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Changing an aircraft engine can be tough on a good day, but in winter weather during the holiday travel season at an offline station, it’s extremely challenging. On the day after Christmas, Tech Ops employees from around the system headed to Lubbock International Airport (LBB) in Texas to replace an engine on a diverted aircraft.
On Dec. 23, aircraft 855, an A321, departed MIA for LAX and diverted to LBB due to an engine warning light that came on in flight. Because LBB is an offline station without mechanics, Tech Ops team members from DFW, ORD and PHX headed to Lubbock to change the engine, bringing with them tools for the job in the winter weather.
LBB is a small airport that doesn’t have a hangar large enough for an A321, so the team made space for the repair work on the ramp. The team trucked a spare engine to LBB from JFK, and with temperatures in the 20s, cleared away several inches of snow using shovels and other machinery.
After clearing the space, the team set up an inflatable shelter where they repaired the engine with protection from the freezing weather and snow. The igloo-shaped structure, which ORD Tech Ops employees brought to LBB, is equipped with two portable generators for heat and lights. The front is easily detachable, giving the team room to move the engine inside and back out after repairs.
Purchased in 2013, the igloo shelter is the only one of its kind in the American Airlines system.
For days, the team worked in the freezing weather, rain and snow to complete the repairs, stopping during extreme weather. On Dec. 30, they finished replacing the engine, and the aircraft soon returned to service. “This is a great example of how our Tech Ops team rises to the challenge to keep our operation moving, no matter what hurdles they face,” said David Seymour, senior vice president – Technical Operations. “Thank you for keeping our airline on track."