Max Schramm recently took the helm of IAG Engine Tech.
Max Schramm recently took the helm of IAG Engine Tech as the newly established business prepares to launch CFM International Leap engine maintenance operations from Madrid in early 2027. He spoke with Aviation Week about the strategy behind IAG’s new Leap capability, the challenges of entering a capacity-constrained market and the company’s long-term ambitions.
IAG Engine Tech is entering a highly capacity-constrained Leap MRO market. What will differentiate your business from established providers?
The Leap aftermarket is experiencing unprecedented demand while maintenance capacity remains constrained across the industry. We believe the market needs additional high-quality MRO capability, and that is why IAG decided to create IAG Engine Tech.
From day one, we decided to go beyond the traditional MRO services and pricing structures that our competitors offer today for the Leap program. Already today we are offering a pure availability product to some of our customers, which is priced as flexible power-by-the-hour (PBH) services, including spare support with a mix of owned spare assets and assets that we lease in with long-term contracts from strategic partners.
Although IAG Engine Tech is a new company, it is built on the proven heritage of Iberia Maintenance, whose engine shop in Madrid has accumulated more than 50 years of engine MRO expertise. This strong foundation has been one of the main reasons why we have been selected to join CFM’s Leap Premier MRO network, becoming part of a highly selective group of authorized providers worldwide. It reflects CFM's confidence in our industrial capabilities and gives customers the assurance that their engines will be maintained to the highest technical standards, with direct collaboration with the OEM and access to the latest engineering knowledge, processes and support throughout the engine lifecycle.
How do you expect demand to be split between supporting IAG's own airlines and winning third-party engine work?
Supporting IAG airlines will provide a strong operational foundation, but IAG Engine Tech has been established with a clear commercial ambition to serve the wider aviation industry. Being part of IAG gives us firsthand insight into the challenges airlines face. Combined with close collaboration with our customers, this allows us to develop tailored solutions that go beyond traditional engine maintenance.
Our goal is to become a trusted long-term partner for airlines, lessors and operators, helping them maximize reliability, fleet availability and operational resilience throughout the engine lifecycle.
Building Leap capability requires significant investment in people, tooling and infrastructure. Which area do you see as the biggest challenge over the next two years?
People, tooling and infrastructure are all fundamental, but the biggest challenge is people. Technology and facilities can be acquired; building a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting next-generation engines takes time and continuous investment.
This is an industry-wide challenge. We need to make engineering and maintenance more accessible and attractive as a career, creating new pathways into the profession. That is why we are exploring partnerships with educational institutions and other organizations to help develop the next generation of engine maintenance professionals. For us, this is about building both the capability our industry needs for the future and creating opportunities for the communities around us.
Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2027. What are the key milestones between now and the first customer engine entering the shop?
Over the coming months, we will continue preparing our Madrid facilities, installing tooling and equipment, expanding and training our workforce, and completing the qualification activities required to operate within CFM's Leap Premier MRO network.
In parallel, we are building the wider support ecosystem around our MRO capability, including spare engine availability, PBH solutions and strategic partnerships.
Our goal is that when the first customer engine enters our shop in early 2027, (the customer) will gain not simply another Leap MRO provider, but a partner capable of supporting its operations in a broader and more flexible way.
Looking beyond launch, what does success look like for IAG Engine Tech five years from now?
Success will not simply be measured by the number of engines we maintain. We want IAG Engine Tech to be recognized as one of the world's leading independent engine MRO providers, both for the quality of our maintenance and for the value we create for customers and our communities.
Our ambition is to redefine what customers should expect from an engine MRO partner, combining technical excellence with integrated solutions that improve fleet availability, operational resilience and long-term value.
If airlines choose IAG Engine Tech because we help to keep their aircraft flying—not simply because we overhaul engines, but because we understand their needs—then we will have achieved our goal.
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