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.

Within the first half of 2020, the management of seven departments of the company were newly appointed within the course of internal rotation.  

Already on February 1, Dr. Alexander Feuersaenger took over the management of the Fleet Services product division in Frankfurt.  

Since 1 March, Stephan Drewes has been heading in double-function the "IT Domain MRO" department together with the "Information Management Lufthansa Technik Group". 

On April 1, Philip Mende took over the position as head of the Digital Fleet Solutions product division.  
 
His successor in the position as head of "Engines Parts Repair and Mobile Engine Services" is Michael Kirstein.  

Also on April 1, Tim Butzmann was appointed head of "Corporate Sales Africa & Middle East".  

Andreas Drosdowski has been head of "Maintenance Europe" since 1 April and has also been appointed as new CEO of Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International. 

Michael von Puttkamer will become Head of Operations of the VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services division on 1 June. 

Johannes Bussmann, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik, said: "All newly appointed colleagues have a comprehensive knowledge of our business. I am convinced that each of them will contribute to the success of our company, and I wish them every success, especially in these unprecedented times facing the immense challenges of the corona crisis." 

Today, Lufthansa Technik AG has begun working on the cabin conversion of the first of three Airbus A350-900s for the German Federal Government's Special Air Mission Wing. The aircraft with the temporary civil registration D-AGAF (later military registration 10+03) arrived at Hamburg's International Airport in Fuhlsbüttel at around 1:30 PM today, where it will be given a government cabin by Lufthansa Technik's VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services product division. This is the world's first conversion of this kind of an Airbus A350. 

As this aircraft is to be made available to the German Air Force very soon, it will initially be equipped with a special transitional cabin for the transport of representatives of the Federal Government and their accompanying delegations. The corresponding preliminary work had already begun in November last year in Lufthansa Technik's VIP workshops. Once the aircraft has received its cabin, it is scheduled to be delivered to the customer by the end of July.   

The transitional cabin is tailored to the specific requirements of the customer. It will be equipped with office and conference areas, adjoined to a multifunctional lounge area. The rest of the cabin space will be available to the accompanying delegations. It will have generous seat spacing, an appropriate number of washrooms and modern kitchen equipment. 

Only after the sister aircraft 10+01 and 10+02, which are currently still under construction, receive a fully featured VIP cabin from Lufthansa Technik next year, the transitional cabin in 10+03 will also be exchanged for one.   

"Over decades we have formed a comprehensive partnership with the German Air Force, in the course of which we have already equipped a large number of aircraft with special cabins for government representatives," said Kai-Stefan Röpke, Vice President VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services. "Today we are of course particularly pleased to be able to extend this cooperation to the most modern generation of aircraft and to install the first government cabin in an Airbus A350. This is not only a first for our long-standing customer German Air Force or for Lufthansa Technik, but for the entire industry". 

Lufthansa Technik's new technical and engineering services for temporary operational changes from passenger to cargo aircraft have met with great interest in the aviation market. So far, the cabin modification experts of the company have received enquiries from more than 40 airlines. More than 15 projects for different aircraft types are already in the implementation phase. A special highlight is the support of the operational change of a first Airbus A380 of an undisclosed customer with which Lufthansa Technik has now been awarded.

"Over the past days, we have received strong interest from different airlines regarding our passenger to freighter service capabilities," explained Henning Jochmann, Senior Director Aircraft Modification Base Maintenance at Lufthansa Technik. "As the workscope comprises much more than just taking out seats, you need engineering experts who know exactly what the challenges are and how to document the technical solutions so correctly that the aviation authorities agree. The current exemption and our solution for it can be transferred to our Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) at a later point of time without major adjustments. This means that anyone who opts for Lufthansa Technik's exceptional solution now can easily switch to the permanent STC solution later."

Normally, an aircraft that has been granted an approval for passenger transport cannot simply be loaded with cargo in the cabin, as the approval criteria for passenger cabins and cargo compartments are completely different.

For example, cargo has a different floor load, i.e. the structural load capacity of a passenger aircraft is lower than that of a cargo aircraft. While for passenger transport rescue routes must be kept clear and the oxygen supply must be ensured for each individual, special fire protection measures must be taken on board a freighter. All these criteria, and some more, must be taken into account and incorporated into the technical documentation by suitably qualified engineers and approved.

Lufthansa Technik is currently working flat out to obtain STCs for all common aircraft types so that airlines all over the world can quickly convert their passenger aircraft into auxiliary freighters.

AvAir, an industry leading inventory solutions provider for the aviation aftermarket, and Lufthansa Technik have signed a long-term aftermarket sales agreement. AvAir has purchased the majority of Lufthansa Technik's overstock of rotable spares inventory. The Arizona-based company acquired 9,000 line items, comprising of components including IDGs (Integrated Drive Generator), FADECs (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) and Starters. The first components will be delivered immediately from Lufthansa Technik facilities in Germany to AvAir facilities in Ireland and Chandler, Arizona in the United States. The complete transfer will be finalized within the next three months. Under a profit share agreement, Lufthansa Technik receives a share of the proceeds from the resold components. All parts are in serviceable or better condition and come from the Lufthansa Airline Group and other Lufthansa Technik customer fleets. The majority of the parts has been maintained by Lufthansa Technik.

"We are extremely excited for this agreement which solidifies the relationship built between AvAir and Lufthansa Technik over the past 20 years. This acquisition will give our customers access to one of the most desirable inventories in the aviation aftermarket," said Mike Bianco, Chief Executive Officer of AvAir.

