Delta TechOps is a key driver of Delta’s industry-leading operational performance, focused on keeping the airline’s complex aircraft fleet flying safely and reliably while getting customers to their final destination on-time. 

As the largest aviation maintenance group in North America, its highly skilled workforce of over 10,000 technicians, engineers and other support employees provide full-service maintenance to more than 850 Delta aircraft and their engines as well as maintenance services to more than 150 other operators, cargo operators and the military and government, through the airline’s Maintenance Repair and Overhaul or MRO business. 

TechOps specializes in work such as maintaining aircraft engines, components including mechanical and avionics, airframes and performing line maintenance repairs at stations around the globe. 

“Delta TechOps employees are truly the best in the business, continuously going above and beyond for Delta and our third-party customers,” said Don Mitacek, Senior Vice President – TechOps. “We’re in the business of driving industry-leading operational reliability – and our highly skilled technicians and engineers are focused on providing exceptional service each and every day.”  

Types of maintenance include: 

• Engine: Delta TechOps is a leading provider of MRO services for the engines that power the Delta fleet as well as engines serviced for other operators throughout the world. Delta has two engine shops at its TechOps Center in Atlanta, the first in the airline’s existing facility with over 70 engine bays, and the second at its new state-of-the-art engine shop, built to perform maintenance on next generation engines that power the latest widebody and narrowbody aircraft. A new engine test cell, the largest in the world, will also expand the type of engines Delta is able to maintain. In addition to the two engine shops, Delta TechOps has a dedicated APU (auxiliary power unit) shop, with capabilities to modify, repair and overhaul the units. Through all of their maintenance work, TechOps employees help minimize turn times, effectively limiting the need for engine spares and reducing overall maintenance costs. To further assist with eliminating wasteful spending and lower turn times, Delta Material Services, a Delta subsidiary, steps in for timely supply of surplus material.

• Component: Includes everything from various composite materials on the aircraft, including wiring, ductwork, inflight entertainment systems, seats, overhead bins and ovens as well as moveable parts such as flaps, ailerons and rudder components. Delta’s component shops repair and service more than 23,000 different airframe, engine and avionics components, turning over 200,000 parts each year for Delta and other air carriers. 

• Airframe: Maintenance on the mechanical structure, or airframe to keep aircraft flying at their peak. TechOps completes work on everything from routine airframe maintenance to the most complex repairs like complete airframe conversions.  Some of the airframe maintenance services Delta offers include: scheduled maintenance overhauls — often referred to as letter checks, winglet installation, landing gear overhaul, thrust reversers repair, corrosion prevention and control programs, aircraft painting, fuel tank maintenance, interior modifications and engineering projects through Delta Flight Products, aging aircraft visits and non-routine maintenance. Delta strategically schedules base maintenance during the shoulder or off-peak seasons to ensure all aircraft are available to fly during the peak summer season. During peak season while the Delta aircraft are flying, more third party customer work will be in the building. Specifically Military & Government aircraft, including the P-8A, C-32, C-40 and KC-46, which largely make up the third party airframe maintenance performed. 

• Line Maintenance: Certified technicians around the globe perform everything from routine turnaround and overnight checks to complex in-service repairs. Line maintenance tends to be performed outside the hangar, often at a gate or on the ramp between flights. Facilities worldwide allow Delta better access to parts, tools and equipment to keep aircraft flying. In addition to part allocations at stations, Delta has 24/7/365 AOG (aircraft on the ground) support. Our global presence gets parts where needed to not only put Delta aircraft back in the air, but customers as well. 

What happens where at Delta TechOps:

• In the hangar: routine inspections, cabin updates repairs, complete airframe checks and overhauls 
• In the engine shop & test cell: complete modification, repair and overhaul of engines, ranging from hospital visit (check/repair) to a performance restoration (gas path), test cell runs and diagnostics
• In the component shops: testing and repairing damaged parts and producing new parts from raw materials using advanced computer modeling and design
• On the line: employees work to keep Delta’s aircraft on-schedule with unscheduled maintenance requests at a moment’s notice anywhere in the world
• In the labs: researching and testing new materials, processes and technology to drive innovation and the future of aviation 
• In the Training Classroom: Delta people are continuously educated and updated on the most current methods and procedures to perform maintenance activities 
• In the engineering offices: teams of engineers and other specialists work with aircraft and component manufacturers in cooperation with regulatory oversight organizations, such as the FAA, to develop and implement the most effective reliability programs and work instructions to drive continuously improving performance