TAP Maintenance and Engineering Brazil achieved a major internal goal by completing its first Airbus A330 C check--and doing it in the promised 23-day turnaround time. The achievement underscores the big push the MRO has made to expand Airbus service capabilities and gain certification from Transport Canada, EASA, the FAA and Brazilian ANAC.

The first A330 is operated by Air Transat, a customer who also has had 10 A310s undergo maintenance at TAP's facilities in Rio de Janeiro.

TAP Maintenance & Engineering of Portugal finished integrating the former VEM Maintenance & Engineering facility in May and now is focused on adding more services, including landing gear MRO, which is a high margin business.

A team from TAP M&E's Lisbon headquarters worked with the Brazilian group on the first A330 heavy maintenance check, which included structural repairs, replacing the bogie beam of the landing gear, modifying electronic and mechanical systems, refurbishing the aircrafts interior, replacing injector nozzles in the Rolls-Royce 700 engine and performing preventive maintenance services.

Photo credit: TAP M&E