three years, the Boeing 747SP is put through its paces. 

"We are looking forward to the renewed cooperation with Lufthansa Technik," says Heinz Hammes, SOFIA Project Manager at DLR's Space Administration branch. "The special circumstances this year require cooperation and increased flexibility from all parties involved. We are convinced that we are in the right place for the tasks ahead." 

China Aviation Supplies Co. Ltd. (CASC) and Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen recently signed a long-term Total Component Maintenance contract in Beijing. The contract extends a comprehensive component maintenance and material support concept by more than 40 Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Qingdao Airlines. During the signing ceremony, both parties reviewed previous project collaborations on Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 and A320 fleets, and held in-depth discussions on their future cooperation in aviation material support.

CASC, a long-standing partner of Lufthansa Technik, will provide Qingdao with component management; Lufthansa Technik will provide Total Component Maintenance (TCM). TCM includes comprehensive closed-loop component repair and overhaul service for selected parts or the entire aircraft – with the cost benefits of a per-flight-hour payment. Especially during the current COVID crisis, this component support concept ensures that the fleets of participating airlines remain highly reliable while helping operators avoid cash outlays for material. This latest addition of the Airbus A320 fleet to the comprehensive cooperation makes both parties the biggest component support provider on a power-by-the-hour basis in mainland China.

Lufthansa Technik AG will expand the worldwide network of specialized repair stations for its innovative Mobile Engine Services with a fifth location. Located in the major center of the EMEA aircraft leasing community and close to the company's airline customers in the British Isles, the new facility in Dublin will commence operations in early October. This doubles the number of European repair stations for Lufthansa Technik's smart surgical engine repair solutions. These solutions extend an engine's time-on-wing and, during these times of crisis, enable airlines to postpone or even avoid cash-intensive major overhaul shop visits for their valuable assets. 

The new facility will have five repair bays covering 600 square meters of floor space and will employ more than 20 engine mechanics. The availability of such highly skilled technicians, with more than 20 years of experience on average, was one of the critical factors in choosing Dublin as a location. The new repair station will begin operations with InFIELD and InSTATION services for the CFM56-5B engines used in the Airbus A320ceo family and the CFM56-7B engines powering the Boeing 737 Next Generation.  

Presenting the opportunity to avoid or postpone major overhaul events, Lufthansa Technik's Mobile Engine Services comprise a broad portfolio of smart engine repair solutions. These range from on-wing and on-site services (inFIELD) performed by Airline Support Teams (AST®) directly at the customer's location to surgical repair solutions, derived from the customer's required workscope and carried out in a global network of five repair stations (InSTATION). In addition to the new repair station in Dublin, these are located in Montréal (Canada), Tulsa (Oklahoma/USA), Frankfurt (Germany), and Shenzhen (China). Mobile Engine Services in the various locations have already received authorizations from more than 40 international airworthiness authorities. 

"In these uncertain times, our goal is to support our customers' control of their cost exposure to engine maintenance and to optimize the operational life of their engines and engine components. This is the smart solution in times of ‘cash is king'," said Michael Kirstein, Vice President Engine Parts Repair and Mobile Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik. "The new repair station deepens our investment and belief in our network of Mobile Engine Services, signaling Lufthansa Technik's strong commitment to help our customers through this unprecedented crisis." 

AeroLogic, the joint freight carrier of DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, is now continuing its trustful partnership with Lufthansa Technik through a multi-year agreement covering extensive component services (Total Component Support – TCS®). This new contract governs supply for AeroLogic's entire fleet of currently 16 Boeing 777F aircraft over a period of ten years. 

AeroLogic considers stable, smooth component supply to be the foundation of reliable operations for its customers. 
Dr. Georg Fanta, Vice President Aircraft Component Services at Lufthansa Technik, says: "We're proud to continue our partnership with AeroLogic for a contractual period of a further ten years. Our operational experience enables us to provide optimal support for AeroLogic's fleet in the fiercely contested air freight market."  
 
In conjunction with component supply, Lufthansa Technik is also providing AeroLogic with predictors via its digital platform AVIATAR to optimize both component supply and AeroLogic's operational planning. 
 
With this Total Component Support TCS® agreement, the carrier benefits from an individual supply concept that enables short and rapid transport paths. The services covered by the contract are customized to fulfill the requirements of AeroLogic, which operates two hubs in Leipzig and Frankfurt.   

After more than 200 young people from the 2020 training year began their career at Lufthansa Technik at the beginning of August, the company is now already starting recruitment for next year's apprenticeships. Despite the continuing crisis in the aviation industry, Lufthansa Technik thus continues to focus consistently on the aeronautical and industrial training of talented young people, albeit with figures adjusted to the current situation.

In Hamburg, 102 training positions are offered for aircraft mechanics in the fields of repair, manufacturing and engine technology, for electronics technicians for devices and systems, and for tool mechanics and surface coating technicians. At the Frankfurt site, eight training positions are open for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology. Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services is offering 16 training positions for specialists in warehouse logistics and forwarding agents. Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey also offers ten training positions for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology and one cutting machine operator specialising in milling technology. Lufthansa LEOS is moreover looking for a total of four apprentices as automotive mechanics, two of them in Frankfurt and two in Munich. N3 Engine Overhaul Services, a joint venture with Rolls-Royce, plans to start training in 2021 with a total of ten training positions for aircraft mechanics specializing in engine technology.

