Czech Airlines Technics is now certified to provide Line Maintenance for A320neo and B737 MAX aircraft
Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, has become the first entity in the Czech Republic certified by the Civil Aviation Authority to provide line maintenance for the new Airbus A320 NEO and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Only a few private companies in Europe are authorised and have staff trained to work on the aircraft which will gradually start their operations this year.
The certification process took about a year, out of which about half was dedicated to the training of staff. The Boeing 737 MAX training took place directly at the Boeing facilities in Seattle, USA, while the Airbus A320 NEOs training was performed with approved European training organisations.
“I am pleased that we are the first company in the Czech Republic and one of the first MRO organisations in Europe to receive the certificate. CSAT can thus provide line maintenance to all its regular customers who already operate the new aircraft and offer its services to other air carriers as they add the new aircraft to their fleet,” Ivan Pikl, Member of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said, adding: “We will also strive to get base maintenance certified for the MAX and NEO aircraft to be able to provide our customers using these types of aircraft with complex maintenance services.”
Every organisation authorised to provide aircraft maintenance must have trained staff (qualified mechanics and avionics technicians for particular aircraft types), precisely-outlined ground equipment, tools and space as well as access to the required technical documentation based on which the maintenance is performed. Having complied with all the above requirements, CSAT filed an application with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic requesting its certification be extended to cover the line maintenance of the new types of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority performed an audit of the company and awarded the certificate to CSAT on the spot.
The new certificate covers Boeing 737 MAXs and Airbus A319/320/321 NEOs with the new CFM (Snecma-General Electric) motors. As a result of construction adjustments, the aircraft have better aerodynamic performance of the body and wings and weigh less.
Line maintenance of aircraft is performed either on a regular basis (e.g. daily or monthly) or ad hoc. It includes a thorough aircraft check, the refilling of all fluids, the completion of minor repairs, the checking of individual aircraft parts and an evaluation of whether or not an aircraft is fully functional and ready for flight.