Rolling Daily Updates (May 2024)

May 30, 2024

Wizz Air Plans New Katowice Airport Hangar

A new aircraft maintenance hangar is being constructed at Katowice Airport in Poland, with expected completion by the end of January 2026. The approximately 10,000 m² (approximately 108,000 ft.²) hangar will be leased by Wizz Air and feature two bays that can accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A321neo.

GATES Lands Nok Airlines CFM56 Contract

Thailand-based low-cost carrier Nok Airlines has signed a CFM56-7B MRO contract with GA Telesis Engine Services (GATES). Under the deal, GATES will perform multiple performance restoration engine shop visits starting this summer. GATES says the contract is a significant milestone in its Southeast Asian market expansion.

May 29, 2024

Air Austral Picks Flydocs Software

Air Austral has signed a five-year deal with MRO software provider flydocs to digitize the record management process across its fleet of eight aircraft.

Deutsche Aircraft Plans Fleet Repainting

Deutsche Aircraft has partnered with Toulouse-based Airplane Painter for professional stripping and repainting of its D328 fleet.

May 28, 2024

HAECO Extends Hong Kong Air Cargo Support

HAECO has extended its line maintenance for Hong Kong Air Cargo until the end of 2026. It has been providing base maintenance support for the cargo carrier since 2022.

New CFM56 USM Agreement

Next Level Aviation and Aeras Aviation have entered a used serviceable material (USM) agreement covering CFM International CFM56 family engine accessories. Aeras Aviation will consign engine accessories off its CFM56-5B and -7B teardowns to Next Level Aviation, which will handle repair management, quality, warehousing and logistics for the consigned inventory. The USM will be sold to both companies’ customer bases.

May 24, 2024

Choose Aerospace Expands Scholarships

Nonprofit Choose Aerospace is growing its high school aviation technical training program thanks to a $500,000 FAA grant. For the 2024-25 academic year, Choose Aerospace will provide financial aid for up to 500 students around the country. Schools can apply for the scholarship (available for up to 25 students per school) until August 1.

MRO Training Opportunity In Miami

The Barrington Irving Technical Training School is partnering with United Way Miami to expand the nonprofit’s workforce fund, UpSkill Miami, to aviation. Through the collaboration, participants can undergo a 12-16 week training program that paves the way for them to secure career placements in the MRO or FBO sector. Eligible participants must live or work in Miami-Dade County, earn below $35,000 or be currently unemployed.

May 23, 2024

Saudia Technic, Eve Partner On eVTOL MRO

Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility and MRO provider Saudia Technic have signed a memorandum of agreement to explore MRO services for electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Saudi Arabia, including training and infrastructure.

Magnetic Expands China Southern Line Maintenance

Magnetic Line has announced the expanssion of its partnership with China Southern Airlines to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Building on existing line maintenance collaborations in Nairobi and Frankfurt, the partnership in Amsterdam will focus on services for Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft.

May 22, 2024

TP Aerospace Opens New Czech Republic Facility

TP Aerospace has opened a new MRO and warehouse facility in Brno, Czech Republic. It expects the 10,000 m² (108,000 ft.²) facility to deliver an annual capacity of 15,000 repairs and overhauls.

Aeroplex, Romaero Cooperate On New Bucharest Maintenance Base

Hungarian and Romanian MRO providers Aeroplex of Central Europe and Romaero have signed a cooperation agreement, under which Aeroplex will establish a new maintenance base at Baneasa Airport in Bucharest that leverages Romaero’s facilities, infrastructure, tools and specialists.

May 21, 2024

Ryanair Opens New Hangars In Kaunas, Wroclaw

Ryanair has opened a second hangar at Kaunas Airport in Lithuania. It invested €20 million (approximately $21.7 million) in the 8,000 m² (approximately 86,000 ft.²) hangar, which it says will create more than 200 new positions in Kaunas. Meanwhile, Ryanair also opened a second hangar at its Wroclaw Aircraft Maintenance Service subsidiary in Poland. It invested €25 million (approximately $27.1 million) in the 8,300 m² (approximately 89,000 ft.²) hangar, which it says will grow jobs at the site by 300.

