Page 28 - AAA APRIL - MAY 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE SR TECHNICSSR TECHNICS

F
U
A
e
t
re
Looking Ahead

Caroline Vandedrinck, S R Technics Vice President (americas) talks about various
industry trends and the company’s plans for the region
By Arun Sivasankaran

25 YeArs in tHe WorLd oF CiviL KLM Engineering & Maintenance have been
aviation have given Caroline Vandedrinck, S playing up their core strengths to make up
R Technics Vice President (Americas), a well- for the advantage that companies in regions
rounded perspective that not many in the where the labor is less expensive have over
industry can claim to have. Having seen the them. At SR Technics, there has been an
industry flounder during the recession and added focus on innovation. “We have been
then get back on the rails before enjoying its innovating and making our processes better,”
best ever year in 2016, Vandedrinck says that says Vandedrinck. “We have done it for 80
although it is unrealistic to expect last year’s years; we know how to do it correctly the first
purple patch to continue, the Maintenance time. As we are very efficient, we have been
Repair & Overhaul (MRO) industry continues able to tie down the actual labour hours. We
to be in robust health. She believes that both have many decades of experience and that
the European and North American MRO helps us; it will take the newer MROs some
markets still have room for growth, even if time before they can do the same amount of
the Asia Pacific region is growing faster. hours for a certain task as we do.”
“Because a lot of the aircraft are going
into Asia, you would say Asia is definitely an Global Presence
area where my colleagues are focusing very China-based HNA Aviation last year Caroline Vandedrinck, S R Technics Vice President
hard, but so is Europe,” says Vandedrinck. announced plans to acquire an 80 percent (Americas)
“Europe is growing as well. When you look at stake in the company, but even before that,
the installed fleet in America, it is quite big. SR Technics has been steadily expanding The company is also looking to tap the
It is more concentrated; you have airlines its global presence. “Even though some potential of the Latin American market.
that have 700-800 aircraft.” A noticeable people assume that we would be expensive, “We have established some long-term
trend in the industry is MRO activities being in Switzerland, we have global partnerships in Latin America, and these
moving towards low cost nations like facilities,” says Vandedrinck, “ We have clients are very important to our company,”
Mexico, Malaysia and Brazil, particularly in facilities in Malaysia, Ireland and Malta; we says Vandedrinck. “We are also actively
labour intensive heavy maintenance checks. are not just concentrated in Switzerland. looking for new opportunities.”
Vandedrinck believes cost is just one of the The management is there and we do have
factors that influence decision-making. shops there, but it is not the only place. Our Big Opportunity with Leasing
“It is about quality, turnaround time prices, just like anyone else’s, are market- Companies
and cost,” says Vandedrinck, who was Vice driven. It does not matter what our cost With many carriers leaning more toward
President, Europe and CIS for Sikorsky is, it depends on what the customer needs leasing rather than buying aircraft, the
before joining SR Technics. “In order to be and what our competitors are offering.” The leasing market has grown substantially in
competitive, the company needs to have North American fleet is forecast to grow recent years. It is something that airlines
solutions tailored to the customers’ needs the slowest globally, at an average of less are trying to take advantage of. “It is a good
and be creative. One solution does not fit than 1 percent annually over the next decade, time for airlines right now,” says a delighted
all. I am a great proponent of spending time but SR Technics remains fully committed to Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of ultra-low cost
with the customer, understanding what their developing and strengthening its presence Mexican carrier VivaAerobus. “There is so
requirements are, and understanding their in the region. “We are evaluating the much competition in the leasing arena. All
specific needs.” market dynamics and market opportunities the big players are entering the industry
continuously,” says Vandedrinck. “Many of the with impressive offerings, thus bringing the
Countering Competition with main carriers have maintenance capabilities, lease-risk factor down.”
Innovation and of course the OEM’s have capability as The increasing role played by leasing
SR Technics and other MRO giants such as well. This makes it a challenging market but companies and the resultant transitions
Lufthansa Technik and Air France Industries there are plenty of opportunities.” in aircraft ownership have opened up new
WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
APRIL / MAY 2017
28 MAINTENANCE REPAIR OVERHAUL APRIL / MAY 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAAMAINTENANCE REPAIR OVERHAUL 28