Page 33 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE KOREA MRO

KAI is the only domestic aircraft
manufacturer and total system
integrator in Korea

maintenance, is the right partner to provides life cycle support for its products. respectively, by 2018.
help us transition successfully to the Based in Sacheon, South Korea, the There are several factors that drive
commercial side of the business,” said company develops basic, intermediate, the growth of the Commercial Aircraft
Sung Yong-Ha, CEO of KAI. and advanced trainer aircraft for Manufacturing market in South Korea.
“This agreement with KAI is part of fighter pilot training; helicopters for air Growth in air passenger traffic is expected
AAR’s efforts to further expand our reach transportation of troops to the armed to boost the growth of the Commercial
in emerging markets such as Africa, the forces; UAV, an unmanned air vehicle Aircraft Manufacturing market in the
Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” said AAR for maritime operations; and small civil country. Increasing government support
Aviation Services COO John Holmes. “We air vehicles for leisure, industry, and and foreign investments in the aviation
are excited to partner with Korea’s premier flight training. It also provides various sector in South Korea are also expected
military aerospace maintenance provider aero structures for a range of Airbus to fuel the growth in domestic aircraft
to help the organization streamline its and Boeing commercial aircrafts; and manufacturing activities in the country.
operations, reduce costs and expand upgrades and modifies existing aircraft for In addition, the increase in airport
service across South Korea.” performance enhancement. In addition, infrastructure development initiatives
AAR was named Best Airframe MRO the company provides aircraft MRO and undertaken by the government would lead
Provider Worldwide by ATE&M, its third ground based training systems for pilots to more demand for commercial aircraft
award in four years. AAR’s global network and maintenance crews, and is involved in South Korea.
of warehouses servicing customers’ in the development of multi-purpose “South Korea is a potential market for
supply chain needs are located in Chicago, satellites and related core parts, as well the manufacture of commercial aircraft
Singapore, Amsterdam and Hannover, as in the satellite launching business. parts and MRO services. Currently,
Germany, with a new hub in Brussels The Commercial Aircraft there is no company in South Korea that
now serving Europe, the Middle East and Manufacturing market in South Korea is completely manufactures commercial
Africa. The Company serves customers in expected to witness high growth in the aircraft, thus the country relies on the
more than 100 countries from sales and coming years. import of commercial aircraft from other
service offices around the world. According to analysts, the commercial countries such as the U.S. and the U.K.
KAI is the only domestic aircraft aircraft parts manufacturing market in However, there are some vendors in South
manufacturer and total system integrator South Korea and MRO market in South Korea that manufacture commercial
in Korea. It designs and assembles world- Korea are expected to reach US$1,541.9 aircraft parts for Airbus SAS and the
class aircraft and satellite systems and million and US$1,343.6 million, Boeing Co.
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