Marshall Aerospace has been awarded an Interior Cabin Upgrade contract by TAP, Portugal’s flag-carrying airline. The upgrade is to be applied to four Airbus A340-312 aircraft and will include new seating with enhanced in-flight entertainment systems.

Under the contract Marshall Aerospace will be the Aircraft System Integrator, responsible for the installation of the upgrades and the provision of all adaptive modification data. The company will also certify the upgrades under its EASA Part 21J DOA privileges; thus enabling an early return to service (upon successful completion of the installation and ground-testing). Marshall Aerospace will then work through the regulators to provide EASA and FAA Supplementary Type Certificates (STCs).

Steve Fitz-Gerald, CEO, Marshall Aerospace, said: “We are delighted to have won this contract as it not only reflects our increasing activities in the commercial sector but it also exemplifies how we are fulfilling a much-needed ‘hybrid role’ within the industry, supplying airlines and other MROs with engineering services that in turn enable them to secure more business.”

Preliminary design work for TAP has already commenced and the first installation is scheduled for February 2012. Following the first aircraft Release to Service, on completion of successful ground testing, the remaining three aircraft will be upgraded by November 2012.

Luís Monteiro, VP Marketing, TAP Portugal, commented: “With such an upgrade to be applied to its four A340 aircraft in operation on the long haul sector, TAP continues to ensure the quality and reliability of the in-flight entertainment systems equipping its fleet across the whole Network. Thereby, the company provides customers with a superior level of comfort and quality on board, living up to their expectations and aligning with the best practices within the Industry.”

The installation will be performed at TAP’s facilities in Lisbon, Portugal after completion of Marshall Aerospace’s activities in Cambridge, UK.

The contract was awarded through a traditional competitive bid process. A contributing factor in Marshall Aerospace’s success was the company’s track record on similar upgrade programmes, which presented TAP with the lowest risk proposal.

Marshall Aerospace press release