EFW expects quick return for Lufthansa Cargo A321Fs
15 / 01 / 2024
Source: Lufthansa Cargo
Conversion firm EFW is expecting work to repair two of Lufthansa Cargo’s Airbus A321 freighters to take only a few days.
The cargo carrier last week took its four A321Fs out of action as a precaution after a single fine crack was located on the rear fuselage structure of one of the aircraft.
EFW said that a minor crack in a similar area was found on another of the freighters while the other two were returned to service without any findings.
The conversion company said that during the passenger-to-freighter conversion, the affected parts remain untouched and are retained, however the aircraft maindeck floor structure is under EFW responsibility after the aircraft operates as a freighter.
“After technical review, EFW instructed Lufthansa Cargo on the rectification, which is covered under the standard repair schemes and is as per Structural Repair Manual (SRM) applicable to all A321,” the company said.
“The repair by replacement instructions has been given for both aircraft.
“EFW – being in close exchange with Lufthansa Cargo – expects the standard repairs to be completed within a few days and that the aircraft can return to operation immediately after.”
The two affected aircraft are D-AEUC and D-AEUI. The former has not flown for several days now while the latter last conducted a flight on December 9, according to FlightRadar 24.
Lufthansa Cargo said it was not expecting the issues to result in any major operational disruption.
“Of the two A321P2Fs, the freighter with registration D-AEUC was not scheduled anyway due to a routine check with corresponding idle times,” a Lufthansa Cargo spokesperson told Air Cargo News on Friday.
“Both aircraft will be repaired as soon as possible. As things stand at the moment, there will only be minimal short-term cancellations of individual frequencies in the cargo flight schedule.”
