Tel Aviv. Israel aerospace industries (IAI) expands Its international MRO network. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aviatic MRO UAB for a strategic cooperation in establishing an aircraft maintenance center at the Siauliai Airport, Lithuania.
The new site will provide aircraft maintenance and overhaul services, the conversion of B737NG passenger airplanes into cargo configuration, and the training, certification, and licensing of personnel. Aviatic will run the maintenance center and will support the interaction with the Lithuanian regulators, including planning and infrastructure development.
The new center, dubbed Aviatic MRO, is expected to start operation in 2022 in an innovative hangar that will allow the performance of all MRO jobs immediately after opening.
IAI EVP and General Manager of Aviation Group, Yossi Melamed, commented, “IAI is a long-standing player in the aircraft maintenance category with an excellent reputation accumulated over many years. The new center will create a professional and commercial anchor for aircraft maintenance in Lithuania. It is strategically located near some of the busiest air transport hubs in the world. Signing the collaboration MOU with Aviatic at a time the aviation market is experiencing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic testifies to IAI’s aviation expertise and the strong confidence our worldwide customers have in us.”
Aviatic MRO Board Member, Dmitrij Cheliadin added: “We are glad that IAI has trusted the high-quality specialists, strategically convenient location of Siauliai International Airport and prospects of future growth – the features we offer at Aviatic MRO. This is a big achievement to Lithuania’s sector of aviation and a special acknowledgement of the effort we have already dedicated to this project and can only hope that this partnership will only grow stronger in the near future. In the meantime, we are preparing the needed infrastructure at SQQ.“
IAI’s Aviation Group consolidates the company’s crewed aircraft operations, civilian and military, under one roof. As Israel’s aviation home, the Aviation Group is responsible for aircraft MRO, design and manufacture of jet aircraft, passenger-to-freighter conversions, avionic assemblies and structures, aircraft refurbishment, and more. The maintenance services offered by the Aviation Group are unique in providing immediate solutions thanks to the Group’s advanced capabilities, which allow it to function as a one-stop-shop.
The IAI aviation group has two conversion centers outside Israel- one in China and the other in Mexico. This according to IAI was necessary because of the demand for the company’s expertise in the conversion business. The work is performed by local crews under close supervision of IAI XPERTS.
As reported by Raksha Anirveda the group in cooperation with GCAS is working on the design of a Boeing 777-300 conversion. GCAS alone plans to send 15 777 for conversion.
The first Boeing 777 conversion is scheduled for mid-year.”This aircraft will be a hit in the conversion market with work anticipated until 2035. So far the Aviation group has converted only Boeing aircraft. The Aviation group is in negotiations with Airbus about a plan to launch a program for the conversion of Airbus A-330.
-The writer is International Roving Correspondent of the publication
