MRO

Farnborough, July 23, 2024: Safran Electrical & Power has been selected by Boeing to provide the electrical power generation system for the X-66 flight demonstrator, part of NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project. Safran Electrical & Power will also support ground and flight tests, slated to start in 2028. The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator is part of NASA’s broader Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which is dedicated to developing the technologies needed to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions for commercial aviation. Boeing’s X-66 program is focused on developing the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept, which could enable significant improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions for future single-aisle aircraft. This electrical power generation system consists of a variable frequency generator and its associated control unit, integrating the most advanced technologies developed by Safran Electrical & Power. It has been adapted to integrate directly on the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine and provides more than 100kW of electrical power. This modern system features an unmatched weight and efficiency, and enables a reduction in hydro-mechanical losses of close to 50%, resulting in significant fuel burn and carbon emission savings. “We are very honored to further expand our thriving partnership with Boeing under this NASA program, and to develop breakthrough technologies for the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. Safran Electrical & Power is thrilled to be collaborating with Boeing, NASA and other industry partners to drive innovations and to embrace latest advancements in technologies aiming to achieve our industry-wide goal of zero-emissions,” said Bruno Bellanger, executive vice president of Power division at Safran Electrical & Power.

Colombo, 25th April 2024: SriLankan Airlines has transformed Aircraft Maintenance with the recent integration of AMOS, a next-generation ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)solution for Aircraft Engineering and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) management by Swiss-AS. By automating the monitoring and coordination of aircraft maintenance with AMOS, SriLankan Airlines aims to boost engineering productivity, reduce costs and maintain quality and consistency in MRO operations. “SriLankan Engineering is excited to collaborate with Swiss-AS and adopt the ground breaking AMOS NewGen MRO System. The integration took several months to complete given the complexities of transitioning data from our legacy system to the advanced AMOS platform. With this transition, we anticipate modernizing our operations, achieving greater efficiency, and ensuring that we maintain our aircraft and safety standards to the highest degree,” affirmed Head of Engineering at SriLankan Airlines, Arjuna Kapugeekiyana. “Implementing the AMOS NewGen MRO System is a crucial step towards realizing our digital vision. We have further integrated the AMOS mobile/EXECMobile add-on to maximize the overall value of the project with seamless, paperless operations such as electronic work instructions and digital sign-offs that streamline unnecessary time-consuming tasks. I would like to congratulate the SriLankan Airlines Project Team who led this transformation together with Swiss-AS,” added Group Head of Information Technology of SriLankan Airlines, Chamara Perera. The AMOS platform comes with multiple sophisticated features and data visualization functionalities that allow for precise inventory management and cost-effective practices. Accurate calculations and scheduling of maintenance work will enable SriLankan Engineering to effectively manage aircraft maintenance limits in alignment with flight schedules. The system also allows SriLankan to proactively plan manpower and material resources for maintenance activities, reducing Aircraft on Ground (AOG) occurrences as well as maintaining optimal inventory levels. The AMOS mobile/EXEC software extension additionally empowers engineers and technicians of SriLankan Airlines to perform aircraft dispatch functions; request parts; check on fleet status; and carry out line and base maintenance tasks through a touch-optimized app, replacing paper-based with a digitized workflow.

