Etihad Engineering Boosts Access To Used Parts

Etihad's Abu Dhabi facility supports third-party customers as well as parent airline Etihad.
Credit: Etihad Engineering

Etihad Engineering has boosted its access to used serviceable material via a deal with Dutch parts company Touchdown Aviation (TDA).

Under the deal, TDA will use warehouses local to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Engineering to ensure the availability of high-demand aircraft parts.

Etihad Engineering’s five million sq.ft facility is adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport, with hangars covering 711,000 sq.ft, and a custom-designed hangar that can accommodate up to three Airbus A380 aircraft simultaneously.

The facility supports third-party customers as well as parent airline Etihad, with its website listing capabilities across almost all Airbus and Boeing types.

“As we continue to expand our components repair capabilities, we are delighted to have signed an agreement with Touchdown Aviation, as it will not only contribute to our component services growth strategy and at the same time facilitate parts availability for our customers from across the globe,” said Frederic Dupont, vice-president technical sales for Etihad Engineering.

Over the past year Touchdown has acquired five Airbus A320s from lessor Aircastle. Three of the aircraft, which previously operated for defunct Mexican carrier Interjet, have already been disassembled by AerSale in Arizona.

Last year the company acquired its first A330 aircraft for teardown. Two 25-year-old A330s were acquired from Cathay Pacific for teardown by Ascent Aviation Services in Arizona.

Another A330, previously operating for Air Europa, was also acquired later that year. Prior to the A330 acquisitions, the company’s only widebody purchase had been a 767 in 2012.

Alex Derber

Alex Derber, a UK-based aviation journalist, is editor of the Engine Yearbook and a contributor to Aviation Week and Inside MRO.