According to the plan, the landing gear (LDG) replacement process for Vietnam Airlines' Airbus A350 aircraft was carried out from November 28, 2024, to December 12, 2024. This marked the first time VAECO had undertaken this task and only the second time globally that LDG replacement for the A350 aircraft type had been performed. Consequently, VAECO faced significant challenges, as the manufacturer’s manuals and specialized tools were not yet fully designed and optimized.
The LDG replacement required strict adherence to a precise sequence, with many steps depending on the outcomes of preceding ones, leading to extended waiting periods. However, through the collective efforts of the entire team and close collaboration among related units, the majority of the process was completed by December 8, 2024, ensuring quality and meeting the planned schedule.
The LDG is a critical component that connects the aircraft fuselage to the landing gear system, enabling takeoff, landing, and ground movement. Replacing the LDG is one of the most complex maintenance tasks, requiring substantial technical resources, a highly experienced team of technicians, and support from experts, maintenance documentation, and specialized tools.
To ensure the smooth execution of the LDG replacement, VAECO mobilized participation and coordination across multiple company units and received technical support and consultancy from experts at Airbus, Safran, and Liebherr. After thorough research, testing, and implementation, VAECO successfully developed an LDG replacement procedure that meets the manufacturer’s standards and accomplished this complex task for the A350 aircraft.
This milestone represents a significant achievement for VAECO, not only reaffirming its exceptional technical capabilities but also opening opportunities to provide LDG replacement services to other airlines. Given that very few maintenance facilities worldwide possess the capability to perform this task, VAECO’s success enhances the company’s reputation and position in the international aviation maintenance market.
