Paul Scherrer, the airline's managing director, engineering & planning, reports that the carrier rents hangar facilities in Zurich and Geneva, but it has no overhaul shops of its own. It performs light maintenance up to and including A checks, and other tasks such as engine and APU changes. It sources all heavy maintenance.

For life-limited consumables, more airlines and MROs are looking at small kit packaging as one approach to inventory control that saves money and reduces waste, says Randy Wilt, director of corporate marketing for Graco Supply and Integrated Services.

While OEMs continue to push long-term engine service contracts, independents can be competitive on small turbine engines if they play their cards right.