Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) and Continental Airlines have launched the retrofit of the blended winglet on the Boeing 737-500 and the Seattle-based joint company plans to bring a second supplier online to meet soaring demand for the fuel-saving modification from operators of 737 Classics. Meanwhile, the first Southwest Airlines 737-300 equipped with APB winglets has entered service.
Dubbed the 737-500 Special Performance (SP), the winglet-equipped -500 will join the 737-300SP, which gained its Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certificate (STC) in May 2003, and the -400SP, which got its STC in 2005. The first -500 is being modified by Miami, Florida-based maintenance, repair and overhaul company Avborne Heavy Maintenance, with the STC expected around June.
"We're sold out through the end of 2009 on the Classic," says APB vice-president sales and contracts Patrick La Moria. "We have identified a second source to help us increase production."
The current sole supplier of winglets for the Classic line is Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), which delivered its first units to APB in October 2002. Although La Moria says it is too early to say which company is involved, he expects the second source "should come online early next year".
Southwest is now operating its first of up to 90 737-300s equipped with APB blended winglets, following modification by Indianapolis-based AAR. APB says the range performance increase of the upgraded -300 is 185km (100nm).
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Southwest has received its first of up to 90 737-300s to be equipped with APB blended winglets |
Meanwhile, American Airlines has brought in more than 60 aircraft mechanics from other sites to expand its 757 APB winglet modification lines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. American, which operates 150 757s, has completed the retrofit on the first 20, but has accelerated the modification programme by opening four lines. A line will be able to modify up to two aircraft in just over a month, each taking about 16 days to complete. With eight a month coming off the lines, American plans to complete the fleet change by the end of the first quarter in 2008. A retrofit of its 77 737-800s with winglets is due for completion by mid-year.
Source: Flight International
