Russian carrier Azur Air is growing its MRO capabilities for Western-built aircraft through new certifications and services.
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (FATA) has approved Azur to carry out structural repairs for components of Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft registered in Russia. It has also opened a shop for non-destructive testing of these components at its Vnukovo International Airport technical center.
The airline operates a fleet of 11 767s, 10 757s, seven 777-300ERs, three 737-800s and two 737-900s, according to Aviation Week Intelligence Network Fleet & MRO Forecast data. This new approval will give Azur the ability to perform component repairs in-house for its own fleet, as well as for third-party customers.
Azur holds FATA FAR-285 approval and Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements Part 145 and Part 39 approval from the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority to perform maintenance including aircraft modifications, engine replacement, interior repairs, and maintenance of auxiliary power units, landing gear and structural components.
The airline has been working to build up its independent MRO capabilities, including scheduled checks. It holds FATA approval to perform periodic maintenance on 757s and 767s, and in March FATA extended the airline’s FAP-285 certificate to perform these checks on 737s and 777s. The airline announced on Aug. 29 that it had completed its first independent C check on a Russian-registered 737-800 over the course of approximately 2.5 months.
The airline’s expanded approvals for Western-built aircraft are likely aimed at alleviating some of the turmoil in Russia’s MRO industry. In the wake of Western sanctions on the country, its options for spare parts and MRO have been severely limited. After seizing hundreds of leased aircraft earlier this year, Russia’s airlines need options to continue operating these fleets.
FATA has issued similar approvals for maintenance of Western-built aircraft to several other Russian MRO providers this year, including Aeroflot subsidiary A-Technics, Izhavia, Rossiya Airlines, UTair Aviation and Yakutia Airlines.
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