Aircraft battery servicing – what are your options?

Without regular maintenance, the extended idle period that the majority of aircraft are currently in will create problems for even new batteries. However, proper care can retain the life of your batteries and mitigate the need to replace them. So what are your options for aircraft battery servicing?

Amongst the 70 percent of the global fleet currently grounded, there are a lot of different aircraft with batteries in a myriad of different states. Some old, some new, Lithium-ion, Nickel-cadmium, lead-acid, etc., and all of them will require different levels of maintenance or replacement during this lockdown period.

In this article, we will take you through Satair's aircraft battery servicing options, to ensure that you have the information that you need to make an educated decision regarding the servicing of your aircraft batteries.

Read more: Why should airlines consider their battery service before re-entry into service?

What are your aircraft battery servicing options?

Regardless of the type and age of the batteries on your aircraft, if this lockdown period is extended any further, we would recommend that you consider some kind of aircraft battery maintenance or service. Typically, we advise that all batteries need to undergo at least a top charge beyond the 90-day idle period—of which many aircraft are now reaching. Beyond that, there are several options that you have at your disposal.

1. Repair & Servicing of Aircraft Batteries

If you find that you are in a situation in which your aircraft battery needs more than a top-charge, but is not fitted for conducting maintenance procedures, there are Battery Maintenance programmes that you can rely on to keep your batteries in working condition. We have authorised battery shops in the U.K, Florida, and Singapore, that can handle either scheduled or ad hoc maintenance.

Shipping your aircraft batteries to and from your location is a no-hassle operation, which follows straightforward shipping certifications to ensure the safety of your batteries.

There are several aircraft battery service options to fit your specific needs, all of which comply with all CMM/OMM, FAA, EASA 145/Dual certification requirements:

• For the most tailored option, you can select specific services, such as capacity testing, battery overhaul or battery repair, where a set labour cost is applied to each individual service.
• A more cost-effective option applies a single labour cost for all battery service requirements
• Custom battery leasing under a monthly subscription is a possibility but is subject to some country legislation
• Our final option is a buyback & total service provision of batteries. Under a service contract, we purchase your entire battery stock and establish a monthly service charge which covers replacement parts, new batteries and servicing.

While in some cases it will be necessary to procure new aircraft batteries, by merely performing routine maintenance the cost comparison can be a difference between a few hundred euro and a few thousand. It’s the smart choice.

2. Training to do-it-yourself

In some cases, the most advantageous and cost-effective option is to train your own workforce in proper aircraft battery servicing and maintenance. We specialise in offering training courses in the service of all wet nickel-cadmium batteries manufactured by Saft and Marathon. While the process for our training programmes has changed due to COVID-19, the training covers all aspects of aircraft battery servicing requirements.

3. Purchasing New

In some situations, there won’t be a way to avoid procuring new batteries for your aircraft. Some aircraft out there are running batteries that are over ten years old. While in a normal operational period those batteries would still have plenty of life, we are coming up on three months of extended downtime with no indication as to when aircraft can begin re-entering back into service. Because we are not in a normal operational period, the circumstances could create problems for older batteries.

If you need to procure new batteries or cells for your aircraft, we’ve got you covered. As aircraft parts specialists, we carry nearly every single battery and cell on the market, and we always keep a full stock.

To get more specific advice directly from one of our experts, you can follow this link.