Aeroport Tolmachevo : Novosibirsk airport got approval for provision of line maintenance for Boeing 747-8

21 july 2014

Novosibirsk airport got approval for provision of line maintenance for Boeing 747-8

On July 18, 2014, the maintenance team of NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport became the first among Russian airports to provide independent maintenance service for the world's largest production cargo aircraft Boeing 747-8 operated by Cargolux. This event proceeds from a coordinated decision of the management of Airport Tolmachevo OJSC and Cargolux International Airlines S.A. on transferring of the airlines' fleet maintenance operations to the airport.

To be accredited for Boeing 747-8 maintenance, the experts of NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport completed theoretical and practical training at Cargolux in Luxembourg.

In July 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued to Airport Tolmachevo OJSC Part-145 Approval sertificate confirming the authority to provide line maintenance for Boeing 747-8. It became possible thanks to results of the audit which implied a comprehensive review of production environment and processes of aircraft maintenance. The same month, Cargolux signed with Novosibirsk airport an agreement for maintenance of Boeing 747-8 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Until the enterprise got certified for Boeing 747-8 line maintenance organization, the company's staff were allowed to perform similar procedures for Boeing 747-400 and MD-11, mostly deployed freighters at Novosibirsk Tolmachevo airport.

Worth to mention, in November 2011 Tolmachevo became the first Russian airport serving Boeing 747-8 aircraft. Technical stops for refueling at Novosibirsk airport on this type aircraft are currently made by the Luxembourg freight carrier Cargolux operating on the routes between Europe and the cities of China, Japan and Korea.

In prospect, accreditation for Boeing 747-8 line maintenance can facilitate launch of commercial flights on this type aircraft from Novosibirsk airport.

NOVOSIBIRSK International Airportis the largest transit air hub in the Asian part of Russia. The airport has two runways, provides handling services of regular cargo flights for both Russian and foreign airlines such as AirBridgeCargo, Volga-Dnepr, Cargolux, Air China Cargo, Yangtze River Express, Nordic Global Airlines and others. The capacity of the freight complex Tolmachevo Cargo makes up 50,000 tons per year. In 2014 the airport expects to handle over 32,000 tons of cargo and mail.

Boeing 747-8Fis a wide body freighter, the new-generation Boeing 747 version. The first 747-8F performed the model's maiden flight on February 8, 2010. The freighter was initially deployed by the Luxembourgish air company Cargolux with the first aircraft delivery occurred on October 13, 2011. Maximum takeoff weight - 442 tons, maximum load capacity - 134.2 tons.

Cargolux Airlines International S.A.is the largest European airfreight company which operates regular cargo flights on Boeing 747 aircraft family. Its fleet comprises nine Boeing 747-8F and eleven Boeing 747-400F (including Cargolux Italia aircraft) with the base airport in Luxembourg, Findel International Airport. The company's route network covers about 90 destinations around the globe.