TRIUMPH IN AIRCRAFT SUSTAINMENT AND INDIGENOUS EXPERTISE
9:25pm on Monday 4th December 2023
The Aircraft Overhaul Wing (AOW) at SLAF Base Katunayake successfully delivered the life-extended Y-12 II aircraft, following an overhaul, to the No. 08 Light Transport Squadron at SLAF Base Rathmalana today (04 December 2023), marking the second occasion to meet flying requirements effectively and efficiently.
This aircraft in the SLAF, SMR-858 Y-12 II was handed over to AOW SLAF Kat on 19 Oct 20 to undertake overhaul and service life extension programme under original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supervision. It is noteworthy that previously overhauled aircraft (Almost all the Y-12 II fleet except SCL-857 and SCL-859) have been subjected to service life extension through OEM Technical support to expand the service life window up to 35 years on the calendar based due to high operational demand as a lightweight lifter. However, during the mid-course of the overhaul process, OEM discontinued providing logistic (spares and repair) support as well as providing technical support for the service life extension programme stating that the production of the Y-12 II series and its accessories have been obsolete in China since 2016. Taking the indigenous service life extension Engineering programme conducted for SCL-854 Y-12 II (expand the service life above 35 years of OEM given life) as the basement, AOW has conducted an enhanced servicing schedule to apply for the subjected aircraft to extend the service life above 30 years of calendar base assigned life.
With the direct guidance of Director General Aeronautical Engineering Air Vice Marshal MPA Mahawattage, the Commanding Officer at AOW, Group Captain LMCB Nissanka and his dedicated team executed this challenging project with unparalleled skill and diligence. Further,the life extension of SMR 858 Y-12 II aircraft has been done with the expertise assistance of University of Moratuwa and the Industrial Technology Institute, Colombo by developing a methodology to analyze the structural integrity via calculate the remaining life if available for the airframe through material testing and comparing with published test data by different researchers who have done same kind of research before.The overhauled and life extension programme involved a complex process of removing of all the items including wings and control surfaces of the aircraft and inspecting as per the standard servicing schedules and repairing and overhauling as necessary and ten installing all the items of the aircraft to ensure its continued operational readiness for years to come.
The ceremony was graced by the Director General Air Operation, Air Vice Marshal VB Edirisinghe, Director General Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal MPA Mahawattage, Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore SDGM Silva, Deputy Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake Group Captain ADR Liyanarachchige, Director Aeronautical Engineering- Maintenance Group Captain MF Jansen and Commanding Officer Aircraft Engineering Wing, Group Captain AKKR Abesinghe Commanding Officer No. 08 Light Transport Squadron, Wing Cimmander TP Silva.
This aircraft in the SLAF, SMR-858 Y-12 II was handed over to AOW SLAF Kat on 19 Oct 20 to undertake overhaul and service life extension programme under original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supervision. It is noteworthy that previously overhauled aircraft (Almost all the Y-12 II fleet except SCL-857 and SCL-859) have been subjected to service life extension through OEM Technical support to expand the service life window up to 35 years on the calendar based due to high operational demand as a lightweight lifter. However, during the mid-course of the overhaul process, OEM discontinued providing logistic (spares and repair) support as well as providing technical support for the service life extension programme stating that the production of the Y-12 II series and its accessories have been obsolete in China since 2016. Taking the indigenous service life extension Engineering programme conducted for SCL-854 Y-12 II (expand the service life above 35 years of OEM given life) as the basement, AOW has conducted an enhanced servicing schedule to apply for the subjected aircraft to extend the service life above 30 years of calendar base assigned life.
With the direct guidance of Director General Aeronautical Engineering Air Vice Marshal MPA Mahawattage, the Commanding Officer at AOW, Group Captain LMCB Nissanka and his dedicated team executed this challenging project with unparalleled skill and diligence. Further,the life extension of SMR 858 Y-12 II aircraft has been done with the expertise assistance of University of Moratuwa and the Industrial Technology Institute, Colombo by developing a methodology to analyze the structural integrity via calculate the remaining life if available for the airframe through material testing and comparing with published test data by different researchers who have done same kind of research before.The overhauled and life extension programme involved a complex process of removing of all the items including wings and control surfaces of the aircraft and inspecting as per the standard servicing schedules and repairing and overhauling as necessary and ten installing all the items of the aircraft to ensure its continued operational readiness for years to come.
The ceremony was graced by the Director General Air Operation, Air Vice Marshal VB Edirisinghe, Director General Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal MPA Mahawattage, Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore SDGM Silva, Deputy Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake Group Captain ADR Liyanarachchige, Director Aeronautical Engineering- Maintenance Group Captain MF Jansen and Commanding Officer Aircraft Engineering Wing, Group Captain AKKR Abesinghe Commanding Officer No. 08 Light Transport Squadron, Wing Cimmander TP Silva.
