Panasonic Avionics Expands Global Aircraft Ground Handling Footprint

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) announced global expansion of aircraft ground handling services (SGHA) offered by Panasonic Technical Services (PTS).

PTS currently delivers a range of SGHA services to nine leading airlines at eight airports* across Australia and New Zealand, and in Hawaii. It is now expanding to additional sites in North America, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Seattle Tacoma airports. Further growth onto other continents is planned over the next 12 months.

SGHA from Panasonic Avionics is an expansion of PTS line maintenance services from in-fight entertainment and connectivity to ‘full aircraft’ line maintenance coverage. Today, PTS offers four aircraft line maintenance services:

• Transit checks: aircraft inspections conducted during short layovers, normally between flights. It includes inspecting aircraft exteriors, checking fluid levels, and confirming proper control surface movement.
• ETOPS checks: applicable to twin-engine aircraft operating on routes that are more than 60 minutes from a suitable airport. It includes engine reliability and systems redundancy checks, and ensuring the aircraft’s planned route adheres to ETOPS regulations.
• Daily checks: routine inspections every 24 hours, usually before the first daily flight. It includes comprehensive aircraft exterior inspection (incl. checking for damage and leaks), checking functionality of all emergency gear, and testing avionics systems.
• Weekly checks: detailed weekly inspections, involving broader scope than daily checks. It includes testing of critical aircraft systems, checking cabin safety equipment, seating, and other passenger areas, in depth brake and tire inspection, airframe structural checks, control surface checks, checking fluid levels and their operating condition, checking fuel systems and levels, testing avionics and instrumentation functionality, and calibrating and checking functionality of flight instruments.

PTS is currently licensed to offer these services across 12 different widebody and narrowbody aircraft types**.

Tom Eskola, Vice President, Panasonic Technical Services at Panasonic Avionics, said: “The global expansion of our aircraft ground handling services builds on our proven track record as a technical services provider across the globe.

“It has been a natural step to expand our offering to include full aircraft line maintenance. We’re proud to do so in partnership with several longstanding customers who have supported us in this evolution.”

PTS has the most extensive network for IFEC maintenance services. With eight repair locations and forty-six line maintenance stations globally, PTS operates the most extensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network in the world.