JB Roche's "Irish tent" to the rescue in Swiss airline emergency
Randy Bounds
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En route from Zurich to Los Angeles, Swiss Flight LX40 was forced to make an emergency landing in remote Canada last week, due to engine failure. The 777-300ER touched down safely in Iqaluit Airport, located in the remote Nunavut region of Canada.
Amidst freezing conditions, the logistical challenge of transporting passengers to their destination - alongside a new engine for the aircraft - began. Official sources state that Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at this airport have only small general aviation aircraft capacity, for more than 15 passengers. The large Boeing 777-300 can carry up to 550 passengers.
As a response to the unplanned landing, Swiss airline dispatched a flight from JFK, New York to pick up the passengers. A new GE Aviation Engine and 12 GE technicians departed Zurich on an Antonov An 124 aircraft - facing high winds, -40F wind chill and no hanger large enough for the 777. This is where Co. Cork based JB Roche, an Enterprise Ireland client company, stepped in: their inflatable on-wing engine hanger was aboard the Antonov 124. Designed to withstand extreme environments, the hangar has been thus described as a "game changer that performed superbly and allowed our technicians to perform what would otherwise have been impossible." Take a look at the incident documented here.
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