On April 22, Delta Air Lines' maintenance division, Delta TechOps, announced that it has become the exclusive commercial aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider of a new state-of-the-art technology known as Low Plasticity Burnishing (LPB). LPB, developed by Cincinnati-based Lambda Technologies, can be used to extend the life of commercial aircraft components, such as landing gear, propeller hubs and turbine engine blades.

"By partnering with Lambda Technologies, we are able to provide a very unique and valuable service to our customers that other MRO providers cannot," said David Garrison, Delta TechOps managing director - Engine and Component Maintenance. "This technology helps us to reduce maintenance costs and maximize part life through enhanced resistance to fatigue and foreign object damage."

Further leveraging this new technology, Delta TechOps, partnering with Lambda, is developing a process that could eliminate some air-worthiness directive (AD) inspections on MD88 main landing gear.

About Delta TechOps

Delta TechOps is the largest airline MRO in North America, generating more than US$500 million in revenue in 2008. In addition to providing maintenance and engineering support for Delta's mainline fleet of more than 750 aircraft, Delta TechOps serves more than 150 other aviation and airline customers from around the world, specializing in high-skill work like engines, components, hangar and line maintenance. Delta TechOps employs more than 8,500 maintenance professionals and is one of the world's most experienced MRO providers with more than seven decades of aviation expertise. More about Delta TechOps is available at www.deltatechops.com.