"There is a significant demographic change in the workforce, as many highly qualified colleagues will be going into well-deserved retirement in the coming years," said Martin Horn, Senior Vice President Recruiting and Vocational Training at Lufthansa Technik. "Therefore it is important to prepare our company for this change in a sustainable manner. Due to the corona crisis, we have reduced the number of available apprenticeship positions accordingly compared to 2020. However, we will continue to maintain our commitment to training, which has lasted for more than 60 years, because for us vocational training is not only a corporate obligation but also a social responsibility and an investment in the future of the aviation industry."

Lufthansa Technik AG today handed over the first of three new Airbus A350-900s to the German Armed Forces. During a small ceremony in Hamburg, conducted according to current pandemic rules, Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer took a first look at the future flagship of the Federal Ministry of Defence's (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing. On the way to the final operational readiness of the aircraft, the military certification for the 10+03 designation and various test flights with the new wide-body aircraft will take place in the coming weeks. This is the world's first government aircraft of this type and thus also the world's first Airbus A350 not to be used in commercial airline service. 

"The exemplary procurement process is really something to be proud of," said Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer. "The decision to purchase the new A350 fleet was made just 1.5 years ago. My thanks therefore go to all those involved in industry and German Armed Forces, because everyone really pulled together here. With its 25 percent lower fuel consumption - compared to older, comparable types - the ultra-modern A350 is future-oriented, and with the new fleet we are securing global mobility as an important part of the Federal Government's ability to work", the Federal Minister continued. "And with the addition of two more brand-new A350s, the mobility expected of an industrial nation like Germany is adequately ensured."   

"Today we are proud to present to the Federal Minister of Defence the new flagship of the Federal Government's Special Air Mission Wing, the world's very first Airbus A350 as a government aircraft," said Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik AG. "The 10+03 and its two subsequent sister aircraft are a continuation of the successful tradition of supplying the German Armed Forces and having them as one of our best and most important customers." 

The factory-fresh aircraft, which was still on the civil register as D-AGAF, arrived at Lufthansa Technik at the beginning of May. It is equipped with a special transitional cabin for political-parliamentary flight operations. The cabin comes with office and conference areas, adjoined by a multifunctional lounge area. The remaining space is available for delegations flying on the aircraft. After sister aircraft 10+01 and 10+02, which are currently under construction, will receive a fully-fledged government cabin from Lufthansa Technik next year, the transitional cabin in the 10+03 will also be exchanged.  

The effects of the global coronavirus pandemic on the supply chain slightly delayed the planned delivery of the 10+03 to the German Armed Forces. It will now take place in the coming weeks, during which the aircraft will receive its military certification and be prepared for a smooth entry-into-service at the Federal Ministry of Defence's Special Air Mission Wing, complete with crew training and various test flights. 

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, a leading low-cost airline in Europe, and Lufthansa Technik have extended their cooperation for the overhaul of the carrier's 90-aircraft Boeing 737NG fleet by another five years. The services are performed at Lufthansa Technik's location in Budapest, Hungary, within the framework of a Total Base Maintenance Support (TBS®) contract, with the first contract events planned for September 2020.

"Lufthansa Technik was winning this contract in a large extensive global tendering process, that was demanding both for Lufthansa Technik and Norwegian. The quality and reliability of past services provided by Lufthansa Technik have convinced us to continue to place our trust in our German partner for the overhaul of our Boeing 737NG fleet," said Paul Salwik, Head of Technical Procurement at Norwegian.  

"We are pleased that this new contract will continue a successful cooperation with Norwegian that reaches back to 2007. With our services, we want to play our part in ensuring the continued success of this innovative airline," said Tanja Pustolla, responsible sales representative at Lufthansa Technik.  

The main characteristics of Total Base Maintenance Support TBS® are the guaranteed availability of layovers and a commercial service package geared to individual customer needs. As one of a total of five Lufthansa Technik overhaul sites in Europe, Lufthansa Technik Budapest will provide services within the framework of the new contract. As a TBS® customer, Norwegian also has access to the entire overhaul network of Lufthansa Technik for additional or unplanned maintenance events. 

Norwegian has been a Lufthansa Technik customer since 2007. The cooperation began with component supply within the framework of a contract for Total Component Support TCS®. Later, Lufthansa Technik also took on wheels and brakes maintenance and engine overhaul for engines of the CFM56-7B type. Since 2012, Lufthansa Technik has providing overhaul services for Boeing 737NG aircraft. 

"Even though we have no employment for many of our staff at the moment, we continue to train," said Antonio Schulthess, Chief Executive Human Resources, Engines & Aircraft Systems at Lufthansa Technik AG. "Because one thing is clear: we will emerge from this crisis again and must then be prepared in the best possible way for the demographic change in our workforce."

