MRO Industry Rolling Daily Updates (September 2024)

September 27, 2024

AerFin, B&H Worldwide Partner On Logistics Support In Hong Kong

AerFin has extended its logistics support agreement with B&H Worldwide. Under the deal, B&H Worldwide’s Hong Kong station will provide a range of logistics services such as freight forward, packing, dangerous goods handling, customs brokerage, storage and inventory management to support AerFin’s aircraft acquisitions in the region.

APACS, Magnetic Trading Partner On Repair, Warehousing Services

Asia Pacific Aircraft Component Services (APACS) has signed an agreement to provide repair services and warehousing solutions to Magnetic Trading. Magnetic Trading says the partnership will enhance the efficiency of its services in the Asia-Pacific region and help it meet growing demand.

September 26, 2024

Cebu Pacific Extends Lufthansa Technik Components Partnership

Cebu Pacific has extended its partnership with Lufthansa Technik through a new airframe-related component services contract. Beginning in October, Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen will provide nacelle component services for the airline’s Airbus A320ceo and A321ceo fleets, including MRO and spare unit support.

HAECO, Boeing Consolidate Spares Agreements

Boeing and HAECO have signed a new agreement covering spares and consignment parts supplied by the OEM. The deal consolidates previous separate agreements across various Boeing and HAECO business units.

September 25, 2024

AirBaltic Signs Pratt EngineWise Agreement

AirBaltic has signed a long-term EngineWise comprehensive maintenance services agreement with Pratt & Whitney covering the geared turbofan engines powering its Airbus A220-300 fleet. The airline says the 17-year per-engine agreement provides it with greater transparency and predictability in maintenance planning and associated costs.

Embraer Plans Fort Worth MRO Facility

Embraer plans to open a new MRO services center in Fort Worth, Texas at the Perot Field Alliance Airport. The facility, which will support the growing fleet of E-Jets in the U.S., is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2025. Embraer will be building a second hangar, which is expected to open by 2027.

September 24, 2024

AMTRA Aero Launches Aircraft Part-out Subsidiary

Tulsa-based aircraft leasing company AMTRA Aero has formed a new company, AMTRA Aero Component Solutions (AACS), to manage its part-out aircraft and inventory sales. Based at Tulsa International Airport, AACS anticipates having parts available for sale by November.

AerSale Starts New Surplus Parts Partnership

AerSale has announced a new partnership with an unnamed global transportation company to manage and sell surplus aviation parts, including components from Airbus A300s, Boeing 757s and MD-11s. The parts will be added to AerSale’s inventory and made available to customers.

September 23, 2024

Setna iO Announces New UK Headquarters

Setna iO has announced plans for a new UK headquarters that will support its EMEA region customers. The 100,000 ft.² facility is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the second or third quarter of 2025.

September 20, 2024

GA Telesis Appoints New VP Supply Chain

GA Telesis has appointed Richard Maestracci as vice president of global material supply chain for its Flight Solutions Group (FSG). Maestracci has held a variety of roles at GA Telesis over the last 12 years as part of the Engine Solutions Team within the FSG.

ATSG Supports STEM Programs

Air Transport Services Group’s (ATSG) charitable foundation has announced financial support for three elementary school book fairs and the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future program, which will support six STEM events taking place throughout Ohio over the next year. ATSG CEO Mike Berger says supporting these types of programs will help it to create a pipeline of young talent to shape the future of aviation.

September 19, 2024

Kellstrom Relocates Asia-Pacific Office

Kellstrom Aerospace has relocated its Asia-Pacific office to Aerospace Park in Singapore. Now close to Seletar Airport, the company says the move will help it progress in its regional expansion goals which include establishing partnerships, driving innovation and enhancing business development initiatives.

TUI Picks Aviatar Technical Logbook

TUI Airline has chosen Lufthansa Technik’s Aviatar Technical Logbook to digitally capture technical issues on its fleet. TUI’s UK airline will initiate the logbook’s first approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

September 18, 2024

New AFI KLM E&M Leaders

AFI KLM E&M has appointed several new leaders. Michael Grootenboer, formerly SVP group engine product, has been appointed SVP procurement for the Air France-KLM Group. He will be succeeded by Jean-Louis Forest, formerly SVP engines at Air France Industries. Taking on the SVP engines role will be Bruno Tricoire, formerly SVP group components product. Derk Nieuwenhuijze has been appointed VP technical sales and commercial performance at AFI KLM E&M.

Bird Aviation Begins Cyprus Capacity Expansion

Cyprus-based MRO Bird Aviation has commenced the building a new one-bay narrowbody aircraft hangar at its base in Larnaca. The facility is expected to be completed before the end of the year, according to the company.

September 17, 2024

QOCO To Integrate Tooling Software Into AMOS

QOCO Systems has entered an agreement with Swiss AviationSoftware (Swiss-AS) to integrate its MROTools.io tooling management software into Swiss-AS’s AMOS MRO software. The companies expect to launch the technical integration by the end of 2024.

LATAM, Avianor Complete 787 Retrofit Project

LATAM Airlines Group and Avianor have completed a collaborative cabin retrofit project on two Boeing 787s. Avianor designed, manufactured and certified customized 787 stowage units and installation kits and LATAM’s MRO team in Chile performed the modifications work.

