A subsidiary of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has become the first MRO in the country to receive EASA Part 145 certification for base maintenance services.

MAU Technik, launched by the carrier in 2017, will now be able to maintain commercial aircraft registered in the European Union. Since its inception, the company has carried out a mix of UIA fleet work and third-party line and base maintenance services for local operators based in the Ukraine from its base at Kiev’s Boryspil airport.

With the new approval, MAU Technik will be able to undertake base maintenance on Boeing 737-700, 800 and 900 aircraft along with Embraer E190 aircraft in accordance with EASA requirements. 

MAU Technik says the certification process with the European regulator began in March 2019 and over the past 18 months has undergone two EASA audits to ensure the regulator’s rules and service standards were met.

During this period, it also looked to make several operational improvements. These included the introduction of key performance indicators and adoption of lean management practices aimed at providing better compliance for EASA rules and requirements.

Algirds Mikelsons, CEO of MAU Technik, says that despite difficulties related to COVID-19 which have impacted the entire industry, the company has further plans to bolster its offerings. “Next we shall improve marketing and sales, so that more companies may use our capabilities to receive quality service and advantages in a lower cost base,” he says.