Landing Gear Overhaul Partnership for Regional Aviation
Liebherr-Aerospace and HAECO completed the first overhaul program for the COMAC C909 regional jet landing gear in China.
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Liebherr-Aerospace and HAECO Landing Gear Services jointly completed the first major landing gear overhaul for the COMAC C909 regional aircraft, formerly designated ARJ21 and known as “Soaring Phoenix”. The cooperation establishes localized maintenance capability for a safety-critical aircraft system and supports regional aviation maintenance infrastructure in China and Southeast Asia.
Regional aircraft operators increasingly require local maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity to reduce turnaround times and improve fleet availability. The project addressed the need for certified overhaul capability for the C909 landing gear system, which was developed by Liebherr-Aerospace as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The cooperation combined OEM engineering expertise with MRO implementation and operational support capabilities.
Technical Roles and Maintenance Responsibilities
Liebherr-Aerospace was responsible for technical supervision, process validation, and quality assurance throughout the overhaul process. HAECO Landing Gear Services managed overhaul execution, maintenance operations, and workshop integration activities.
The landing gear overhaul involved inspection, disassembly, component evaluation, replacement of wear-sensitive parts, reassembly, and final acceptance testing. As a safety-critical aircraft subsystem, the landing gear requires strict adherence to aviation maintenance procedures, dimensional tolerances, and certified inspection standards. OEM participation supported compliance with approved maintenance documentation and process control requirements.
The cooperation also supported capability development for long-term maintenance activities. Initial work started in 2025 with process optimization and technical preparation, followed by final acceptance testing and official delivery in 2026.
Localized MRO Infrastructure for Regional Jets
The overhaul program contributes to the development of domestic aerospace maintenance infrastructure for regional commercial aircraft. By establishing localized landing gear overhaul capability, operators can reduce logistical complexity associated with overseas maintenance services.
The maintenance solution is intended to support operators in China as well as expanding regional aviation markets including Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The localized support model is designed to improve aircraft utilization rates and reduce maintenance-related downtime through shorter service cycles and regional technical support availability.
The project also demonstrates cooperation between OEM engineering teams and independent MRO providers in the civil aviation sector. Such cooperation is increasingly required for regional aircraft programs where fleet expansion depends on scalable maintenance and support infrastructure.
Eric Thévenot, General Manager Aerospace Customer Service at Liebherr (China) Co., Ltd., stated: “This cooperation is a significant step forward for the domestic civil aviation industry. The combination of our technical Liebherr OEM DNA with HAECO’s MRO excellence, we haven't just repaired hardware; we have built a sustainable and robust service ecosystem that will benefit several aircraft platforms and airline customers throughout the region”.
The completion of the first overhaul establishes a reference process for future C909 landing gear maintenance programs and supports the long-term operational lifecycle of the regional aircraft fleet.
Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.
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