Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT) has started to provide base maintenance to airlines and leasing companies operating Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. The first two overhauls were successfully completed by the base maintenance division at Václav Havel Airport Prague in recent weeks. The Swedish airline of Novair became the first customer of CSAT within the segment. The subsidiary of Prague Airport received its new authorization from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic. In the first quarter of this year, CSAT also introduced Boeing 737 MAX aircraft base maintenance services.
"This year, we have managed to expand the portfolio of base maintenance services with the two models of the latest generation narrow-body aircraft manufactured by both Boeing and Airbus. We have gained another competitive advantage on the market thanks to the fact that we can now service these modern aircraft in our hangar at Prague Airport. In a relation to the required operating limitations within which aircraft must undergo regular overhauls, the certification process was conveniently timed. All the operators of these aircraft can now use our complex services. In addition, we can also combine this type of regular checks with the aircraft storage in Prague, which is still of greater interest," Pavel Hales, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said.
CSAT mechanics already performed the historically first overhauls of the “neo” version in the hangar at Václav Havel Airport Prague. On the basis of a new signed agreement, maintenance of two Airbus A321neo aircraft, the SE-RKA and SE-RKB registration, was performed for the Swedish carrier Novair. The aircraft returned to operation after the prescribed work was performed to continue to be flown under the ”apollo” brand.
“The customer experience from planning to work completion, documentation and re-delivery was very good. We were very happy with the product and services in Prague and Novair will likely be a returning customer at CSAT,” Thomas Krook, Director Technical Operations of Novair, commented.
Last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemics, which has had a major impact on the entire aviation sector, Czech Airlines Technics managed to successfully complete over 70 base maintenance overhauls. Finnair, Transavia Airlines, Smartwings and NEOS are among the most important Czech Airlines Technics clients in the base maintenance division. In 2020, a team of CSAT mechanics also worked on projects for new customers, namely Jet2.com, Austrian Airlines and clients from both the government and private sectors.
Regular mandatory checks, more demanding repairs, modifications to aircraft systems and structures, cabin modifications, engine exchanges and exchanges and repairs of landing gear and other aircraft components are a part of aircraft base maintenance services provided.