Mexicana MRO Performs First Winglet Installation

Aviation Partners Boeing said this week that Santiago-based LAN Airlines has ordered 10 additional Blended Winglet Systems for Boeing 767-300ER passenger and freighter aircraft.  This order brings LAN's order total to 57 Blended Winglet systems for the Boeing 767-300ER/F, making it the largest APB customer for this model.

"Blended Winglets have provided LAN Airlines the fuel savings and payload/range benefits to both enhance operational capability on its existing route structure and the ability to open new markets with this airplane," says Christopher Stafford, Aviation Partners Boeing director of Sales & Marketing. "Given the current market, and the tough financial conditions air carriers are operating under today, this order further validates the outstanding value of APB's performance enhancing technology."

Blended Winglet technology installed on a Boeing 767-300ER/F reduces fuel burn by up to 500,000 gallons per aircraft per year while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 5,000 tons per year. Blended Winglets can also extend the range of a Boeing 767-300ER/F by as much as 320 nautical miles, or increase the payload of the aircraft by as much as 16,000 pounds. "The positive fuel savings performance achieved by the Blended Winglet program on the operating LAN Boeing 767 fleet convinced the airline to continue with this program on the newly purchased 767-300s. LAN has purchased 10 new Blended Winglet systems from APB and selected Delta Tech Ops and Mexicana MRO to perform these modifications promoting the growth of both MRO's, especially Mexicana, which is now capable of carrying out winglet modifications. This order establishes LAN as the airline with the largest fleet of Boeing 767s equipped with winglets," comments Justin Siegel, vice president – Fleet Projects LATAM.
 
Mexicana also becomes the newest Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility to accomplish the Boeing 767-300ER/F Blended Winglet installation.  "We have been chosen by a leader in the airline industry like LAN to perform the winglet modification because of our top quality workmanship and competitive prices," cited Jorge Jacome, executive vice president of Mexicana MRO Services. "We are very pleased with our team performance in this complex modification and are looking forward to continuing with this project which places Mexicana MRO on the cutting edge of aircraft maintenance technology."
 
Nearly 5,000 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service on Boeing 737s, 757s and 767s with more than 200 airlines worldwide.

FMI: www.aviationpartners.com