Distinguished Visionary and a Pro Aviator, Esteemed Business Leader,on the forefront of Asset Management with Unmatched Precision. Aviation World Magazine has featured him in the front cover alongwith his interview which highlights the USP of his company and how they are the preferred partner of their customers. Q: Tell us about the journey of AirFleet Managers. How it started and what was the vision? A: At this stage, I would like to give the Background of the founding members, Pallavi Joshi (C.E.O.) and Myself (Technical Director) Pallavi comes from an A.M.E. background and has worked with various airlines in Quality and engineering departments, I hold FAA Licence and have worked with various operators around the world as a qualified engineer working on a wide variety of aircraft i.e.B737, B747, B757, B767, MD10, MD11 L1011 to name a few. Our journey as AirFleet Managers started in the year 2010 when we wanted to establish something in India after our 14-year-long tenure in at foreign land.With a futuristic vision of Pallavi Joshi who sensed the vacuum in the market at that time for the Technical Consultancy Services. During those years (2010/11), we realised that there is a real dearth of quality Technical Consultancy Service providers in India in the field of Aviation Asset Management. The technical consultancy field was predominated by foreign nationals and there were not many people from our country who were involved during that period. Lessors were facing great difficulties in finding local Consultants and positioning someone from Europe or America was a huge cost to them. India being an ever-growing aviation market, there was potential for more aircraft entering into service in India and the demand for local companies to provide professional services was sensed. With the thought of supporting lessors by providing them solutions which will be as per industry standards and cost-effective, AirFleet Managers came into existence. The journey started with me working, on the technical side as a Technical Consultant and Pallavi taking care of all the finances and contracts/agreements. During the initial years, there were several challenges and constraints which are normal and we can define them as teething problems, which were eventually resolved with the experience we gained and implemented the same into our business. Initially, we were working as subcontractors and eventually got our first direct contract in 2011 from Aircastle. The Aircastle technical team were impressed by the quality of services we were providing, which helped us in building trust (it will be worth noting, that we are still the preferred consultancy company for Aircastle since 2011). Pallavi & I had a very clear vision since the beginning – AirFleet Managers should stand as one of the leading technical consultancy companies by providing honest and unbiased services to lessors/banks or owners of aircraft. We didn’t want to be number one in terms of volume but in terms of standards and quality of services we provide to our clients and I feel we have achieved this in the last 10 years of our journey. To make AirFleet Managers a better place to work and have good collaborative relations with our clients, we follow some of the basic rules which have been in force since the beginning and are still followed. These rules have helped us to become what we are today – “The Dependable Team”: * Always be honest with all the stakeholders in a project. * Deliver on time. * Give more than what you take. * Deliver on commitments. Q: What are the current business verticals of AirFleet Managers? Also, brief us about your global presence. A: Today, AirFleet Managers is the trusted partner for providing asset management services to many of the tier-one leasing companies around the world., We provide a wide range of services to leasing companies, banks and owners of aircraft. Our services include, but are not limited to – * Pre-purchase inspections. * Lease Negotiations. * Records Digitisation & Management. * Records Review. * Maintenance Reserves Management. * Mid-Term and Annual Audits. * Engine Shop Visit Management. * Engine and APU Management. * Heavy Check Oversight. * Redelivery Check Management. With just a home office in Delhi in 2010, AirFleet Managers now have a global presencewith offices inIndia, Ireland, Singapore & Malaysia. We opened our first office on foreign land i.e. Singapore in 2017, the second one at Dublin (Ireland) in 2019 and Malaysia in 2023. Our team is always ready to travel around the globe at very short notice from our clients. So,the whole world is our home. So far,our team have carried out multiple projects in diverse nationalities by delivering successful services in over 56 countries. Q: Aviation Sector is growing in India at a very fast pace. As an Aviation Technical Consultancy, how do you see this both as an opportunity as well as a challenge? A: We would say, an “Opportunity”. It’s time for India to be the world leader in Aviation, with huge orders coming from Indian operators, there is a great potential for growth for the ones who are ready to take this upcoming wave in their stride. There are a lot of players today in the market but not many have the experience that is required to manage the complexities of Technical Aircraft Asset Management. The Lessors need a dependable partner to look into the minute details which leaves them with the opportunity to look at other critical areas of Leasing. The ability to work with little or no supervision is what benchmarks us against our competitors. Coming to “Challenge” We can safely say, that AirFleet Managers are geared up to take this challenge. We have over 40 in-house consultants working with us and our team is growing day by day. Expansion plans are already chalked out and our management is working diligently to cater for all the requirements arising in future. We are adding more manpower, futuristic software as well as more capabilities to offer our clients in the coming days. Q: Brief us about the new

