United Services - News & Media : Press Releases

News & Media : Press Releases

United, Hawker Pacific Plan Team Up for Landing Gear Service

United Maintenance Continues to Grow as MRO Provider

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 26, 2003 - United and Hawker Pacific Aerospace have announced that they have signed an agreement for a strategic marketing and work-share arrangement for Boeing 737, B757, and B777 landing gear overhauls.

"This strategic marketing and work-share arrangement represents another step forward in United's evolution as a full-service, market-driven MRO provider," says Greg Hall, senior vice president - Maintenance and Engineering for United. "This is a tremendous new opportunity for an alliance that will drive revenue for United and Hawker Pacific while delivering outstanding value for all our customers."

Later this year, United's San Francisco Maintenance Center expects to receive the first B757 shipset as part of the proposed working relationship. Two more shipset overhauls should follow next year. The plan also involves opening United's landing gear spare pool for customer exchange, including a shipset of B777 gear for the developing worldwide market.

United Services, the airline support business within United, will handle the contractual elements under the plan.

United's unique specialization with B777 landing gear augmented the company's appeal as a potential partner to Hawker Pacific, according to Hall. Through the years of flying and working on the B777 - United was the original launch customer for the aircraft - the company has been able to lengthen the FAA-limited periods between overhauls on B777 landing gear. "Our B777 landing gear MRO clients can fly their aircraft with the confidence that their landing gear will perform at their peak for even longer, saving them money down the line," says Hall.

United also has begun a new program, "Lean," to consolidate equipment and bring shop areas closer together. These newly streamlined workflow efficiencies are part of the overall transformation already in process at United's San Francisco Maintenance Center.

Sun Valley, Calif.-based Hawker Pacific Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, is a 50-year veteran in the aviation industry. The company operates certified repair facilities in Sun Valley, London, and Amsterdam and specializes in landing gear repairs and overhauls for both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft components.

"This new relationship opens up strategic opportunities for us," says Rick Smicenski, executive vice president of Hawker Pacific Aerospace. "By pooling our strengths, Hawker Pacific and United can deliver a more extensive portfolio of services with even faster turn times on the MRO work we do. We'll be able to do more for our customers while delivering greater savings through improved efficiencies and asset utilization."

"We are delighted to partner with an outstanding maintenance provider like Hawker Pacific, and we are determined to surpass our customers' expectations in every phase of our work for them and our shared customers," says Hall.

For more information about United's maintenance services, contact 650.634.4104 or visit the United Services website at www.unitedsvcs.com . For more information about Hawker Pacific Aerospace, contact 818.765.6201 or visit their website at www.hawker.com .

United Services, an airline support business within United Air Lines, Inc., brings 77 years of experience, employee talent, and the highest level of operational integrity to more than 150 airline customers worldwide, providing maintenance, airport, and training services.

United is one of the world's largest airlines, operating nearly 1,700 daily flights on a route network that spans the globe.

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