LOTAMS performs C-check B737-8 MAX

In March 2021, the employees of the LOTAMS technical base completed the first checks of the base maintenance, C-check on the B737-8 MAX aircraft of the LOT Polish Airlines fleet. Within two months, the Polish leader in aircraft maintenance will perform four C-type checks on the national carrier’s MAXs returning to air operations. These will be one of the first heavy checks (C-Checks) on the 737-8 MAX model in the world.

LOTAMS is the first in Poland and one of the first in Europe to provide comprehensive technical maintenance for the most popular narrow-body passenger aircraft in the world – the Boeing 737. Almost 30 years of experience in line, base, and workshop maintenance of the 737 family aircraft (Classic, New Generation and MAX) made LOTAMS a precursor in the implementation of the most complex maintenance activities as part of comprehensive C, D or redelivery checks, painting and modifications, including retrofits. LOTAMS aircraft mechanics have worked in total over 3 million man-hours on all models of the American manufacturer’s Boeing 737 aircraft.

I am very happy that the B737-8 MAX is back in the game on the global airline market. In January 2021, EASA issued a decision to return the MAXs to service. For the last two years, the service of MAXs has been limited to performing active storage checks by our staff in Lublin, removing deferred faults (ADD) and making time-consuming modifications. In recent months, we have made many additional modifications and Service Bulletins ordered by the manufacturer, including the MCAS system and finally RTS (Return to service) check. After ferrying the planes to Warsaw, we started the base maintenance checks. I am very proud that LOTAMS is at the forefront of MRO, performing the first C-Checks on the 737-8 MAX – Łukasz Siwiński, the Member of the Management Board for Technical Affairs in LOTAMS said.

Even though we were able to carry out heavy maintenance in two years using the deviation provided by the manufacturer and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, we decided to commission them before resuming the operation. Our partner in this task was LOTAMS, which performed all maintenance activities, which took approximately 2,200 man-hours in accordance with the adopted schedule, within 14 days. Thanks to this, it was possible to return to servicing the network of connections on March 24. I am very glad that we could use the vast experience of LOTAMS mechanics to implement the Boeing 737-8 MAX in the airline service – Maciej Wilk, the Member of the Management Board for the LOT Polish Airlines commented.

After ferrying the first two aircraft to Warsaw, LOTAMS performed heavy type C check. Work on SP-LVD and SP-LVF models included, among others, maintenance activities such as aircraft systems tests, inspections in all zones, detailed inspection in fuel tanks or verification of electrical connections based on the EWIS and EZAP programs. During the works, additional maintenance activities recommended by the manufacturer were also carried out. The inspections were carried out simultaneously on two service slots, and the qualified and properly trained aircraft mechanics were supported by specialists from the planning and engineering departments, logistics and workshops. The checks of the first two 737-8s have been completed – the personnel involved in the work on the aircraft worked several thousand man-hours on them. Currently, two more C-type checks are underway on the next copies of the national carrier, which were rebased from Lublin. In total, within less than two months, four basic inspections will be carried out on the B737-8 MAX PLL LOT connections returning to the network.