SINGAPORE, Feb.19th, 2024: Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, today announced the official opening of a 48,000 square-foot expansion of its Singapore based engine center, Eagle Services Asia (ESA). The facility will grow its GTF capacity by two-thirds this year. “This expansion demonstrates our commitment to building industrial capacity by continuing to invest in our strategic sites around the world to support our customers,” said Shang Meleschi, vice president of Aftermarket Operations – Asia Pacific and Türkiye at Pratt & Whitney. “We are bringing together talent from our engine center, technologies from the Singapore Technology Accelerator and innovative practices from across Pratt & Whitney to improve MRO performance for our GTF fleet.” The transformative technology insertion applied across both ESA sites integrates robotics, automation and machine learning to increase efficiency, lower stress on machine operators and increase safety for key MRO processes. These innovations include fully automated high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stacking, a Receive-in-Check Cobot that augments the work done by human inspectors and a robotic arm to install and remove HPC bearing sleeves. ESA, a joint venture between SIA Engineering Company and Pratt & Whitney, is a member of the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ MRO network. Since introducing GTF MRO capability in 2019, the facility has already completed over 500 GTF engine overhauls. In 2023, Pratt & Whitney announced three GTF MRO facility expansions and six shop activations to support the growing GTF fleet. There are currently 15 active GTF MRO engine centers around the world, with seven locations in the Asia Pacific region including ESA in Singapore, Korean Airlines in Korea, IHI and MHIAEL in Japan, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and AMECO in China, and China Airlines in Taiwan. By 2025, the company expects to have 19 active GTF MRO shops worldwide.

Bengaluru, February 13, 2024: Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced the establishment of its new India Digital Capability Center (IDCC) in Bengaluru. The new center will accelerate innovation and drive digital and business transformation for Pratt & Whitney worldwide.The facility will be co-located with Pratt & Whitney’s engineering and supply chain operations centers of excellence. The location will also facilitate close collaboration with other RTX businesses in India including Collins Aerospace and RTX Enterprise Services. “The expansion of Pratt & Whitney’s digital technology presence in Bengaluru will allow us to leverage India’s aviation and technology talent and accelerate our digital transformation,” said Rahul Dharni, vice president & global chief information officer, Pratt & Whitney. Pratt & Whitney has begun recruiting its first tranche of employees for the IDCC and is expected grow to over 300 employees by 2027. The center will be focused on delivering multiple digital technology capabilities across various priority areas of Pratt & Whitney’s digital transformation. “With $40 million already invested in engineering and supply chain operations centers in the past two years, Pratt & Whitney continues to grow its presence and contribution to India’s aerospace ecosystem with this additional multi-million-dollar investment in the IDCC,” said Ashmita Sethi, president & country head, Pratt & Whitney, India (UTCIPL). Pratt & Whitney’s other investments in-country include a state-of-the-art India Customer Training Center in Hyderabad and its research & development collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Pratt & Whitney has sourced nearly $55 million in the past 10 years from leading aerospace suppliers in India and also sourced over $500 million in engineering services into India over the past two decades. With an Indian workforce of more than 5,000 people, RTX has one the largest presences amongst aerospace and defense firms in India.

