The latest news from maintenance repair and overhaul providers

APOC Aviation Acquires three A320s

Aircraft and engine leasing, trading and parting-out specialist APOC Aviation has acquired three former China Southern Airlines Airbus A320s from China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC). The aircraft – B-2350 (c/n 712), B-2351 (c/n 718) and B-2352 (c/n 720) – will be parted-out by CALC Group’s MRO joint venture, FL ARI Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Company at its aircraft recycling facility in Harbin, China. The process is expected to be completed over the summer and the recertified usable parts will be strategically offered to the Asian market and/or shipped to APOC’s warehouse in the Netherlands. Jasper van den Boogaard, director acquisition and trading and ISTATcertified appraiser for APOC Aviation, said: “This is APOC’s first significant deal in China and the acquisition of the three A320 airframes is indicative of our intention to expand our business in Asia. Using a local tear-down specialist maximises cost efficiency allowing us to replenish our stock of universally desirable A320 components, retain value in those parts and sustain competitive prices.”

APOC Aviation also said it is pursuing a fast growth strategy by investing in a new engine trading division, building stock for trading, leasing and tearing down with a focus on CFM56-3/5A/5B/7B and V2500-A5 powerplants. It is also continuing to add to its commercial aircraft parts stock through targeted acquisition of end-oflife narrowbody airframes. (Photo APOC Aviation)

Milestone Delivery

StandardAero has celebrated the redelivery of its 500th CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan from its Winnipeg, Manitoba facility. The engine, which powers a Boeing 737 Next Generation jet operated by a major North American airline, has been overhauled under a package of work through its partnership with GE Aviation. The company launched its CFM56-7B programme in June 2009, when it was selected to support WestJet’s fleet of engines under an exclusive 13-year ‘OnPoint’ solution contracted by the Canadian carrier with GE Aviation. StandardAero completed its initial campaign of 57 CFM56-7B mid-life shop visits for WestJet in December 2012 and has since gone on to process 254 engines for the airline. Due to StandardAero’s success on the WestJet contract, which also included unscheduled engine removals, GE has begun sending repair and investigation CFM56-7B work to Winnipeg from additional operators, including United Airlines. (Photo StandardAero)

777 Galley Overhaul

Zürich-based SR Technics has been awarded a contract from leasing company AerCap to conduct Boeing 777-300ER overhauls this year. The deal follows on from the Swiss MRO provider successfully completing a galley conversion project for the lessor last year. As the only EASA design organisation approval (DOA) company to offer this solution, SR Technics said its engineering team’s innovative proposal to modify the galleys on five 777-300ERs convinced the lessor to upgrade the jets to its popular Atlas standard. After a design and certification process, the first installation was completed at the start of 2018, with the remaining four jets being turned around before the year-end. SR Technics said the project allowed a rapid transition of the company’s aircraft and assured higher lease rates and shorter grounding times.

Etihad Adds XWB Capability

Etihad Airways Engineering is adding the Airbus A350 XWB to its extensive in-house maintenance capabilities portfolio. Already part of the Airbus MRO Alliance, the maintenance provider has emerged as a centre of excellence for the A380, having supported its parent company’s fleet as well as third-party customers in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Australia. It continues to extend coverage of major commercial aircraft types and has received approval to conduct A350 work from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in the United Arab Emirates.

The first A350 aircraft has already arrived in Abu Dhabi from long-term client LATAM Airlines Group and will undergo a heavy check and modifications as part of its routine maintenance programme. The C-check will be followed by full stripping, and then painting in LATAM’s latest livery. The airline is due to send additional A350s for scheduled maintenance throughout the year.

Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Etihad Airways Engineering CEO, said: “Building on our position as a centre of excellence for the Boeing 787 and A380, we are now ready to support the A350 fleets of our customers from around the world. Our A350 capability demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions for all major aircraft types under one roof.”