08.07.2025
British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) has successfully performed a main landing gear change on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner using the LGX MultiSystem, RH Aero Systems’ fully electric, ground-based landing-gear change system.
Cardiff, Wales – 1 July 2025 – British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) has successfully performed a main landing gear change on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner using the LGX MultiSystem, RH Aero Systems’ fully electric, ground-based landing-gear change system. The operation, carried out during the twelve-year heavy check of the aircraft, marks the first time the LGX MultiSystem has been used on a 787.
The task was completed by just two employees: one engineer observed the gear and removed/installed the trunnion pins, while a second engineer operated the system from the hand-held state-of the-art control panel. Traditionally, the same job requires six qualified personnel to steady the gear, guide the crane, and handle the pins. Because the LGX MultiSystem supports and positions the gear entirely from the ground, BAMC did not have to allocate an overhead crane at any stage, keeping the crane free for other jobs.
Notably, the Main Landing Gear was removed and installed with the side and drag stay left in position. There was no necessity to remove them, which resulted in significant timesaving.
BAMC engineers emphasized the safety gains delivered by the equipment. With the MLG clamped securely in the cradle throughout the procedure, the gear remained fixed in position, eliminating the lateral swing that can occur when a leg is suspended from a sling.
Real-time load-cell feedback on the LGX control tablet confirmed that bearing loads stayed within AMM limits for the duration of the change, giving the team added confidence and removing the need for constant verbal coordination between spotters and crane drivers.
Richard Langdon, BAMC Engineer who participated in the gear change, explained that moving to a two-person, ground-based workflow not only cuts the manpower by two-thirds tied to the critical path but also simplifies scheduling by removing the crane booking and the dedicated slinger-signaler roles. “The gear never moved unless we told it to, and we could see the loads on the screen the whole time, so the operation felt far safer and more controlled than the conventional method” he said.
The LGX MultiSystem is the industry’s first universal landing gear change solution for wide-body aircraft. It ships on a single standard freight pallet and is compatible with Airbus A330, A340, A350 and A380 families as well as Boeing 777 and 787 variants. By eliminating cranes and overhead work platforms, the system is designed to cut turnaround times, reduce labor requirements, and improve on-site safety.
RH Aero Systems is reliable + ready, setting the standard for aviation support equipment and services. Through our industry-leading businesses – Rhinestahl and HYDRO Systems – we deliver capability across custom-designed GSE, OEM-licensed engine and airframe tooling, 26 global service centers and innovative engineered solutions for OEMs, MROs and Operators worldwide. RH Aero Systems’ global headquarters are in Mason, Ohio, USA, and Biberach, Germany.