MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY IN THE MEA COUNTRIES D ue to lower oil prices and falling economy growth in the MEA countries which have taken place during the last two years, Business Aviation companies having activities in the area have expressed some concern, though Ali Alnaqbi, founding chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) considers that this market is still growing, but at a lesser percentage than before the oil prices started to fall down. For Ahmed Al Ansari, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Dubai South Airport: For a number of years, MEA has been a cradle for Business Aviation. The GCC markets (The There are still opportunities for growth in the maintenance industry in Middle East and Africa, but dramatic increase is not expected over the next one to two years. Marc Grangier reports METROPOLIS Burj Al Arab in Dubai (top). MEBAA's Founding Chairman Ali Alnaqbi (center). Al Maktoum International Airport (below). GCC/Gulf Cooperation Council includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) remain promising in terms of Business Aviation travel, and especially Saudi Arabia. As the Gulf countries diversify their activity, there is no doubt that the resulting increase in trade will attract more Business Aviation traffic. Al Ansari highlighted that with that comes the need for greater infrastructure, airport capacity and airport access for private jets to accommodate developments. Maintenance is evidently an important part of it. Stefan Benz, senior vice president of Jet Aviation MRO and FBO Operations, EMEA & 58 - BART: NOVEMBER - 2017
Asia, told BART that Jet Aviation was well aware of the potential of the area as it already established its Dubai facility twelve years ago to be present on this market and strengthen the company s global network for its clientele in the Middle East. Today, it is our major MRO hub for the Middle East and a leading FBO and MRO service provider in the region. Concerning our maintenance business, we ve seen a general increase in the volume of heavy maintenance projects and we expect to do more C- checks over the next couple of years as aircraft mature. Yet a Strong Potential Considering the existing fleet and the deliveries to come, several MRO companies have created subsidiaries or established new ventures in the MEA region, which has still a strong potential, in spite of the present eco- around 70 percent of the private jet market in the region. When compared to the rest of the world, the Middle East has a much bigger focus on mid to larger sized business aircraft. Some 59 percent of its fleet are classified as medium to heavy, and 11 percent as business jet airliners. The corresponding figures for the global fleet are 29.8 and 1 percent. Honeywell estimates the Business Aviation market in the Middle East to be worth US$1 billion by 2020. An opinion shared by Bombardier, which expects the region to remain a promising market in the next 10 years. At present, the Canadian manufacturer has a fleet of more than 100 aircraft based in the area. Peter Likoray, senior vice-president of worldwide sales and marketing at Bombardier Business Aircraft, recently indicated that: Our market forecast predicts 350 deliveries valued at the Falcon 7X orders from MEA customers already represent more than 20 percent of total orders for this model. Furthermore, the French OEM believes that its new 5X, with its six-foot, six-inch cabin height, the tallest in Business Aviation, its top speed of.90 Mach and its range of 5,200 nautical miles, associated to the lowest fuel consumption in its category, should contribute to considerably push up sales in the area. Jet Aviation Jet Aviation Dubai s maintenance and FBO location was established in May 2005 as a joint venture company with the Al Mulla Group. The facility has a total surface of 4,200 square meters (45,192 square feet) of hangar space, a workshop area of 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet) and a two-story FBO building. The facility is an authorized service center nomic situation. A fact stressed by Mike Berry, VP of ExecuJet Middle East: We still see opportunities for growth, but the way the market is right now we are not going to see a dramatic increase in business activity over the next year. I believe this is a generally held view by everyone in the industry at the moment. Furthermore, competition is fierce, as capturing the small but significant patronage of the region s super rich is however becoming increasingly competitive. More companies tap into this market, not an insignificant one, as at present, some 800 aircraft are based in the Middle East. Together, Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for $12 billion over the next 10 years, with medium and large category aircraft accounting for about 95 per cent of these deliveries. Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Aerospace, is also optimistic: Gulfstream aircraft deliveries to the Middle East began in 1976. Forty years later, we have more than 120 aircraft based in the MEA. With this growth, we continue to invest in Product Support capabilities throughout the region, including expanding our parts and materials inventory at Dubai World Central. Dassault is also confident about the Falcon sales in the region. Over the past seven years, its fleet has almost doubled, to more than 70 aircraft, and for maintenance and warranty support to Boeing BBJ, the Gulfstream G150, G200, GIV and GV, G450, G550 and G650 series, the Dassault Falcon 900, 2000 and 7X series, and it offers full service capability for Hawker Beechcraft 800/900 series, Airbus ACJ series and Embraer Legacy aircraft. It also provides on demand line maintenance services at Dubai World Central Airport (DWC), as well as AOG support at Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport, Sharjah International Airport and the wider EMEA region. Recently, Jet Aviation announced that, together with its joint venture partner the Al Mulla Business Group, EXPANSIVE Jet Aviation Dubai's hangar is large enough to accommodate two BBJs or ACJs simultaneously. BART: NOVEMBER - 2017-59
