Emirates keeping its fleet ready to fly

When the world is keenly looking out for the air travel to resume, Emirates is busy in protecting and readying the world's largest all wide-body fleet to take to the skies.

Emirates Engineering, a division of the airline and one of the world's most technologically advanced aircraft maintenance facilities, has been doing this daunting job, according to a press release.

Ahmed Safa, Emirates' divisional senior vice president (engineering), said, "Everything we do ladders up to ensuring the best customer experience and people's feeling safe and reassured while flying with us."

"We do not just cover our engines but have a comprehensive aircraft parking and reactivation programme that strictly follows manufacturers' guidelines and maintenance manuals. And we have enhanced standards and protocols of our own."

Of the 270 aircraft in its fleet, Emirates had initially parked and wrapped up 218 aircraft – 117 at Dubai World Central and 101 at Dubai International airport – that involved more than 15,500 man-hours of work.

Now around 75 Emirates aircraft, both passenger and freighter, are crisscrossing the planet carrying people on repatriation and cargo on essential missions, reads the release.

These are maintained as per standard operating procedures. Some aircraft are undergoing scheduled heavy maintenance in Emirates Engineering's hangars, it adds.

Routinely, Emirates covers all aircraft that are taken out of operations for more than 48 hours.

Much before the coronavirus pandemic, Emirates gathered experience in covering a significant part of its fleet during the runway closures at Dubai International airport and even during the 2010 volcanic ash cloud disaster.

As part of the maintenance, all apertures and openings through which environmental factors, such as sand, dirt, water, birds and insects, can find their way inside an aircraft are wrapped up and made watertight. That includes engines and air data probes.

The interiors – whether cabin monuments, seats or inflight entertainment equipment – are also protected from the elements.

Potable water systems and aircraft fuel tanks are preserved, and engine and APU systems are protected.

The process also involves the greasing, cleaning and preserving landing gear and flight control systems. The team turns off all cockpit switches, disconnects batteries, and installs control lever locks and window blinds, says the release.

After concluding the protection and preservation works, the team completes periodic checks at 7-, 15- and 30-day intervals across the fleet.