Page 33 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE MIDDLE EAST MRO

The largest MRO opportunities
will be present in Dubai, Abu
Dhabi and Doha

their processes towards new generation Swiss MRO provider SR Technics. The new Technics is one of the leading component
airplanes, which will undoubtedly impact facility will provide SR Technics a foothold services providers of A320 and B737, and
MRO dynamics in the region. According to in the training market for the region and both new aircraft models A320neo and
ICF International, “The largest opportunities complement its existing training facilities B737MAX are part of its product portfolio.
exist in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, leading in Zurich, Switzerland. The company had Another of Mubadala’ s investments
to future joint ventures and increased OEM been providing employee basic maintenance that is delivering on its promise is Strata
presence.” Saudi Arabia Is the largest market training and type rating training, to numerous Manufacturing, an advanced composite
for aircraft parts in the Middle East region airlines in the region since 2008. “SR aero-structures manufacturing company,
and MRO providers based in the country Technics’ modern training center in Abu that is wholly owned by Mubadala. In October,
have benefited from the stunning growth and Dhabi attracts new and existing customers last year it delivered on its first contract with
expansion of airlines in the Middle East. The within the region and beyond. Masdar City, Saab, by supplying its first shipset of A350
rapid growth of numerous Middle Eastern where the training center is located, is a – 1000 Flap Support Fairings (FSFs) which
airlines has created a demand for parts and progressive hub for educational, technical were delivered to Airbus. The first shipset
repair stations, which has fuelled Saudi and scientific institutions, so it provides was delivered through Saab business unit
Arabia’s aerospace parts import growth an inspiring learning environment for high Saab Aerostructures to Airbus, following
and will continue to do so for at least the quality technical training. Furthermore, we the Strata- Saab announcement made in
next decade. There are six Federal Aviation work closely with our customers to design June last year during the Paris airshow,
Authority (FAA) certified MRO facilities tailor made training solutions to incorporate further demonstrating Strata’s capabilities
in Saudi Arabia and the country was the client specific training needs,” says Stephan in the composite manufacturing industry.
leading importer of U.S. aircraft parts (civil Wiegelmann, Head of Training Services, SR Strata remains the only company in the Gulf
and military) within a region. U.S. aerospace Technics. that manufactures aircraft components for
parts exports to Saudi Arabia have averaged The Mubadala Development Company companies such as Airbus and Boeing.
over US$1.5 billion annually between (Mubadala) which is owned by the Innovative MRO solutions are now
2004 and 2013, as per a report by the U.S. Government of Abu Dhabi, has made some beginning to emerge from the region and
Department of Commerce, International important strategic investments in the in November, last year, a groundbreaking
Trade Administration. aerospace domain and in July, last year, prototype device that uses advanced
Mubadala agreed to sell 80 percent of its thermal imaging to detect stresses,
Looking Within shares in SR Technics to HNA Aviation, while fractures and cavities on and inside
There will also be a substantial spike in retaining a 20 percent stake in the company. aerospace structures, was the result
demand for trained manpower and one of SR Technics has benefited to a substantial of research and collaboration between
the most recent developments in the region extent from the support of Mubadala, which researchers at the Masdar Institute of
was the inauguration of a new world-class has been critical to its development, ever Science and Technology, Mubadala and
training center in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, by since becoming a shareholder in 2006. SR Strata. Developed to test components made
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