Virgin Atlantic Heathrow: A non-stop aircraft maintenance hub

Located at the eastern corner of Heathrow Airport, Virgin Atlantic’s hangar is one of the airline’s two hubs in the UK alongside Manchester Airport. Since opening in 2002, it has essentially been operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

At 13,000m², the facility can handle the largest widebody aircraft in the world, the Airbus A350-1000.

Inside, technicians carry out thousands of different maintenance tasks, from lubricating mechanical parts to replacing composite panels, inspecting aircraft structural components to changing engines. Avionics, systems, landing gear, powerplant, structural and interior staff all have specific parts to play, working in harmony to keep Virgin Atlantic airborne.

Virgin Atlantic are constantly trying to improve their processes and part of this depends on selecting the correct tools: equipment that can be trusted to get the day-to-day done while innovating and optimising aircraft maintenance practice.

How we help Virgin Atlantic maintain performance and safety

Milwaukee Tools’ Job Site Solutions team was approached by Virgin Atlantic for dedicated transport solutions that would uphold site safety and drive operational productivity.

The team worked closely with Virgin to understand the specific requirements of their engineering division, using these insights to create a bespoke and trade-focused inventory of MILWAUKEE® tools to get the job done.

Using our battery-powered tools, Virgin Atlantic’s engineers gain a wealth of features and benefits:

Zero wires or air lines – Removing the use of cumbersome electrically wired and air-line-powered gas tools, staff could get jobs done much quicker and simpler, thanks to improved ergonomics and far fewer trip hazards.
Single battery system – Virgin Atlantic’s experts use a wide range of tools during each maintenance task. A single, simple, swappable battery system meant staff wouldn’t need to navigate a range of different batteries.
Adaptable lighting – Battery-powered lighting systems helped engineers working within engine compartments, cargo bays and other dark confined spaces. Out on the tarmac, meanwhile, tower lights could be placed without the risk of creating wire tripping hazards.
Flexibility – The sheer adaptability of Milwaukee Tools meant that a single piece of equipment could be deployed practically anywhere – in the cabin, the exterior of plane, or deep within the aircraft.
Reliability – Built to be reliable, engineers appreciated the ‘grab-and-go’ nature of the tools, and the peace of mind that came with knowing that their equipment would be able to get the job done, trouble-free.
Durability – Aircraft engineers have demanding schedules, so put their tools through their paces. Thankfully though, Virgin Atlantic’s team were surprised at the sheer robustness of the MILWAUKEE® tools, with our equipment displaying an extremely low failure rate.

Overall, the professionals at Virgin Atlantic found it refreshing to work with a partner that understood the needs of engineers, and experience just how far battery tool technology has advanced.

As Tristan Blake, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor, puts it: “We expect the absolute best from our guys, and we can only expect that if we give them the best tools.”

Explore the Milwaukee Tool range or find a store near you. If you have any questions, please contact our team to find out how we can help your business become safer and more efficient with high-performance, trade-focused battery-powered tools.