Made In The Middle East

The MRO division of Etihad Airways has been on an ambitious growth trajectory during the past five years, covering the in-house airline fleet and an ever-growing number of third-party customers. This year has seen further progress with an expansion of the Abu Dhabi-based maintenance provider's EASA part 145 approval, covering heavy maintenance for Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft. It also won approval from the same regulator to design and certify 3D printed parts for aircraft interiors. 

Emirates Engineering oversees line and base maintenance and  on its parent airline's fleet of more than 200 aircraft, as well as more than 30 other global carriers. Emirates also boasts the largest test cell facility in the Middle East. The 24,000 square meter site includes an engine preparation area, with a 3,250 square meter section dedicated to six engine work stations. Engines serviced include the GE90-115B, GP7200, Rolls-Royce Trent 500, Rolls-Royce Trent 700 and Rolls-Royce Trent 800.

Israel's IAI provides MRO services narrowbody and widebody aircraft, engines and components, with capabilities including heavy maintenance, modifications, upgrades, conversions and development programs. The company says it handles more than 550 engines annually along with servicing an estimated 40,000 components. At its expansive facilities at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, it also runs passenger to freighter conversion programs on three Boeing aircraft types: the 747, 767 and 737.

Jordan Airmotive, the successor to Royal Jordanian, is an engine specialist operating out of Amman since 1985. Initially set up to support the Royal Jordanian Airlines fleet, the company has operated as an entirely private enterprise since 2006. Current capabilities include the CF6-80C2, CFM56-3, the RB211-524 and the JT8D engine type. Jordan Airmotive said it plans to gain capabilities in the near future for CFM56-5B and CFM56-7 engines.

Another Jordanian MRO also based in Amman is Jordan Aircraft Maintenance, known more commonly as Joramco. Offering services to third-party customers on a mix of Boeing and Airbus narrowbodies and widebodies, along with Embraer aircraft, Joramco's services also extend to component repair. In a recent change of leadership, former Etihad CEO Jeff Wilkinson took the helm at the independent MRO in September 2017.

Affiliated to Turkish Airlines, which operates one of the largest fleets in the Middle East, Istanbul-headquartered Turkish Technic takes on much of the maintenance work for the carrier. It covers mostly classic and new generation versions of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Engines covered including the V2500 and the CFM56 are mostly covered by its Turkish Engine Center joint venture with Pratt & Whitney - located at a  25,000 m² facility at  Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul.

The engineering and maintenance division of flag carrier EgyptAir has gradually built up a strong third-party base across the Middle East and Africa. Despite offering a wide range of existing MRO services, EgyptAir has nevertheless expanded its capabilities in 2017 to attract more customers worldwide. In September, it obtained a new certificate from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority to provide overhaul and maintenance services on the CFM56-7B engines powering the Boeing 737-800.

TS&S Aerospace, based in Abu Dhabi, provides repairs for engines including the GEnx, Trent 700, V2500 and the PT6. It also operates a 100,000lb thrust capable engine test cell.