Hyderabad, Thursday 19th January 2024: AVI-OIL India [P] Ltd, a joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Balmer Lawrie and Co. Ltd. and NYCO France, and its authorized distributor M/s Tentacles Aerologistix jointly announces that ALLIANCE AIR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India Asset Holdings Ltd (AIAHL), has selected TURBONYCOIL® 600 to lubricate its regional fleet of ATR72 & ATR42 powered by P&WC engines. Alliance Air CEO Vineet Sood  said,“we are delighted to confirm a seamless transition to our new engine oil NYCO TURBONYCOIL® 600 . Our rigorous multi-evaluation process ensures that the chosen supplier meets our high standards for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This move reflects our commitment to optimal engine performance and a successful partnership with NYCO and Avi-Oil.” Rahul Pandey – Executive Director (Engg) said,”we started using NYCO TURBONYOIL 600 since Sept 2023 and the support received from AVI-OIL for the smooth transition was commendable.” “We appreciate this great opportunity to supply a field proven TURBONYCOIL® 600 to Alliance Air. We are committed to delivering quality products for optimal performance and look forward to a successful partnership for years to come,”said  V K Mathew, CEO, AVI-OIL. Approved in line with demanding specifications, including SAE AS5780 SPC Class and MIL-PRF-23699 G STD Class, TURBONYCOIL® 600 is qualified by all major engine manufacturers (General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Helicopters Engines, CFMI…). It has been used for more than 35 years in jet engines of military and commercial aircraft.

New Delhi, 9th August, 2023: Global aviation software provider Ramco Systems announced that it will implement its next-gen Aviation Suite V5.9 at AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) a one-stop-shop for all engineering requirements. Ramco’s digital platform will further enrich the 20-year-old association with AIESL, thereby offering them operational efficiency, simplified processes and enhanced customer experience. Ramco Aviation Suite will provide AIESL with modules covering 3rd Party MRO services including Line, Hangar, Engine and Component Maintenance, Engineering & CAMO services, Supply Chain Management, and Digital Task Cards. The solution will also enable AIESL to connect with suppliers, thereby aiding seamless flow of information. Through an accelerated data migration and execution plan, the implementation of Ramco Aviation Suite will be streamlined for rapid integration and quicker deployment. Sharad Agarwal, CEO, AI Engineering Services Limited, said, “Our decision to adopt Ramco Aviation Suite was driven by its unmatched compatibility with our strategic direction. Considering the comprehensive MRO-specific functionalities, and out of the box solution, we are keen to leverage Ramco Aviation Suite to drive efficiencies, transform our operations and support our vision to provide best in class services to our customers by maintaining the highest standards of regulatory and safety compliance. With Ramco’s latest technology, we look forward to staying ahead on the innovation front and delivering superior and differentiated services to our customers.” Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Customer Officer – Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, Ramco Systems, said, “We are proud to be the preferred aviation software provider for AIESL. As we embark on this exciting journey with AIESL, we are dedicated to further strengthening the successful partnership that reflects the same excellence we have maintained over the years. Ramco’s best-in-class product capabilities embedded with the latest AI, ML stacks has been helping us distinguish ourselves as a leading aviation software provider. We look forward to supporting AIESL’s strategic direction.”

Johannesburg,13th July 2023: The Aruba Department of Civil Aviation and the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation have certified ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to do line and heavy maintenance on select aircraft types on those countries’ aircraft registry. Aruba, in the Caribbean, where many business jets are registered, has granted approval that permits heavy and line maintenance on Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 900 aircraft as well as the Bombardier Challenger and Bombardier Global series aircraft. Aruba has also approved ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to overhaul Honeywell TPE331 turboprop and complete major periodic inspections (MPIs) on Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines. In a separate development, the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation has certified ExecuJet MRO Services Africa to do line and heavy maintenance on Malawi-registered Embraer ERJ-135 and Embraer ERJ-145 commercial regional jets, as well as their derivatives, the Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 business jet. Vince Goncalves, Regional Vice President Africa at ExecuJet MRO Services, says: “We are pleased to be recognised by so many international aviation bodies. This latest certification allows us to penetrate these two markets by providing world-class MRO services to local business jet operators and owners as well as those flying into different parts of Africa.” “Customers can expect their aircraft to be well-supported and maintained at all times thanks to our team of highly trained maintenance technicians and engineers who have extensive multi-OEM experience,” he adds. ExecuJet MRO Services Africa is also certified by other civil aviation regulators such as: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man and San Marino.