With this transaction, AvAir has added a wide range of commercial and regional aircraft material to its inventory. Commercial assets include: Airbus A320, A320neo, A330, A340, A380, MD-11, Boeing 737 NG, 737 MAX, 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787. Regional assets include: Bombardier CRJ, Embraer ERJ and De Havilland DHC-8-400. The material will come with dual or triple release certification (FAA/EASA/CAAC) from Lufthansa Technik and with a 12-month warranty.

"Over the past months we have been able to increase the efficiency of our supply chain with an improved  allocation of our rotable spare parts inventory. This has enabled us to release the material into this sales program with AvAir. The teams of AvAir in Chandler and of Lufthansa Technik's Component Division in Miami began the planning and development of this new relationship in the 4th quarter of 2019 and are now moving forward to utilize AvAir's trade expertise and worldwide customer network for similar opportunities in the future," stated Dr. Georg Fanta, Vice President Aircraft Component Services, Lufthansa Technik.

AvAir will make the  acquired inventory available for both exchanges and outright sales from AvAir's facilities in Chandler, Arizona and Dublin, Ireland, where the company expanded earlier this year.

About AvAir

Founded in 2000, Arizona-based AvAir is a global leader in the aviation aftermarket, providing customized inventory solutions for airlines, OEMs, and MROs. AvAir offers customized solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease, or consign more than 26 million in-stock aircraft parts. For more about AvAir, visit AvAir.aero.

Even in these difficult times for the entire industry we experience regular signs of confidence from our customers: The most recent one came from the largest aircraft operating lessor based in Asia, BOC Aviation (taggen), who just extended their Engine MRO contract with us. We are already offering services for the CFM56-5B / -7B, CF6-80, V2500, CF34 and Trent 700 models within the Lufthansa Technik network, now the LEAP-1A and the GEnx-2B are also added. The contract was extended by five years.

Lufthansa Technik has obtained Engineering Order Specific Tailsign approvals from the German Federal Aviation Authority for four Lufthansa passenger aircraft. They will from now on transport medical goods to meet the growing demand for airfreight during the coronavirus crisis. Within 36 hours, the Airbus A330-300 aircraft were modified for cargo transport. The prerequisite for such a conversion from a passenger to a cargo aircraft is a comprehensive technical documentation.

Normally, long-haul aircraft of this type fly up to 236 business and leisure travellers around the world. Now, four of them transport urgently needed medical supplies. However, an aircraft that has been granted an approval for passenger transport cannot simply be loaded with cargo in the cabin, as the approval criteria for passenger cabins and cargo compartments are completely different. For example, cargo has a different floor load, i.e. the structural load capacity of a passenger aircraft is lower than that of a cargo aircraft. While for passenger transport rescue routes must be kept clear and the oxygen supply must be ensured for each individual, special fire protection measures must be taken on board a freighter. All these criteria, and some more, must be taken into account and incorporated into the technical documentation by suitably qualified engineers and approved.

Supplemental Type Certificate for Pax-to-Cargo Conversion in progress

Currently, it is not only the demand for air transport of medical supplies that is growing, but also that for commercial goods. Lufthansa Technik is therefore currently working flat out to obtain Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for all common aircraft types so that airlines all over the world can quickly convert their passenger aircraft into auxiliary freighters.

"We are working to have the complete technical documentation and certification available within a short time so that our airline customers can use the STC. The conversion itself should then be possible within a few days," explains Henning Jochmann, Senior Director Aircraft Modification Base Maintenance at Lufthansa Technik. "The airlines can thus react quickly to changing needs while keeping costs low." Furthermore, Lufthansa Technik develops solutions to protect cabin installations or to secure cargo quickly and easily.

At its extraordinary meeting on April 2nd, the Lufthansa Technik Supervisory Board appointed Dr. Detlef Kayser as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board. He will take over from Carsten Spohr as Chairman with effect from the same date. In addition, Thorsten Dirks was elected as a new member of the Supervisory Board.

With this decision, the Supervisory Board acknowledges the increased responsibilities of all members of the Lufthansa Executive Board during the Corona crisis. The change in the Supervisory Board mandates ensures the necessary intensive steering during this crisis and maintains the influence and attention of the Lufthansa Executive Board on the most important matters of Lufthansa Technik.

Dr. Detlef Kayser has joined the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG on 1 January 2019 and is responsible for the business area Airline Resources & Operations Standards.

Thorsten Dirks has been a member of the Executive Board from 1 May 2017 and was responsible for the "Eurowings" Executive Board division until 31 December 2019. Since 1 January 2020, he is Head of IT, Digital & Innovation at Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Lufthansa Technik AG has reached an agreement with the bodies of co-determination and its operating partners to introduce short-time working. This applies to all German sites and companies with the exception of Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (LTAA) and Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS). The agreement thus applies to around 12,000 employees and will initially run until 31 August 2020.

The scope of short-time working for employees is determined in relation to the loss of working hours and in consultation with the co-determination bodies responsible for the respective area. The loss of working hours and thus short-time working can amount to up to 100 percent. In order to keep the financial impact on employees as low as possible, Lufthansa Technik will initially top up the short-time working allowance paid by the Federal Employment Agency to 90 percent of the net salary lost through short-time working. This regulation applies to both tariff and non-tariff staff.

Managerial staff will also be put on short-time work due to the extensive reduction in workload. Lufthansa Technik AG will top up their short-time working allowance to 80 percent of their net salary. These employees had already voluntarily waived part of their salary. Wherever possible in the respective countries, more than 30 international subsidiaries and affiliates of the Lufthansa Technik Group will seek similar arrangements.

Lufthansa Technik's availability to its international customers at all times, even during the crisis, will not be affected by the short-time working. In cases where the usual contacts in sales and production are not available due to these measures, Lufthansa Technik customers can now turn to the central contact addresses and phone numbers on the website www.lufthansa-technik.com/availability.