New Korean MRO Joint Venture
Atlas Air has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to enter into a joint venture with Sharp Technics K to develop a dedicated MRO facility at Incheon International Airport in South Korea, which is expected to open in 2025. The new facility will accommodate multiple widebodies simultaneously as part of the airport’s plans to cultivate the air cargo industry.

GA Telesis Adds New Radome Testing Facility
GA Telesis has introduced a transmissivity test cell for repairing and overhauling aircraft radomes at its composite and aerostructures repair facility near Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The new test cell is capable of testing a wide range of OEM platforms, including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft.

OEMServices Providing Component Support for PLAY
New Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY has chosen OEMServices to provide component support for its Airbus A321 fleet. OEMServices will support inventory availability, component repair support by flight hour, engineering services and associated logistics for PLAY, which launched flights in June. The airline currently operates three A321 NEOs and plans to operate more than 15 aircraft by 2025 while servicing destinations in North America and Europe.

China Eastern Airlines Technic Gets New Disassembly Approval
China Eastern Airlines Technic, the maintenance and engineering division of China Eastern, has received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China to begin disassembly of Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. It received approval to dismantle Boeing 737-700/-800 aircraft last year.

Joramco Signs GetJet Airlines Maintenance Agreement
Joramco has signed its first maintenance agreement with Lithuania-based charter carrier GetJet Airlines. The agreement follows maintenance work Joramco has already performed on GetJet aircraft, including an Airbus A320 in June and a C-check it performed on an A330 in July.

Carolina GSE Expanding in North Carolina
Carolina GSE has announced plans to expand its workforce and its shipping and distribution center in New Bern, North Carolina. The facility will create additional space for maintenance and shipping of aviation equipment as well as extra room for inventory and the installation of powder coat and blasting booth equipment. It plans to create 28 new jobs at the facility alongside the expansion.

Plans for New Australian MRO Facility in Queensland
A new $60 million MRO facility is planned for construction at Rockhampton Airport in Queensland, Australia. Cameron Dick, Queensland’s Treasurer and Minister for Investment, says the MRO facility will see the creation of 98 new long-term, operational jobs by 2024 to support the growing fleet of Alliance Airlines.

2021 Aircraft Retirements So Far
During AFRA’s virtual member meeting on Aug. 26, Richard Brown, managing director of NAVEO, reported that between January and mid-August of this year, around 276 aircraft have been officially retired, with an average age of 21.8 years. Brown says approximately 676 aircraft were officially retired in 2020 with an average age of 23.5 years.