MRO Industry Rolling Daily Updates (November 2024)
November 27, 2024
Air India Taps SR Technics For CFM56 Support
Air India has signed a six-year agreement with SR Technics covering long-term maintenance support of its CFM International CFM56-5B/-7B engine fleet.
Avianor Opens A220 Center Of Excellence
Avianor has inaugurated its new Airbus A220 Center of Excellence at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. The new hangar will add four dedicated A220 maintenance lines and have capacity to support other narrowbodies. Avianor says the $70 million investment includes advanced infrastructure, digitization, premium equipment and technology, and will create more than 100 jobs.
November 26, 2024
LHT Expands Swiss Component Support
Swiss International Air Lines has signed a 10-year Total Component Support agreement with Lufthansa Technik (LHT) covering its Airbus A320ceo, A320neo, A330 and A340 fleets. The deal expands LHT’s existing component support and the airline’s existing home base parts stock in Zurich.
FL Technics Indonesia Gets Extended CAAM Approval
FL Technics Indonesia has received an extension of its approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia for its new and expanded maintenance facilities in Jakarta and Bali, which will enable it to provide maintenance services for Airbus A321s, Boeing 737-800s and 737-400s.
November 25, 2024
SkyWest Plans CRJ Conversions
SkyWest Airlines has purchased 60 conversion kits from MHIRJ to convert its Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft into CRJ550s. SkyWest currently operates around 100 CRJ700s.
GA Telesis Opens Ankara Digital Innovation Hub
GA Telesis has opened a new digital innovation and research and development center in Ankara, Turkey. The center will develop and commercialize GA Telesis’ WILBUR digital twin product and focus on innovation in areas such as predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics.
November 22, 2024
LHT Partners On Air-To-Ground Connectivity Kits
Lufthansa Technik has signed a contract to design, certify and manufacture installation kits for inflight connectivity specialist SkyFive’s air-to-ground broadband services hardware. The companies say the kits will enable airlines to quickly and easily upgrade their narrowbody fleets with onboard connectivity.
Satair, Champion Aerospace Sign Distribution MOU
Satair has signed a memorandum of understanding with Champion Aerospace, an aerospace ignition and power systems specialist, to extend the companies’ multi-year distribution agreement. The extended agreement would grant Satair exclusive commercial aftermarket distribution rights to Champion’s igniters, exciters and ignition leads.
November 21, 2024
Philippine Airlines Chooses Airbus Predictive Maintenance Software
Philippine Airlines and its subsidiary, PAL Express, have chosen Airbus’s S. Fleet Performance+ software suite for predictive maintenance and health monitoring. The airlines will use the software to reduce unplanned maintenance events on their Airbus A320 family, A330ceo and A350 aircraft.
Magnetic Line Goes Digital
Magnetic Line has begun implementation of MRO-PRO software to digitize its maintenance processes. It is starting usage of the software from its Amsterdam line station ahead of a full rollout across its global network of 15 stations.
November 20, 2024
FEAM Establishes eVTOL Partnership
Japanese electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive has formed a business partnership with FEAM Aero to develop and model various operational use cases, utilizing FEAM’s maintenance, retrofit and operational expertise.
SIAEC Firms Fujian MRO Collaboration
SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) has signed an agreement with Xiamen Iport Group to explore investment in its Fujian, China-based subsidiary, Arport Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering. The companies first signed a memorandum of understanding in September to explore MRO opportunities in Fujian.
November 19, 2024
Avianca Selects LHT For Leap 1A Quick Turn Services
Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has signed a non-exclusive contract with Avianca to provide the Latin American airline with CFM International Leap 1A engine quick turn services. Avianca is LHT’s first South American customer to sign a Leap 1A quick turn agreement.
AAR Signs Whippany Actuation Distribution Deal
AAR has signed an exclusive multi-year distribution agreement with TransDigm Group subsidiary Whippany Actuation Systems. The deal covers global distribution of all components and sub-assemblies in Whippany’s actuation product line, expanding AAR’s product offerings on airframes such as the Boeing 737 and 777.
November 18, 2024
Thales Extends Avionics Support For Eastern Airlines Technic
Eastern Airlines Technic has renewed its maintenance partnership agreement with Thales, which was first established in 2018. Under the cooperation, Thales will continue to provide maintenance and repair services for its avionics equipment on China Eastern Airlines’ Airbus A320, A330 and Boeing 737 fleet for the next five years.
ADE Gets Vietnamese Maintenance Certification
Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) has received Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. ADE now holds AMO certifications in nine countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
November 15, 2024
Lufthansa Technik Milan Extends easyJet Overnight Checks
Lufthansa Technik Milan and easyJet have recently signed a three-year extension of their agreement covering light base maintenance checks on the airline’s Airbus A320 family fleet. Until mid-2027, the MRO provider will service two of the airline’s aircraft each night, including aircraft operated under the Air Operator Certificates of easyJet UK, easyJet Switzerland and easyJet Austria.
New Sabena Technics CEO
Herve Grandjean will take over as CEO of Sabena Technics Group on Jan. 1, 2025. Grandjean was appointed Sabena Technics’ chief commercial officer at the beginning of this year. He previously spent 15 years with the French ministry of defense and was head of operations and industrial strategy of the French new nuclear program. Grandjean succeeds Philippe Rochet, who has led the group since 2019.
November 14, 2024
AAR Becomes Chromalloy CF6 PMA Parts Distributor
AAR has signed a multi-year engine parts supply agreement to become the exclusive distributor of Chromalloy’s parts manufacturer approval (PMA) parts for General Electric CF6-80C2 engine high-pressure turbine stage 1 and stage 2 turbine blades. The agreement has an initial term of three years.
