newstodate.aero
Mar 05, 2009 (newstodate): The MRO market takes its part of the turbulence in aviation from the current economic crisis. But even so, new opportunities may still surface.
-Formerly, our main customer base consistred of aircraft operators and airlines but a new important business segment is now emerging, says Lars-Olof Bolinder, Air Maintenance Estonia managing director.
-Airlines are of course still part of our core market, and even if aircraft fly less these days, maintenance programs are still observed. One customer with AME today is Danish carrier, Cimber Air-owned Sterling Air, and Estonian Air is another customer at our facility.
-But aircraft leasing companies are becoming more and more important to us. Aircraft lease periods may tend to be increasingly short, and with every change of operator the leasing company will need to inspect and overhaul the aircraft. This business is very important to us, and we enjoy cooperation with a range of the world's aircraft leasing companies, including IFLC.
-We are also keeping an eye on the Russian and CIS market as we would have the benefits of staff with Russian-language skills. But these markets are rather demanding and difficult to penetrate, so we are still at an early stage here.
-Our cost base is highly competitive which is indeed a basic requirement in this sector that has seen per-hour rates down as far as eight euro. That means competitition is indeed very harsh, says Mr Bolinder.
AME currently employs 156 staff, and takes in apprentices for own in-house training programs as the recruitment base for certified technicians is rather limited in Estonia.
The AME has its focus on Boeing 737 NG aircraft, and plans exist for building a new maintenance hangar and broadening the scope of business. These plans have, however, been shelved during the current period.
-Formerly, our main customer base consistred of aircraft operators and airlines but a new important business segment is now emerging, says Lars-Olof Bolinder, Air Maintenance Estonia managing director.
-Airlines are of course still part of our core market, and even if aircraft fly less these days, maintenance programs are still observed. One customer with AME today is Danish carrier, Cimber Air-owned Sterling Air, and Estonian Air is another customer at our facility.
-But aircraft leasing companies are becoming more and more important to us. Aircraft lease periods may tend to be increasingly short, and with every change of operator the leasing company will need to inspect and overhaul the aircraft. This business is very important to us, and we enjoy cooperation with a range of the world's aircraft leasing companies, including IFLC.
-We are also keeping an eye on the Russian and CIS market as we would have the benefits of staff with Russian-language skills. But these markets are rather demanding and difficult to penetrate, so we are still at an early stage here.
-Our cost base is highly competitive which is indeed a basic requirement in this sector that has seen per-hour rates down as far as eight euro. That means competitition is indeed very harsh, says Mr Bolinder.
AME currently employs 156 staff, and takes in apprentices for own in-house training programs as the recruitment base for certified technicians is rather limited in Estonia.
The AME has its focus on Boeing 737 NG aircraft, and plans exist for building a new maintenance hangar and broadening the scope of business. These plans have, however, been shelved during the current period.