TAM Technology Center Invests in High-tech Testing Equipment

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — The TAM Technology Center, located in Sao Carlos, in the countryside of the state of Sao Paulo, started operating its second ATEC Series 6, a piece of equipment manufactured by EADS Test & Services for testing and repairs of components and electronic systems of Airbus and Boeing aircrafts. TAM is the only airline in Brazil operating three ATECs simultaneously — two latest generation ATECs Series 6 and one ATEC 5000.

"We decided to invest in the second ATEC Series 6 to cope with TAM's growing fleet and to increase our capacity to provide maintenance services to our own fleet as well as to third party aircrafts, including aircraft models that TAM does not operate," says Ruy Amparo, TAM's vice-president of MRO.

The ATEC Series 6 test systems can test around 330 different components, including the sophisticated computers responsible for flight alert management, proximity sensing system, steering and brake controls, fuel control systems, cabin pressure controls, and on-board smoke detection.

The TAM Technology Center in Sao Carlos is certified by ANAC (Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency) and by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) to carry out all major scheduled maintenance (checks C and D) in Airbus A319/A320/A321 and A330 aircrafts belonging to TAM's own fleet and to those of third parties, and is certified to service Fokker-100 airplanes. The company is also certified to service components of Boeing planes that are being added to TAM's fleet. In addition, TAM is in the process to being awarded a FAR 145 certificate from U.S. authorities, to be allowed to provide maintenance services to any U.S.-registered aircraft.

For more information visit www.tam.com.br.