Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) service excellence delivery is crucial for safety in flight operations, and hence its quick availability and reliability must be ensured. The location of MRO units is carefully planned to be able to carry out repair and maintenance of aircraft, as and when their customers need. The focus for both customer and service provider is to reduce downtime and achieve the best TAT (Turn Around Time) possible. SAFE and RELIABLE air travel is the main objective for an airline company to ensure to customers. Of course, the DGCA of every country, FAA, and EASA are responsible for mandating regulations that airlines must adhere to – for safety and airworthiness of aircraft.
Jean Kayanakis, Senior Vice President for Worldwide Customer Service at Dassault, said, “For our company, after-market support is a truly vital part of the ownership experience. This means keeping Dassault as close as possible to its customers and offering all the services needed to maximize the up-time and value of their Falcon fleet.”
Thus, with the above sentiment in mind, Dassault Falcon Jet has opened a new MRO facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil, moving from a previous facility, maximize the up-time and value of their Falcon fleet and setting itself up within proximity to Sao, Paulo’s Catarina Executive International Airport.
MRO facilities come replete with equipment, spares, and parts as also teams of skilled technicians who inspect, repair aircraft to be flight -ready and hence the airport is most strategic location.
MRO Growth Story in India & Third-Party MRO Services at Airports
The Indian aviation market is poised to be the third largest in the world. Moreover, the recent announcements made by Indian carriers for induction of aircraft rose to over 1200 plus. Quick to understand the need to service such large numbers of assets, industry-friendly government policies are being implemented to promote the MRO sector, announcing tax cuts, attracting investments, ease in acquiring land, have helped fostering the growth of MRO service providers. Leading Indian conglomerates have come forward to set up not just state-of-the-art MRO facilities, but an entire ecosystem with skilling academies, certifications that permit servicing domestic, as also international aircraft.
In fact, skill development has taken center stage with tailor-made training and vocational courses that create industry-ready workers who owe demand for skilled MRO professionals. This focus on skill development ensures a steady supply of qualified technicians and engineers for the industry.
With evolving Third-Party MRO services available in India, have made the indigenous industry a global player. GMR’s Aviation Academy has been set up with the objective of providing cutting-edge training and education in a range of skills required in the aviation sector.
Dholera Airport in Gujerat is envisioned to be a state-of-the-art global MRO hub, capable of providing a full range of services, and facilities like warehouses. The idea is to provide affordable, but high-quality services to aircraft and parts manufacturers, airline companies and other aviation entities. All the development is planned next to the proposed Dholera International Airport.
The Government of India has short-listed the airports of Begumpet (Telangana), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Chandigarh, Delhi, Juhu (Maharashtra), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Tirupati for the creation of MROs for aircraft and helicopters. Developing a center of MRO excellence in Kolkata could mean serving customers from the Southeast Asian nations.
Location is Key for MROs
Šiauliai International Airport, in Lithuania is strategically located, within 3 hours from all major European airline hub airports, and is in a prime position to serve a large market, including the largest sizes of aircraft.
According to CEO of Aviatic MRO Arturas Liudkevicius, said, “Air traffic is growing worldwide and there is more demand than ever for top quality MRO services. Lithuania is an ideal location close to some of the busiest flight hubs in the world.”
Building an AeroCity at the Hyderabad Airport
GMR AeroCity Hyderabad at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is envisioned to provide world-class infrastructure in India. The development includes an Aerospace and Industrial Park and a Logistics Park amongst other conveniences.
GMR AeroCity Hyderabad is planned as an urban landscape with an international airport at the centre of all its urban planning at its core. It promises to deliver speed, agility, and connectivity as unique business propositions.
MRO FACILITY LOCATIONS BASED ON BUSINESS MODELS
The MRO business come in various business models and sizes and these are – Independent repair stations, Fixed -base, Commercial, Regional, Military, and In-House Corporate facilities.
Air Works Group was India’s first privately owned, independent MRO to create an EASA-certified maintenance facility for airlines in India at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Independently owned MRO units offer niche services like aircraft interiors or landing gear. Customers utilize independent repair stations for specialized services. These units are not necessarily located at airports.
A Fixed-base Operator (FBO) is a facility that provides ground services for business aircraft. An FBO usually has an independent terminal with facilities such as VIP lounges, cabin crew lounges, security checks, and a customs corridor. It also provides hangar parking, refuelling, maintenance, and cleaning services.
Fixed base operators are located usually at large, non-commercial airports, and mainly service the local aviation community. Some offer full-service repairs for any aircraft on-station. If necessary, aircraft will go off-station for additional support or technical assistance.
Commercial airline MRO facilities are usually located at the airline’s major hub and are owned and operated by the airline, providing comprehensive services and repair. On the other hand, OEM Bombardier operates their own MRO facilities.
MRO development at Regional Airports, like the Airbus U.S. MRO business which is located at Mobile Regional Airport in Alabama, USA. Airbus D.S. Military Aircraft, Inc., is a FAR 145 and EASA 145.6332 certified MRO facility that provides critical customer support for global C212 operators, and US CN235 and C295 operators.
Growth of related Facilities at Airports
Organic growth of other service providers has taken off to serve the MRO industry and are located near or at the airports for obvious reasons. Airports, airlines and sustainable fuel suppliers, and distributors form alliances for transportation, storage, and delivery (fuelling) of aviation fuel at airports.
Airbus has partnered with London Gatwick Airport, low-cost airline easyJet, and hydrogen supplier Air Products to develop hydrogen capabilities and infrastructure for the UK’s aviation industry.
Neste MY SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel, from the world’s largest supplier Neste is available at several major airports, including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Narita International Airport (NRT). An entire network of distributors is set up to provide sustainable fuel to airlines at various airports for commercial and business aviation customers.
North America is the largest MRO market of the world, capturing nearly 40% of the world market. Western and Eastern Europe drive 28% of spending. Asia Pacific, China, and India combined represent 22% of the market share. However, India alone represents only 1% market share of the global MRO business.
