Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) has accomplished the twelve-year check on an Airbus A380 for the first time in its existence. The extensive maintenance work has facilitated the return of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, registered as D-AIMC, to the Lufthansa Airlines fleet. Following the completion of the comprehensive maintenance schedule last week, the aircraft has now returned to Germany.
This twelve-year check, distinct from the more routine three- or six-year checks, involves meticulous inspections of the aircraft structure. LTP’s experts removed over 500 passenger seats and other elements from both passenger decks to facilitate access. Several large aircraft components were either replaced or temporarily dismantled as part of this extensive examination.
A crucial aspect of the twelve-year check is the complete replacement of the landing gear, consisting of five assemblies with a total of 22 wheels. These highly stressed components, responsible for handling a maximum take-off weight of up to 560 tons on a fully loaded A380, are replaced after a dozen years to ensure the aircraft’s continued safety.
The four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines were also temporarily removed for detailed structural inspections of the wings and engine mounts. The engines, weighing over six metric tons each, underwent minor inspections to align with their remaining service life. In addition, the LTP team in Manila addressed modifications, including implementing all Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by Airbus during the prolonged inactivity of the aircraft.
During the peak of the maintenance process, over 100 aircraft mechanics worked on D-AIMC. Despite accumulating more than 42,000 flying hours and over 4,300 flight cycles, “Mike Charlie” is now poised for its return to active scheduled service with Lufthansa Airlines. It is also prepared for operations until its next, albeit smaller, base maintenance check. The next twelve-year check on an A380, involving aircraft D-AIMH “Mike Hotel,” is already underway at LTP after being transferred from Frankfurt last 11 February 2024.
“The return of the A380 to the fleets of many airlines has also boosted demand for maintenance services enormously. We are benefiting quite well from this with our A380 expertise here in Manila, that we recently even expanded with the third overhaul line. In view of the delays in the delivery of numerous new wide-body aircraft, I am certain that services for the A380 will remain an integral part of our portfolio for years to come,” according to Elmar Lutter, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik Philippines.
Amidst the surge in air travel demand post-pandemic, base maintenance overhauls for the A380 remain in high demand. Several airlines, including Lufthansa Airlines, have reintroduced the A380 to their fleets, reflecting its enduring popularity among passengers. Despite LTP’s expansion with a third overhaul line for the A380 last year, the company anticipates its capacities to remain nearly fully utilized in the coming years.