Page 31 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2013 Online Magazine

FeATure Mro JoinT venTures

a JV deal with UTC Aerospace to provide have a management system more or Nonetheless, the other factors which
an inaugural MRO service for Boeing less [based on] those of the FAA (Federal make having a presence in Asia attractive
787 Dreamliner nacelles; a major vote Aviation Authority) or EASA (European Air still outweigh the demands of setting up
of confidence in the regional provider. Standards Authority),” he says. “In my JVs or other operations in the region. As
As Chang Cheow Teck, president of ST opinion, due to the different situations and AFI KLM’s Moreau notes, with a quick-
Aerospace puts it, “we are indeed very cultures, I don’t expect there will be single growing fleet and many new-generation
honored to be licensed by UTC Aerospace body in short term. aircraft, the scale of the MRO market
Systems as the inaugural MRO service Certainly, unlike the centralised in Asia is slated to become even bigger
provider for Boeing 787 nacelles.” political and regulatory structures seen in than the impressive rate of current
With a global MRO network and the US or Europe, the Asia Pacific region fleet expansion. “Those companies who
comprehensive capabilities, ST Aerospace has to focus on maintaining good multi- focus on developing technology for new
will be using the agreement to work with lateral relations and collaboration on products and on the customer’s need …
UTC Aerospace Systems to offer support key regulatory issues on an ad-hoc basis, will be more successful in the market,” he
for Boeing 787 operators worldwide, not notes APAA’s Herdman. As he points out, asserts.
just regionally. many regional air services agreements And as Lufthansa Technik’s Reinert
are subject to bilateral negotiations points out, the rewards are only likely to
Sign-off strictures between governments – but he does see increase for those nimble enough to work
In any JV, regulation and certification can light at the end of the tunnel. with the market and local conditions.
be a challenge. As AFI KLM’s Moreau “Progressive liberalisation has ensured “The Asian market presently outgrows
notes, most countries across the region that the industry has always been able to other markets. It is a big continent with
have their own airworthiness authority, respond quickly to developing demand and most of the world’s population living there,
which means a potentially confusing evolving market requirements. Asia Pacific and wealth and mobility are increasing,
web of various certification demands aviation has grown spectacularly over the which needs aviation,” he points out.
as JVs expand the coverage of the local/ past two decades, and as a region, we are “Therefore the aviation industry and with it
international operations taking part. strongly supportive of the work done by MRO will grow.”
“Airworthiness Authorities like CAAC ICAO in establishing … global standards Encouraging news indeed for those
(Chinese Aviation Authority of China) and regulatory guidance,” he observes. looking East.
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