Lufthansa Technik has commenced a comprehensive training program to prepare German Navy technicians for the service entry of, the Boeing P-8A Poseidon jet with the first stage being the qualification of the first German Navy technicians.
Lufthansa Technik initiates a comprehensive training program aimed at preparing German Navy technicians for the forthcoming entry into service of, the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. This is about one year before the planned deployment of the aircraft and is held by Lufthansa Technical Training in cooperation with different partners.
The first stage of the training program is the qualification of the first German Navy technicians for P-8A support, based on the Boeing 737NG, which serves as the basis for the P-8A. A number of subgroups of German Navy technicians already underwent their practical training on the Boeing 737NG at LTT. Additional on-the-job courses are also implemented at Lufthansa Technik Budapest. All these efforts will culminate in a difference course tailored to maintaining the military P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
“The Boeing 737 has been a regular guest in our hangars since the 1960s. Over the decades, we have been able to build up an almost unrivalled technical knowledge of this aircraft type, which we are now very happy to pass on to the technical personnel of the German Navy,” said Sascha Leitner, Head of Defense Programs, Lufthansa Technik. “In the efficient training courses within our network, we provide the technicians of the German Navy with all the necessary basics to quickly qualify for the P-8A as soon as the first aircraft arrives. A real training trident for Poseidon. As a proud part of the German P-8A industrial team, we want to contribute to making the introduction of the new maritime patrol aircraft as efficient as possible,” he further added.
Lufthansa Technik, supported by its subsidiaries, has accumulated vast experience of servicing thousands of civil Boeing 737s. All this experience collected will be applied in the maintenance of the military derivative of this aircraft, the P-8A. It will conduct three distinct training courses – theoretical, practical, and on-the-job – on behalf of Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer and main contractor. The German industrial team also includes ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH.
“The early retraining of our personnel on the 737NG basic type enables us to gain initial knowledge and build up experience even before the first P-8A is delivered,” said Frigate Captain Alexander von Schledorn, responsible for training the technical personnel of the German naval aviators in Nordholz, Lower Saxony. “With the transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon, we are taking a huge technological step. The technicians are already looking forward to working on the new P-8A soon,” he further added.
The practical training for the Boeing 737NG equips technical personnel with hands-on experience in line maintenance, which is vital for everyday air traffic and essential support of air traffic operations. LTT has received support from an old partner, SunExpress, in training the first 24 technicians of the German Navy. In these training sessions, which took place at SunExpress’s maintenance base in Antalya, several 737NGs were used for practical exercises.
Following this, Navy technicians move to Hungary for intensive training at Lufthansa Technik Budapest. It is at this stage that the technicians get trained to handle more complex tasks, including aircraft repair and replacement of complicated subsystems and components of the Boeing 737NG. One trainer per four trainees will be involved in training to ensure a focused learning environment.
Lufthansa Technik’s step-by-step training on the Boeing 737NG provides a strong basis for operating the P-8A Poseidon. More differentiation training aimed at the military type is to be added to this basic training. These will focus on the components unique to the P-8A. The next training will be transitioning the transition to a pure P-8A type training program, which will involve training all training elements on the Poseidon itself, including practical training on German Navy-owned aircraft.
“We are thankful for Lufthansa Technik’s continued contributions in support of the Germany P-8A program,” said Conner Chavez, Director Government Services, Boeing Global Services.“These activities are critical steps as we work with our German P-8A Industry Team to provide the German Navy with the high value capability of the Poseidon and a local sustainment infrastructure,” he further added.
Since 2023, Lufthansa Technik AG has committed itself more to the military aircraft maintenance under the Lufthansa Technik Defense brand. The company now plays a vanguard role in modernizing and procuring activities with the German Armed Forces on the P-8A Poseidon and the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Moreover, the company entered into cooperation with market leaders with technical support in future projects such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter aircraft fleet.
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Lufthansa Technik’s strategic decision to further participate in the market for military aircraft maintenance reflects its commitment to support defense capabilities and ensuring readiness for critical fleets of aircraft. With profound expertise, extensive experience, and a very comprehensive training framework, Lufthansa Technik is thus well placed to play a leading role in the integration and maintenance of complex military aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon and contribute to the national security objectives of Germany and its NATO partners.
Question- What is the purpose of Lufthansa Technik’s comprehensive training program?
Answer- To prepare German Navy technicians for the service entry of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon jet.
Question- Which aircraft is the Boeing P-8A Poseidon derived from?
Answer- The civilian Boeing 737-800.
Question- Who is responsible for training the technical personnel of the German naval aviators?
Answer- Frigate Captain Alexander von Schledorn.
