Boeing expands Landing Gear Exchange Program to 737 MAX, targeting reduced AOG time and greater maintenance predictability
Boeing and American Airlines have completed the first landing gear exchange on a 737 MAX, marking the extension of Boeing’s established Landing Gear Exchange Program to its latest-generation single-aisle aircraft.
The milestone demonstrates Boeing’s ability to provide fully overhauled and Boeing-certified main and nose landing gear assemblies on an exchange basis, allowing operators to replace assemblies with ready-to-install units rather than undertaking lengthy overhauls on the aircraft.
Exchange model targets shorter ground time
For the completed exchange, Boeing supplied overhauled and certified main and nose landing gear assemblies along with installation kits. Wheels, tires and brakes were excluded from the exchange.
The process was designed to validate the complete exchange workflow, covering technical overhaul, applicable documentation and certification through to delivery and installation. Boeing said the model can help airlines reduce aircraft-on-ground (AOG) exposure while improving maintenance planning and fleet availability.
“Extending the program to the 737 MAX gives operators another proven tool to shorten downtime, manage costs and align heavy maintenance with operational needs,” said William Ampofo, Senior Vice President, Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain, Boeing Global Services.
The landing gear exchange model also offers an alternative to purchasing and storing expensive spare landing gear assemblies. Instead, operators can reserve forward-exchange capacity and access certified replacement units when required.
Boeing to expand global exchange capacity
Following the first 737 MAX exchange, Boeing plans to expand the programme’s global availability by increasing overhaul capacity and working with certified MRO partners.
Near-term priorities include building additional 737 MAX-capable exchange inventory, establishing forward-exchange slots closer to customer operations and tracking operational metrics to measure the programme’s impact on downtime and maintenance costs.
Under the exchange model, Boeing manages the technical overhaul, incorporation of applicable service bulletins, certification and supplier coordination. This can reduce the inventory, obsolescence and asset-management burden traditionally carried by airlines.
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A new aftermarket option for the 737 MAX
The expansion of the Landing Gear Exchange Program adds another aftermarket support option for the growing 737 MAX fleet, particularly as operators look for ways to manage maintenance events without extending aircraft ground time.
By combining certified replacement assemblies with forward-exchange capability, Boeing is positioning the programme as a predictable, inventory-efficient alternative to in-place landing gear overhaul, with the potential to support faster return-to-service and improved maintenance planning as the network expands.
