The Danish airline Great Dane Airlines has joined the group of LOTAMS technical base customers. November 2, 2020, saw the beginning of the structural check of Embraer 195 OY-GDA. This is not the first visit of a Scandinavian carrier in Poland.

Biweekly structural check

The structural check performed at OY-GDA is a "72 month check", that is maintenance works performed on the aircraft after six years of operation. The plane is 12 years old, so this is the second inspection of this type on this fleet.

The check included an inspection of the aircraft structure, in particular the connections of stringers and frames (in the area of ​​the passenger cabin), trunks and floor beams in these areas. There was also an inspection of the wing structure and main suspension components.

In order to perform the full scope of inspections - LOTAMS employees had to build elements such as seats, buffets, toilets and floors in wet areas (areas under the buffets and toilets within the entrance and service doors) from the passenger compartment.

In addition, A-check tasks have been commissioned - routine line maintenance, i.e. tests and checking the aircraft systems. The Danish carrier also added lubrication to the fan blades on the engines to the maintenance tasks.

The beginning of Polish-Scandinavian cooperation

The two-week structural check in November was not the first visit by the Danish carrier in the Warsaw technical base. Weeks earlier, Great Dane Airlines had leased its two planes to Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways. Representatives of the Sales Office, The Part-21J Design Organization, base, workshop and line maintenance representatives have joined forces to release two Embraer 195 in a beautiful green and blue painting from the hangar.

Expanded client portfolio despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic

According to the forecasts of Oliver Wyman and the research he has carried out - in 2020, the global demand for aircraft maintenance will be 45% smaller than planned in 2019. Following the authors of the report - all providers of technical maintenance (except China) will have to take into account min. 40% reduction in service compared to previous years. Despite the pessimistic forecasts for the entire MRO market - carriers that have decided to re-establish air connections will have to continue servicing the planes to make flying completely safe.

At the beginning of the pandemic (March-April), the interest of maintenance services decreased significantly. This was due to the closure of borders, the suspension of international flights and reduced demand for flying (fear of coronavirus infection). As the situation stabilizes, the borders are being opened, connections are resumed and it is made aware that the plane itself is not a habitat of bacteria and there is a low probability of infection with the virus on board - LOTAMS not only continued the previously commissioned maintenance of existing customers, but also expanded its portfolio with new carriers, using the unforeseen situation to its advantage.