S7 Technics has launched the first automated plant for the production of Airbus aircraft panels in Russia, at its Mineralnye Vody facility.
With a production area of 42 square meters, the site will be able to produce between 10 to 20 floor panels and interior panels per working shift.
Previously, the panels were made by hand tools by the specialists of the aircraft structural repair shop. Aircraft panels will now be manufactured from composite materials approved by aircraft manufacturers by milling on a high-precision computer numerical control (CNC) machine made by Czech company Volter. The work, from graphic processing (creating a 3D model of panels, preparing programs for CNC machines) and ending with certificate release for a finished product, will be performed by experienced S7 Technics specialists who have already completed the training in working with CNC equipment and programming.
“During base maintenance checks such as C-Check, 30-80% of the aircraft cabin panels are replaced. According to redelivery check – from 60% to 90%. Our own production of panels will speed up the process of replacing them on aircraft that are undergoing maintenance, thereby reducing the TAT (turn-around-time),” said Maxim Akchurin, S7 Technics Business Development Project Manager.
S7 Technics will focus on the production of panels for A320 Family aircraft, however, further modernisation of production area for the manufacturing of such panels for Boeing and Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft is possible.
Until the end of 2021, the new production unit will operate under the EASA Part-145, which covers panels manufactured for aircraft maintenance located at S7’s bases at Moscow, Novosibirsk and Mineralnye Vody. The company intends to transition to the EASA Part-21 G certificate making it possible to manufacture and sell panels with the issue of the EASA Form 1 certificate.
