EASA APPROVAL FOR JETSTREAM 32 LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAMME

• BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for its Life Extension Programme (LEP) for the 18-19 seat Jetstream 32 regional turboprop aircraft

 

EASA approval was granted in early October and the LEP manual is now available for those operators who wish to sign up to the programme on BAE Systems' i-Sapphire online facility.

Under the LEP the airframe life limit of the aircraft will be raised from the current 45,000 landings to 67,000 landings. The LEP introduces a revised structural maintenance programme for the aircraft embodied through the Structurally Significant Inspection Document (SSID) which operators can buy from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft via a Modification Service Bulletin.

Welcoming this news today, Mr Sean McGovern, Business Director Support for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft stated: "We are delighted to have obtained EASA approval for this important Life Extension Programme for the Jetstream 32 which we can now offer to our operators, giving them many more years of useful service from the aircraft, as well as improved residual values."

There are some 135 Jetstream 32s operating worldwide, many of which are approaching the 45,000 landings limitation. BAE Systems has been working with fleet lead-time operator, Aerolinea de Antioquia (ADA) of Medellin, Colombia to develop the programme. The airline operates seven Jetstream 32s on scheduled services from Medellin to 11 destinations in north eastern Colombia. ADA will be the first operator to avail themselves of the LEP.

For operators whose aircraft are covered under United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other jurisdictions, BAE Systems will support operators applying to their national airworthiness authority for continued aircraft operations beyond the 45,000 landings limit.

This Jetstream 32 LEP continues the sustained programme of investment by BAE Systems Regional Aircraft into its family of aircraft and builds upon similar LEPs that have been introduced in recent years for the BAe 146 and Avro RJ jet airliners