AIRLINE REVIEW
Overhead bins also get fixed . It takes large amounts of wood and fiberglass , which can be shaped and modelled in the airline ’ s laboratory , just a short distance from the hangar . Most wear and tear can easily be fixed in-house , shortening the maintenance times and costs .
The airline has been facing some supply chain challenges for its Dash 8s . Widerøe ’ s backbone , the Dash 8-100 , has not been in production for years and , while De Havilland Canada has often discussed restarting its Dash 8-400 production line , no certain plan is in the works .
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This partial lack of fleet support has forced Widerøe to develop its own expertise — and to train young apprentices to ensure that the knowledge endures . This is crucial to keep the airline flying its more than 3 million passengers annually .
The MRO base in Bodø enables Widerøe to provide essential service to the many citizens who live in regions that would otherwise be impossible to reach due to the complexities of Norway ’ s geography . However , Widerøe ’ s life extension program cannot guarantee its future forever , and the carrier is already testing the grounds for a fleet revolution .
TACKLING SUSTAINABILITY — REALISTICALLY
11 A Dash 8 in Bodø . The maintenance team can access all aircraft parts , including the horizontal stabilizer , to inspect each component .
12 Inside Widerøe ’ s Dash 8-100 . The cabin is arranged in a 2-2 layout , with five seats in the final row . cannot be extended further , Widerøe uses it for spare components .
The life extension work is only one of the many day-to-day tasks carried out in Widerøe ’ s MRO base . Specialized technicians inspect and fix critical components , such as the propellers ’ anti-icing systems , the engine ’ s control boards , or the kilometers of wiring embedded in the fuselages .
Here , workers also replace any fuselage panels that come in dented or damaged from minor collisions . Thanks to a 3D scanning device , Widerøe can assess the extent and shape of the damage and fix the fuselages with custom-made patches .
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Sustainability is often a tricky topic in aviation . Airlines have been accused of greenwashing , and even fined over emissions policies with some promoting green images that are far removed from reality .
On the contrary , Widerøe ’ s quiet and diligent pursuit of its emission reduction goals could not be farther from this state of affairs . It can be said that , unlike the vast majority of global airlines , Widerøe is responsibly tackling its own carbon footprint .
Widerøe aims to be among the world ’ s first emissions-free airlines ; thanks to its unique network , it may well beat most other European airlines . To achieve this goal , the airline is waiting for the next generation of green airliners to become commercially available , which may take decades . Widerøe refuses to acquire any new machinery that does not represent a significant step toward more sustainable flights .
54 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com