On November 26–27, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) hosted the Cross-Maintenance Working Group at its headquarters in Eindhoven. This important initiative brought together 14 experts and professionals from six nations to advance interoperability, optimize operations, and foster collaboration in aircraft maintenance across multinational fleets.
The working group focused on enhancing cross-maintenance practices, sharing resources, and harmonizing procedures to improve operational readiness and efficiency.
Key Discussions and Outcomes
The event provided a platform to evaluate progress and shape the way forward:
- Feedback and Improvements: The group reviewed insights from 2024, highlighting progress in cross-maintenance processes and the increasing involvement of member nations.
- Training Development: A dedicated sub-working group was established to define training requirements for foreign Certifying Staff. This initiative aims to harmonize their deployment, fostering deeper cooperation and addressing future operational challenges.
- MRTT Fleet Annex Implementation: A significant milestone was the initiation of efforts to incorporate the MRTT fleet annex into the EXOM framework for 2025. This step is expected to open avenues for A330-MRTT cross-maintenance training. However, the group identified the need for a technical agreement to move forward.
- Spare Parts Sharing: Participants addressed the sharing of spare parts, emphasizing the importance of stronger connections with in-service agencies and industry partners to develop fleet-specific processes.
Strengthening Multinational Cooperation
The discussions reinforced EATC’s role as a driving force for multinational collaboration in aircraft maintenance. By leveraging shared resources, expertise, and streamlined processes, the working group is contributing to more robust and agile operations.
As the Cross-Maintenance Working Group continues its efforts, the steps taken during this session pave the way for future advancements, ensuring EATC and its member nations remain at the forefront of operational readiness and innovation.