EFW, HNA Aviation A330P2F Cooperation
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) signed a memorandum of understanding with HNA Aviation Group to cooperate on Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions. Under the agreement, EFW will support HNA subsidiary Grand China Aircraft Maintenance Services with the conversions, as well as with establishing these capabilities at its facility at Meilan International Airport.
November 13, 2024
SIAEC Reports Subsidiary Growth Progress
In its fiscal year 2024-25 first-half results, SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) reported that Base Maintenance Malaysia’s preparation is on track, with the first two hangars in Subang scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2025—ahead of SIAEC’s cabin retrofit project for its parent airline’s Airbus A350 long-haul fleet, which is scheduled to start in 2026. Its new Selangor, Malaysia-based Eaton Aero Services joint venture, established in June, is expected to be fully operational by early 2026.
CAE, Bombardier Target MRO Training Efficiencies
CAE has collaborated with Bombardier to develop a new modular maintenance training program aimed at optimizing training time for Bombardier Service Center maintenance technicians. The program consolidates courses for an entire aircraft family based on shared components and features. The testing phase of the new training program will take place at Bombardier’s service centers in Wichita, Kansas; Tucson, Arizona and Opa Locka, Florida.
November 12, 2024
HAECO Forges Zhuhai Training Partnership
HAECO has partnered with Zhuhai Technician College to boost its workforce pipeline in the Greater Bay Area. Under the partnership, selected HAECO training courses will be repositioned at the college to maximize resource efficiency, and they will work together to establish HAECO-branded aviation and maintenance-related courses at the school. The partnership is also exploring the feasibility of establishing a dedicated aviation maintenance training institution at the college.
New Texarkana College AMT Program
November 11, 2024
AvAir Acquires LHT Wheels And Brakes Inventory
AvAir has acquired Lufthansa Technik’s excess inventory of wheels and brakes, comprising 1,600 components for regional aircraft and Airbus and Boeing models. AvAir says the parts, which come from Lufthansa Technik’s material pool and aircraft teardowns, are all serviceable and come with dual or triple release certification and a 12-month warranty.
AJW Lands Enter Air PBH Deal
AJW Group has signed a power-by-the-hour agreement with Polish carrier Enter Air covering logistics, warehousing and stock positioning in Warsaw for its 22 Boeing 737NGs.
November 8, 2024
Smartwings Taps AFI KLM E&M For Leap Support
Smartwings Airlines has signed a CFM International Leap 1B engine maintenance agreement with AFI KLM E&M covering quick turn support.
LOTAMS Commences Rzeszow-Jasionka Operations
LOT Aircraft Maintenance Services (LOTAMS) has begun operations at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport following successful audits conducted by the Poland Civil Aviation Authority. It says the operation will allow it to add three more dedicated heavy maintenance lines, including for Boeing 737s and 787s.
November 7, 2024
Tightico Wins Boeing Commercial Contract
Boeing Commercial has awarded Tightico’s insulation products group, Tightico Latin America, a long-term follow-on agreement covering essential safety products, sheet metal assemblies and spares for the 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787. The approximately $82 million agreement runs through 2028.
Resource Group Opens Schiphol Part 66 Exam Site
Aviation industry recruitment and training specialist Resource Group is opening a new Part 66 examination center at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport that will provide students the opportunity to obtain European Union Aviation Safety Agency certifications for aircraft maintenance. The center’s initial examination dates will be available starting in December and will be open to engineers who have taken Resource Group’s Part 66 self-study modules.
November 6, 2024
Jetstar Asia Selects MRO Japan For Line Maintenance
Jetstar Asia Airways has selected MRO Japan to provide line maintenance services at Naha Airport. MRO Japan says the services will help Jetstar Asia Airways reduce the need for on-board mechanics on flights it operates between Okinawa and Singapore.
Sanad Inks Lion Air Group V2500 Deal
Sanad has entered a new five-year partnership with Lion Air Group, under which it will provide comprehensive MRO services for IAE V2500 engines from its facilities in Abu Dhabi. The contract includes V2500 MRO services for Lion Air Group subsidiaries Super Air Jet and Batik Air. The first engine induction is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024.
November 5, 2024
WiFi IFE Launch
Avionics Support Group is partnering with Maxposure, a media and entertainment solutions company, to launch a wireless inflight entertainment system designed for the the Americas market.
PLAY Selects CFM Support
Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY airlines selected StandardAero to provide CFM Leap 1A performance restoration shop visit support. Willis Asset Management Limited advised PLAY on the support decision. StandardAero will provide the engine maintenance at its San Antonio, Texas, facility.
November 1, 2024
Turkish Technic, SunExpress Sign Two MRO Agreements
Turkish Technic has signed two maintenance agreements with low-cost carrier SunExpress Airlines. The first encompasses component pool support, giving the low-cost airline access to Turkish Technic’s inventory and component support programs. The service covers the airline’s Boeing 737NG and 737 Max aircraft fleets. The second agreement covers the landing gear overhaul and spare operations for SunExpress' 737NG fleet.
HAECO, COMAC Sign MOU For MRO Services
HAECO Group and Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service Co. (SACSC), a subsidiary of Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on airframe, engine and component MRO services. The partnership, signed this week, aims to address the growing maintenance demands of COMAC platforms such as ARJ21 and C919 aircraft. HAECO currently offers several maintenance services for COMAC’s platforms, including base maintenance capabilities for the ARJ21 and C919. The company is further developing capabilities for the CF34-10A engine, which powers the ARJ21, along with the aircraft’s landing gears by 2025.
Related Content
