Key MRO Executives To Watch In 2021

Donecle Co-Founder and CEO

Bequet has been very visible in the MRO industry the last few years, promoting the company’s drone, but since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the use of drones for aircraft inspections, remote data-­sharing with external parties and even collaboration with other technologies such as 3D dent-mapping has accelerated. As trials near their end and aviation companies reimagine their businesses to gain efficiencies and leverage digitalization, Bequet could be influential.

Chief Operating Officer, ST Engineering Group

Lim, most recently president of Singapore Technologies Engineering’s aerospace division since 2014, became chief operating officer of the ST Engineering Group on Oct. 1. In his new role, he is responsible for driving operational and cost efficiencies across the group and further integrating the different sectors. The aerospace division will focus on becoming a “global integrated aviation solution provider with OEM and aftermarket capabilities.”

Airbus Senior Vice President of Customer Support

Manning leads the support of Airbus’ airline, lessor and MRO customers worldwide for in-­service fleets. As airlines make fleet decisions in this time of flux caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, issues such as parts availability and pricing, operational efficiencies, sustainability, digitalization and royalty fees will be important—and these areas fall under Manning’s customer support group.

Rolls-Royce Chief of Technology for Repair and Services

Mitchell leads teams around the world delivering innovative technologies for the repair of highly complex aero-engine components. He will be an instrumental part of the OEM’s new Reinstate program, which “will take that one step further by . . . creating technologies which will reduce waste, avoid emissions and minimize disruption, while laying the foundations to service the gas turbine and hybrid-electric engines of the future.”

Managing Director, Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance

Noack helped found and is managing director of the year-old Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance (IAMA), which includes founding members Eclipse Technics, Envoy Aerospace, Etihad Airways Engineering and Lufthansa Technik. It already has been effective in identifying solutions for right of use for supplemental type certificates (STC) as aircraft are transferred. For 2021, IAMA plans to tackle “orphan” STCs, cross-authority validation and certification, and maintainability of modifications.