Spirit AeroSystems MRO & fleet support services

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. (NYSE:SPR - News) today announced its selection by GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes to exclusively provide Next-Generation Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 CFM56-7 thrust reverser service bulletin modifications 737-78-1069 / 737-78-1079 and repair services.

Spirit will supply these services at its FAA approved Repair Station located in Wichita, Kan. Additionally, Spirit will partner with GOL to develop composite/structural repair capabilities and support thrust reverser services at GOL's aircraft maintenance facility located at Brazil's Tancredo Neves International Airport.

Lastly, GOL will purchase Spirit airframe and component licensed PMA structural spare parts. These expendable and repairable spare parts will be utilized to maintain GOL's Next-Generation Boeing 737 and 767 fleets.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Spirit to enter into the Latin American market and partner with an exceptional airline, GOL," stated Carolyn Harms, VP/GM of Spirit Aftermarket Customer Support. "This contract strengthens Spirit's aftermarket spare parts distribution and component MRO global presence."

SpiritAeroSystems:Production capabiltiies “intact” despite tornado damage



Production tooling is undamaged and most of the parts and materials "looks good" inside factories battered by severe winds and tornados in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit AeroSystems says.

The aerostructures supplier to several commercial, business and military aircraft manufacturers remains shut-down through 17 April.

Spirit AeroSystems and a nearby plant operated by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems fell in the path of a Category 3 tornado, with wind gusts up to 269km/h (167mi/h).

The storm ripped open the roofs and walls of several production buildings on Spirit AeroSystems' sprawling campus, but no workers were injured.

Two days later, the company now says it is starting to make "good progress" with its recovery plan. Power has been restored to two substations and natural gas lines are being reactivated in certain zones.

Most staff have been ordered to remain home, but more than 100 senior managers have come in to evaluate the situation and develop recovery plans, the company says.

"Obviously our short term delivery schedule has been impacted and we are working closely with our customers to continue to provide the products they need," the company says.

Large airframers, meanwhile, are waiting to know the extent of the damage before assessing the impact on production schedules. Spirit AeroSystems, for example, manufactures the fuselage of the 737, and the nose section of the 787 and major structural elements of the 747 and 777.

Boeing says its supplier management department is in "constant" communications with Spirit AeroSystems, but it is still to early to know if there will be a major impact.

"We are working closely with our customers to continue to provide the products they need," Spirit AeroSystems says.

Email service, however, remains down through at least the end of today. Spirit AeroSystems is communicating with employees and the public using xxxxx as its primary channel.