By Frank Jackman/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

LAN Cargo will be the launch customer for a new overhaul and repair program Boeing is offering on 767 freighters, the airframe OEM said Thursday. "This agreement is part of our strategic plan to support customers within specific regions with increased availability of landing gear parts," said Mark Owen, vice president of material management for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.

Boeing said that by signing up for the Boeing Service Center Repair Network, LAN Cargo will receive worldwide access to landing gear repair and replacement. The landing gear program enables customers to exchange time-expired landing gear for overhauled or restored landing gear from a pool controlled by Boeing. Gear exchanged by an airline is overhauled and put back into the pool. LAN Cargo operates four 767-300ER freighters and one 737-200F, and has four 777-200ER freighters on order, according to AVIATION WEEK'S World Aerospace Database.