Swiss business aircraft completions specialist AMAC Aerospace has started work on its third widebody and largest aircraft completion project to date. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental project - awarded by an unnamed Middle East customer - calls for full nose-to-tail outfitting and is expected to take two years to complete.
The completion will be carried out in the company's wide-bodied aircraft hangar - inaugurated in September - at AMAC's Euroairport Basel Mulhouse headquarters.
The production programme will feature a new integrated concept featuring Greenpoint Technologies' overhead space utilisation loft, designed for multiple sleeper berths or lounges. These will be positioned at the aft of the aircraft cabin.
AMAC's engineering team will also install private and work areas within the VIP cabin with avionics systems, a master bedroom, VIP lavatories throughout the cabin, guest areas and special lighting configurations for both day and night. AMAC will also install audio/video on demand, satellite television, external cameras - left, right, tail and belly cams - and RGB mood lighting.
The project follows hot on the heels of a 777-200LR completion. The VIP airliner was delivered to its Middle East-based owner in October.
AMAC was approved as a Boeing warranty service centre earlier this year and recently secured European Part 145 approval to perform heavy base maintenance on the 747-400, 747-8I, 777 and Airbus A330/A340 families.
Speaking at the opening of the new 8,200m² (88,150ft²) hangar in September, AMAC chief executive Kadri Muhiddin said: "We have done phenomenally well in winning completion, refurbishment and maintenance contracts, to the point that we have a secure and stable workload until 2014, and at present we are in dialogue for work beyond 2014."
Source: Flight Daily News
