Boeing

Boeing Airplane Services and The BFGoodrich Company today announced the expansion of its landing gear overhaul alliance to include Next-Generation 737 landing gear. The original 15-year landing gear alliance was first announced in February 2000 and featured the 777 as the first offering in the program. The 737 agreement spans 17 years in which Next-Generation 737 customers are forecasted to reach their first landing gear repair cycle in 2003.

"In this alliance we offer customers a "rotable" program as a repair option," said Ross Rutledge, vice president/general manager for BFGoodrich Aerospace's Landing Gear Services, "This allows customers to exchange unserviceable, or time-expired landing gears for overhauled or restored product from a pool owned and controlled by BFGoodrich. After being placed in the pool, the customer's landing gear undergoes necessary repair and is then placed back in the pool for other customer exchanges."

Operators have the choice of having their removed gear overhauled by BFGoodrich, the original equipment manufacturer, or another Boeing approved overhaul center. Next-Generation 737 and 777 repair will be conducted at designated BFGoodrich Landing Gear Service Centers located in Miami, Florida; Burlington, Canada; and London, England. An additional center is slated to open in 2001 in Asia.

"We believe this program gives our Next-Generation 737 and 777 customers an efficient and cost-effective way to maintain their airplanes," said Joe Gullion, president of Boeing Airplane Services. "The expansion of this program demonstrates our commitment to the services market."

This landing gear exchange program also provides the customer with the best possible technical product at substantially lower cost than the typical cost of landing gear ownership. The program offers customers in-service engineering support, lease arrangements and all spare parts used in repair and overhaul activities. BFGoodrich will manage the program's day-to-day operations with Boeing Airplane Services overseeing the program in its entirety.