GA Telesis Signs 737-800 Disassembly Consignment Agreement

GA Telesis has signed a disassembly consignment agreement with a Europe-based lessor for a Boeing 737-800 aircraft and two CFM International CFM56-7B engines. The parts will be distributed and resold globally through its Flight Solutions Group.

May 20, 2024

Ryanair Opens New Hangars In Kaunas, Wroclaw

Ryanair has opened a second hangar at Kaunas Airport in Lithuania. It invested €20 million (approximately $21.7 million) in the 8,000 m² (approximately 86,000 ft.²) hangar, which it says will create more than 200 new positions in Kaunas. Meanwhile, Ryanair also opened a second hangar at its Wroclaw Aircraft Maintenance Service subsidiary in Poland. It invested €25 million (approximately $27.1 million) in the 8,300 m² (approximately 89,000 ft.²) hangar, which it says will grow jobs at the site by 300.

GA Telesis Signs 737-800 Disassembly Consignment Agreement

GA Telesis has signed a disassembly consignment agreement with a Europe-based lessor for a Boeing 737-800 aircraft and two CFM International CFM56-7B engines. The parts will be distributed and resold globally through its Flight Solutions Group.

May 17, 2024

Commercial Jet Services Adds 737 MAX To Dothan Certifications

Commercial Jet Services has added the Boeing 737 MAX series aircraft to its certifications for its Dothan, Alabama MRO facility. Its Miami facility already holds 737 MAX certification and provides services for the aircraft type.

New Horizon Air Maintenance VP

Horizon Air has named Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance and engineering, where he will lead the airline’s team of more than 300 maintenance and engineering staff. Engel was previously managing director of maintenance operations at both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and was most recently Hawaiian Airlines’ senior manager of maintenance in Seattle.

May 16, 2024

Launch Acquires Professional Services Development

Launch Technical Workforce Solutions has acquired Professional Services Development (PSD), a technical workforce solutions company specializing in aircraft conversions and modifications. Launch says PSD’s experience with the cargo conversion business and hiring Visa candidates from outside the U.S. will help it offer enhanced support to clients.

Ametek Appoints New VP MRO Division

Ametek has appointed Patrick Williams as vice president and general manager for its MRO division. Most recently division vice president and business unit manager for the power protection and quality solutions business within Ametek’s power systems and instruments division, Williams has served in various roles at the company since 2006.

May 15, 2024

AJW Technique Names New President

AJW Technique, the Montreal-based repair division of AJW Group, has promoted Louis Philippe Mallette as its new president. Mallette joined AJW in September 2021 and served as senior vice president. Prior to joining the company, he spent 23 years at Bombardier.

Atitech Wins Volotea Base Maintenance Contract

Atitech has signed a five-year maintenance contract with Volotea to provide base maintenance for the airline’s Airbus A320 fleet from its Naples Capodichino Airport facility. It plans to dedicate a minimum of two bays for nose-to-tail support through the upcoming winter season.

May 14, 2024

Caerdav Opens Cardiff Line Station

UK-based MRO provider Caerdav has opened a line station at its main base in Cardiff, Wales. The new line station will initially carry out overnight daily and weekly maintenance services for ACMI operator Avion Express, with the first workloads scheduled for the summer 2024 season on Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Avion Express on behalf of TUI Airways.

C&L Aerospace Opens Johannesburg Warehouse

C&L Aerospace has opened a new warehouse in Johannesburg, South Africa that will initially house inventories for Embraer ERJ 135/145 and ATR 42/72 aircraft. It says the location will expand into other aircraft types as demand dictates and help it more quickly support customers in Africa.

May 13, 2024

GoJet Airlines Gets Part 145 Certification

U.S. regional carrier GoJet Airlines has obtained FAA Part 145 certification to establish itself as an MRO facility in the St. Louis area. GoJet plans to oversee four lines of heavy maintenance and two modification lines by 2024, as well as create more than 150 new positions.

Sanad Goes Digital

Sanad has selected Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to facilitate the migration of its core business processes—including MRO, supply chain operations, finance, HR and customer service—to the cloud. Kashish Kohli, CFO and SVP of Sanad's leasing division, says the move will help the company improve efficiency, scalability and agility.

