AIRLINE REVIEW Widerøe
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snowstorms , and freezing temperatures . That day ’ s hop was a lucky chance to admire the beautiful Norwegian landscapes from a privileged seat .
After around 15 minutes in the air , we started our approach to Leknes , flying over Norway ’ s typical red houses facing a fjord . I took in the landscape while the cabin crew busily went through the landing checklist . Next came the most beautiful approach to an airfield I have ever taken , beating the likes of Nice , France ( NCE ), Haneda , Japan ( HND ), or Ushuaia ( SAWO ), at the southern tip of Argentina .
We touched down smoothly and taxied to the apron , where another Widerøe Dash 8 was preparing to leave for Bodø . Landing in Leknes gave me a good idea of Widerøe ’ s real DNA . I would find the same basic character inside its MRO facilities a few days later .
INSIDE WIDERØE ’ S MRO
To maintain its more than 40 Dash 8s , Widerøe Technical Services has developed the expertise needed to take care of most components in-house . The company takes care of its own heavy , line , and component maintenance , ground support , AOG , and training .
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Most of the interventions on the Dash 8s — from leading-edge anti-icing devices to engine components , to cabling , and to fuselage panels — are carried out in Bodø . Here , Widerøe has its headquarters , hangars , and workshops to keep its fleet flying .
The three hangars that make up the complex can be spotted upon landing on Runway 07 . The long corridor connecting the hangars accommodates specialized workshops and laboratories . The latest hangar , constructed in 2019 , is where Widerøe ’ s life-extension program is carried out . Here , the Dash 8s are fully disassembled , thoroughly checked , and put back into service . Through these interventions , Widerøe ’ s can increase the aircraft ’ s flight cycles from the original 80,000 to 120,000 , and then up to 160,000 . When an aircraft ’ s life
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