September 16, 2024

Thai Maintenance MOU

Thai Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding with MRO provider Thai Aviation Industries to develop opportunities in aircraft maintenance, engines, parts, components and other related businesses to support the growth of Thailand’s aviation industry.

StandardAero Lands Corendon Airlines Leap Contract

Turkish operator Corendon Airlines has selected StandardAero to provide CFM International Leap 1B engine services to support its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft fleet. StandardAero will provide support from its new Leap MRO line at its San Antonio, Texas facility.

September13, 2024

GE Aerospace Joins AI Safety Consortium

GE Aerospace has joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology's AI Safety Institute Consortium, which aims to unite stakeholders to develop guidelines and policies that promote safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). GE Aerospace has more than doubled its investment in AI over the last decade, and it is using the technology in areas such as engine monitoring and parts inspections. The OEM says it also has an AI Board that has been focused on establishing guiding principles around development and deployment of AI.

September 12, 2024

Safran Plans Component Repair Technologies Acquisition

Safran Aircraft Engines has announced plans to acquire Component Repair Technologies, a U.S.-based aircraft engine parts MRO provider. The company specializes in the repair of large parts for CFM International CFM56, Leap and large turbofan engines.

AerFin Opens Singapore Office

AerFin has opened a new office in Singapore to further expand in the Asia-Pacific region. It has maintained inventory in the region since 2016 and also has offices in London, Cardiff, Dublin and Miami.

September 11, 2024

CORAX Opens Singapore Office

Danish components specialist CORAX has opened a new sales office in Singapore as part of its expansion efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Broward Aviation Services Acquires CFM56-5A For Teardown

Broward Aviation Services has acquired a CFM International CFM56-5A engine with long life-limited parts life remaining, and the disassembled engine's components are undergoing MRO at specialist workshops in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company says it is actively pursuing a range of opportunities for more acquisitions and plans to tear down three more assets this year, with a target of four or five in 2025.

September 10, 2024

Unical Acquires Ecube

Used serviceable material specialist Unical Aviation has acquired aircraft storage, disassembly and recycling specialist ecube. According to ecube, it will retain its identity and autonomy, continuing to operate under its established name. Unical says the strategic acquisition strengthens its presence across the EMEA regions and expands its capabilities in the U.S., UK and European Union.

Philippine Airlines Picks HAECO For A321 Services

HAECO has been selected to provide heavy maintenance services up to D checks for Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A321 aircraft from its Xiamen facility. The MRO provider has been providing maintenance services for the airline since 1999.

September 9, 2024

Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering Starts Airbus MRO Partnership

Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to undergo the OEM’s airframe MRO supplier qualification process and become a preferred supplier for Airbus aircraft operators in Africa. Egyptair says the partnership will enable it to offer a wider range of maintenance services for Airbus fleets, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, component repair and technical support.

HAECO To Service Philippine Airlines A321 Fleet

HAECO says it has commenced base maintenance services for Airbus A321 aircraft operated by Philippine Airlines from its facility in Xiamen, China. Work began last month and encompassed heavy maintenance up to D check level on the narrowbody aircraft. Philippine Airlines currently operates a fleet of 18 A321s. Hong Kong-headquartered HAECO has work with the flag carrier since 1999 and has performed more than 40 maintenance inputs for Philippine Airlines.

September 6, 2024

New SR Technics VPs

SR Technics has appointed Florent Leforestier as senior vice president of procurement, succeeding Fritz Beiner, who is pursuing an opportunity outside the company. Leforestier was previously vice president of new engines and has more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry. Michael Brunnschweiler, previously vice president of programs, will take over as vice president of new engines. Prior to joining SR Technics earlier this year, Brunnschweiler spent 19 years working at Pratt & Whitney.

Pegasus Airlines Picks Lufthansa Technik For A320 Checks

Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines has signed a three-year agreement with Lufthansa Technik covering base maintenance services for its Airbus A320 family fleet. The agreement includes more than 60 checks on A320ceo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft at a dedicated overhaul line at Lufthansa Technik Sofia.

September 5, 2024

ALSC Inducts First Aircraft for Recycling

The Airbus Lifecycle Services Center (ALSC) has welcomed its first aircraft for dismantling and recycling—an A330-200 owned by Hengqin Winglet Aircraft Technology Company. The aircraft will be disassembled through a collaboration between ALSC, Airbus China R&D and Innovation Center and Hengri Corporation.

Ontic Adds New Investors

Ontic has renewed CVC Capital Partners’ role as majority owner and is introducing several new investors into minority positions. It says the new cycle of growth and investment will go toward enhanced customer support teams, dedicated repair capabilities, data analytics capabilities, and further supply chain and sustainment engineering resources.

September 4, 2024

Onex Partners Plans Farsound Acquisition

Onex Partners Opportunities Fund has agreed to acquire aftermarket supply chain specialist Farsound, which operates four facilities in the UK, U.S., Canada and Spain. The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

AirBaltic Inaugurates Technical Academy

AirBaltic has launched its Technical Academy to train future aviation maintenance professionals, welcoming 57 students for three specialized programs. The airline wants to recruit and train nearly 400 new aviation maintenance professionals by 2030.