May 10, 2024

LHT AERO Alzey Building New Spares And Logistics Center

Engine services provider Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey is building a new storage and logistics center for aircraft engines and spare parts in Alzey, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The 110,000 ft.² building is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

AirBaltic Launches Technical Academy

AirBaltic has launched airBaltic Technical Academy, a training initiative for people wanting to start or advance their career in aircraft maintenance. The academy has training facilities in Riga and Liepaja, Latvia which offer practical experience on Airbus A220-300s. The airline hopes to recruit and train nearly 400 new aviation maintenance workers by 2030.

May 9, 2024

Boeing Adopts 8tree’s dentCHECK For 787 Inspections

8tree has announced that its wireless 3D scanning dentCHECK tool has been adapted by Boeing at its production facility in North Charleston, South Carolina to inspect the 787’s fuselage skin for nearly microscopic anomalies in flatness.

Luxair Opens New Maintenance Hangar

Luxair has opened a new aircraft maintenance hangar at Luxembourg Airport. The approximately 54,000 ft.² Hangar can accommodate up to three Boeing 737s simultaneously and features several maintenance workshops, storage areas for spare parts and administrative offices.

May 8, 2024

Hanwha Launches Engine Leasing, Trading Platform

Korean conglomerate Hanwha has launched Hanwha Aviation, an engine leasing and trading platform focused on newer generation assets. Operating in Singapore, Ireland and the U.S. Hanwha Aviation will offer aircraft and engine trading, leasing and asset management, focusing in the short-term on acquiring portfolios of narrowbody engines and aircraft.

Weinberg Capital Group Acquires Aviocraft

Weinberg Capital Group and its portfolio company, Salt River Aviation, have acquired Aviocraft, an MRO provider specialized in batteries, chargers, communication devices, galleys, relays and other aircraft accessories.

May 7, 2024

MAB Engineering Pursues Digital Maintenance Certification

MAB Engineering is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to bring changes to the regulatory requirement that would enable implementation of the first aircraft maintenance digital certification in the country. It says the initiative will set the foundation for implementing an aircraft electronic tech log system for Malaysia Aviation Group carriers Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings.

Air Tindi Plans Flight Deck Retrofits

Weinberg Capital Group and its portfolio company, Salt River Aviation, have acquired Aviocraft, an MRO provider specialized in batteries, chargers, communication devices, galleys, relays and other aircraft accessories.

May 3, 2024

LATAM Plans 787-9 Cabin Upgrades

LATAM Group has announced plans to upgrade the economy cabins of four Boeing 787-9 aircraft this year with new features that include 12-in. high-definition screens, Bluetooth connectivity, Panasonic’s interactive 3D Arc map and seat covers made of recycled leather. LATAM is investing $60 million in the retrofit project.

Unical Engines Launches Serviceable Engine Program

Unical Engines has launched a new serviceable engine program under its used serviceable material engines business. The program will offer serviceable engines for outright purchase or as part of engine exchanges, and is designed to support CFM International CFM56-5B/-7B IAE V2500-A5 and GE CF6-80C2 engine platforms.

May 2, 2024

Setna iO Becomes Honeywell Authorized Channel Partner

Setna iO has signed an agreement with Honeywell Aerospace to become an authorized channel partner for test, repair and overhaul of more than 600 of the OEM’s mechanic and avionics components.

TAAG Angola Airlines Signs Pratt Engine Maintenance Deal

TAAG Angola Airlines has signed a six-year Fleet Management Program agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada covering engine maintenance of the PW150A engines powering its fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s. The agreement also includes Pratt’s FAST diagnostic and prognostic offering for real-time data related to engine shutdowns and its proprietary oil-analysis technology.

May 1, 2024

FCAH Aerospace, FEAM Partner At CVG

FCAH Aerospace subsidiary Cobalt Aero Services has expanded its operations at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) through a strategic partnership with FEAM Aero. It will be co-locating its airframe structures repair expertise within FEAM’s recently expanded hangar there, including on-site and on-aircraft composite repair support and aircraft accessories repair.

StandardAero Expanding Augusta Business Aviation MRO Facility

StandardAero is building an 80,500 ft.² hangar expansion at its business aviation MRO facility at Augusta Regional Airport, which it says will increase its footprint there by more than 60%. The new facility, which is expected to be completed in 2025, will enable StandardAero to support super mid-size to large cabin aircraft and expand its engine shop.