Out of the total of 240 new apprenticeships and study places, 192 are directly attributable to Lufthansa Technik AG, the remainder to companies in the Lufthansa Technik Group or joint ventures (see list below). In total, more than 750 young people are currently undergoing training or studying in the Lufthansa Technik Group on their way to a career in aircraft engineering, industry or logistics.

The proportion of women in 2020 is a good fourteen percent. Compared with the previous year, this figure represents a slight increase, but it is still too low. Lufthansa Technik will therefore continue its efforts to attract women in particular to technical professions. The inclusion of people with physical disabilities also remains a declared goal of the company: this year in Hamburg, two hearing impaired people will start their training as tool mechanics.

Originally Lufthansa Technik had planned a higher number of new apprentices for this year. However, the outbreak of the pandemic as well as the resulting massive decline in global air traffic and the workload in many parts of the company made it necessary to adjust the number of trainees accordingly.

Training figures by location and specialization

Lufthansa Technik AG, Hamburg (training starts August 3), in total 129 (incl. KOMBI train. / Technik Students):

• 26 electronics technicians for devices and systems
• 20 aircraft mechanics with specialties in repair technology
• 19 aircraft mechanics with specialties in manufacturing technology
• 19 aircraft mechanics with specialties in engine technology
• 16 tool mechanics
• 5 aircraft electronics specialists
• 4 surface coating technicians

KOMBI trainings: Basic training in Hamburg, later practical training at other locations (in brackets):

• KOMBI - 3 aircraft mechanics with specialties in manufacturing technology (Frankfurt)
• KOMBI - 3 aircraft electronics specialists (Cologne-Bonn)
• KOMBI - 2 electronics technicians for devices and systems (Frankfurt)
• KOMBI - 2 aircraft electronics specialists (Duesseldorf)
• KOMBI - 2 tool mechanics (Frankfurt)
• KOMBI - 1 aircraft mechanic with specialties in repair technology (Cologne-Bonn)

Dual study program "Technik Students" in Hamburg:

• 3 students in the Mechanical Engineering course
• 2 students in the course Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
• 2 students in the aircraft construction course

Lufthansa Technik AG, Frankfurt (training starts August 10), 63 in total (incl. Technik Students):

• 31 aircraft mechanics with specialties in repair technology
• 17 aircraft electronics specialists
• 11 aircraft mechanics with specialties in engine technology

Dual study program "Technik Students" in Frankfurt:

• 2 students in the International Industrial Engineering and Management course
• 1 student in the course of Applied Physics
• 1 student in the course of Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering

Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services, 22 in total:

• 11 warehouse logistics specialists (Hamburg, start of training August 3)
• 8 warehouse logistics specialists (Frankfurt, start of training August 10)
• 2 specialists for forwarding and logistics services (Frankfurt, start of training August 10)
• 1 warehouse logistics specialist (Munich, start of training August 10)

Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (Alzey, training starts 3 August), a total of 15:

• 14 aircraft mechanics with specialties in engine technology
• 1 cutting machine operator specialising in milling technology

Joint venture N3 Engine Overhaul Services (Arnstadt, start of training September 1), 11 in total:

• 11 aircraft mechanics specialising in engine technology

The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and Lufthansa Technik today signed a contract regarding the equipment of two brand-new Airbus A321neoLR (Long Range) for the German Air Force. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg in August and October 2021, where they will be multifunctionally equipped for various missions. Delivery to the air force is scheduled for 2022.

Lufthansa Technik's VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services business unit will prepare the two aircraft for various types of missions such as troop transport and the MedEvac role (medical evacuation). With the appropriate installations, the aircraft can be used in 18 different interior configurations. Their passenger transport capacity ranges from 136 to 163 passengers. Furthermore, the transport of up to six intensive care patients, the transport of up to twelve slightly or moderately ill/injured patients, as well as various mixed configurations for patient transport are possible.

Lufthansa Technik's Original Equipment Innovation business unit will supply the Patient Transport Units (PTUs) required for the MedEvac role to the German Armed Forces. The contract concluded accordingly comprises 12 units (plus 2 reserve units). Up to six PTUs can be fitted in each of the two A321neoLRs.

With the Airbus A321neoLR, the German Air Force will receive a future-proof, modern passenger aircraft which can be deployed in various highly flexible cabin configurations on short-, medium- and long-haul flights. The two aircraft will be operated by the Federal Ministry of Defence's (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing, making maximum use of synergy effects with the Airbus A320 Family models already introduced. The corresponding procurement project was already approved on July 3 in the context of the approval of the Second Supplementary Budget 2020.

N3 has delivered the last Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engine after a regular overhaul under the current business model. As the only remaining location in the Rolls-Royce network, the joint venture company of Lufthansa Technik and Rolls-Royce even though will maintain its capacity for the Trent 500 for the time being and continue to offer its services. As Trent 500 Volume Shop N3 has a lot of experience. Between 2007 and 2020 a total of 540 Trent 500 engines have been overhauled at N3.

The future, however, belongs to the latest and most modern engine type for long-haul, the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84k. With great energy and enthusiasm the team is now starting to expand its capacity for the overhaul and repair of the Trent XWB - faster than planned. By next year the XWB is expected to form the majority of the overhauled engines at N3.