Mumbai, 30th June 2023: The Engineering division of SriLankan Airlines recently completed heavy maintenance check of Cebu Pacific Air Airbus A330 (Trent 700). This marks the airlines engineering division foray into providing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for wide-bodied aircraft from the Southeast Asian region. Cebu Pacific Air is the first Southeast Asian airline to sign up with SriLankan Engineering for heavy maintenance on wide-body aircraft. The heavy maintenance check on the Cebu Pacific Air aircraft was performed in SriLankan Engineering’s dedicated European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved wide-body hangar over a period of four days. It was also the third heavy maintenance by SriLankan Engineering for a customer airline with the other checks being carried out on two Airbus A330 (CF6) aircraft of Serene Air, who came aboard last year. This year several new airlines enrolled with SriLankan Engineering for line maintenance services in Colombo and the Maldives. The demand for base maintenance services has also been equally strong. Air-Sial and Salam Air enlisted for component maintenance services, while and Cebu Pacific Air and Jazeera Airways became the newest customers of heavy maintenance services in 2023. The increasing demand for its MRO services has also resulted in an increasing dollar revenue for SriLankan Engineering, which saw a 35 per cent jump in earnings between the last two financial years.

Feature by Aeroclass Ever since the start of the pandemic, the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) industry has faced many challenges that had an impact on many industry players. According to Anca Gosling, Director of Training Content and Development at Aeroclass, an aviation digital learning platform, despite hurdles, the industry is expected to reach new heights in the coming years. The current state of the MRO market indicates a remarkable recovery, with a projected market value of $94 billion in 2023, an increase of over 20% from the previous year. This growth signifies a return to pre-pandemic levels, as the global fleet has recovered by 98%, and passenger traffic has reached 90% by the beginning of 2023. However, Gosling points out that amidst this positive outlook, the industry further continues to face challenges that impede its rapid development. One of these challenges is effective labour and material cost management as material costs are expected to experience inflation of approximately 6.7% annually over the next couple of years. Gosling explains that to counteract this, MROs are focusing on increasing the usage of used serviceable material (USM). With retiring current-generation fleets, there is ample opportunity to salvage materials, while the commonality between current and next-generation fleets facilitates USM adoption. Shortage of qualified staff Another significant challenge lies in the shortage of qualified staff, particularly maintenance technicians. Anca Gosling explains, “As demand for MRO services rebounds, the industry has had to rapidly scale up production and maintenance operations with fewer employees. To address this issue, operators are implementing measures such as educational outreach, subsidized technical training, improving the work environment, recruiting talent from other industries, and utilising internet-based recruitment platforms Online training and courses, such as the ones offered by Aeroclass, can also play a vital role in optimizing staff training and onboarding processes, enabling faster and more streamlined training programs.” Additionally, the MRO industry faces challenges in its material supply chain. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers have struggled to meet the increased demand for parts, leading companies to rely heavily on the aftermarket for supplies. “This strain on the supply chain highlights the need for improved collaboration and coordination between OEMs, suppliers, and MROs to ensure efficient and timely availability of required materials,” she shares. Address challenges amicably While the MRO industry is poised for recovery and growth, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its sustained success. Effective labour and material cost management, tackling the shortage of qualified staff, and overcoming material supply chain disruptions are all critical areas that require attention. By implementing strategic solutions such as increased usage of USM, investing in training programs and online education, and collaborating closely with suppliers, the MRO industry can navigate these challenges and continue its upward trajectory, driving innovation and efficiency in the aviation sector. (Aeroclass is the first digital learning platform to focus specifically on the aviation market.Aeroclass is part of the Avia Solutions Group family, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 180 aircraft, and a parent company of SmartLynx, Avion Express, Bluebird Nordic, BBN Indonesia Airlines, KlasJet, Magma Aviation and more.)