support for customers operating the Bombardier Global Express, Challenger 604/605, Airbus 320 family, and the Global 6000 and Global 5000 Vision Flight Deck aircraft types. DCAF will further expand its maintenance services upon completion of a new 6,800sqm hangar which is scheduled to be operational before the end of this year. The expansion will more than double the hangar capacity as well as enable DCAF to add two single-aisle aircraft maintenance bays and provide enough space for an additional workshop and equip- OPERATIVE Jet Aviation's FBO in Jeddah (left). DC Aviation Al-Futtaim VIP handling facility in Dubai (right). it has outfitted a brand-new facility in the shared terminal at Dubai South. According to Stefan Benz: The outfitting of our new facility is ongoing. We look forward to going operational in November 2017 and are planning to hold a Grand Opening at the Dubai Airshow. Once operational, we will continue providing handling services from our two Dubai locations over the next couple of years. We are currently assessing and defining the timeline to establish a mid-term transfer of activities to Dubai South. Jet Aviation s Jeddah facility is a FAA approved Gulfstream repair station, and as a Saudi Arabia GACA-145 license holder, it performs line maintenance services for Falcon 7X and Gulfstream GIV and GV aircraft and provide nitrogen/oxygen services for any type of aircraft. It also has a battery shop and provides aircraft labor assistance and interior and exterior aircraft cleaning services on request. Last August, Jet Aviation announced that it will be expanding its operations at Sharjah International Airport in the UAE. With the support of Sharjah Airport Authority, the company has acquired additional aircraft parking space to meet the growing demand it is experiencing for Business Aviation (particularly BBJs) at the airport, and from across the region. DC Aviation Al-Futtaim DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF) is a joint venture between Stuttgart-based DC Aviation GmbH, the largest operator business jets operator in Germany and one of the leading operators in Europe, and Dubai-based Al-Futtaim, a privately-owned UAE business conglomerate. DCAF states it is the first and only fully integrated Business Aviation facility based out of Al Maktoum International Airport located at Dubai South (formerly Dubai World Central) with a dedicated hangar measuring 5,700sqm and a 1,300 sqm exclusive VVIP lounge area designed to international standards offering customers the highest levels of comfort and privacy, shower areas and a conference room. DCAF s core areas of business include: aircraft management, maintenance, FBO and ground handling services as well as business jet charter. Earlier this year, the company received an extension to its CAR145 approval from the UAE s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to provide line maintenance for the Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft type. With this extension, DCAF is now able to provide B1 (airframe) and B2 (avionics) maintenance services for the Falcon 7X at its hangar located at Dubai South. In addition to the Falcon 7X, the company can also provide line maintenance ment storage. It will also significantly increase the number and size of aircraft which can be accommodated at the facility. The existing DCAF hangar measures 5,700sqm and can easily accommodate multiple ACJ or BBJ type aircraft, ultra-long range business jets such as the Falcon 7X, Global Express or Gulfstream G650. Execujet Middle East Headquartered at Zurich/ Switzerland, the ExecuJet Aviation Group was founded in 1991 to provide Business Aviation services for individuals, companies, and governments worldwide (As of May 5, 2015, ExecuJet Aviation Group AG operates as a subsidiary of Luxaviation S.A.). ExecuJet offers maintenance services in Beijing, Berlin (LBAS), Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, Melbourne, New Delhi, Perth, Sydney, Tianjin and Wellington, and since 1999 it has been operating a maintenance division at Dubai 60 - BART: NOVEMBER - 2017
Dubai World Central, and Sharjah to cater for customers from throughout the entire Gulf region. Repair operations on Airframe Related Components (ARC) were expanded at the start of 2014 in response to the strong demand for technical services for nacelle components. The competencies and extensive experience of Lufthansa Technik Middle East encompass the complete range requirements for operators of modern large aircraft. The ARC workshop in Dubai extends the Lufthansa Technik global network, providing adhesive repairs on composites and light metals. BASE ExecuJet Middle East (left) and Lufthansa Technik Middle East (right) are operational in Dubai. International Airport. This facility is approved to support Bombardier, Embraer and Hawker aircraft. It is also an Authorized Dealer and Service Center for Honeywell Avionics and Engines, along with being accredited with the Rockwell Collins Business Regional System Avionics Dealership. It has two large air-conditioned facilities, totaling 7,093 sqm of hangar floor space, located at Dubai International Airport, featuring full line and base maintenance support capability including NDT and component shops. At Dubai South FBO, ExecuJet has a sister operation offering 17,000sqm of dedicated parking area with dedicated fuel hydrant points, which ensures faster fueling for its clients. In addition to the executive lounges and handling, the ExecuJet FBO provides a wide range of support services, including a line station providing full line support to current product types. ExecuJet Middle East also operates a Line Maintenance facility at Al Maktoum International Airport, supporting Customer s 7 days week and offers regional AOG support by dispatching responsive maintenance repair teams. Inclusive to both Dubai facilities is the ExecuJet parts facility, comprising of a rapidly growing stock of high demand spare parts for many product lines alongside the managed OEM bonded warehouse lines. ExecuJet Qatar, a branch of ExecuJet Middle East, was recently established to secure an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) and provide aircraft management and charter solutions to clients in Qatar and the GCC. Lufthansa Technik Middle East In February 2016, Lufthansa Technik opened a new wholly owned subsidiary: Lufthansa Technik Middle East. Based at Dubai Airport, the company was formed on the basis of the service center, Lufthansa Technik Middle East Services (LTMES). With comprehensive on-site sales activities and technical services for customers, the company s operations strengthen the presence of Lufthansa Technik in the Middle East aviation market. Alongside comprehensive component supply and the repair of structural and composite materials, customers also benefit from maintenance operations on all short and medium-haul Airbus and Boeing aircraft as well as the Cyclean Engine Wash service. The engine wash service is thus available at all three major airports in Dubai Dubai International Airport, Lufthansa Technik Middle East in Dubai is also the central location for the AOG Help Desk and the base for its mobile Airline Support Team, assisting with rapid and comprehensive material and spare parts supply for unplanned incidents around the clock. Here, too, customers reap the benefits of Lufthansa Technik s infrastructure and highly qualified personnel. Depending on the nature of damage, repairs can be arranged and undertaken directly and efficiently at the customer site or, without additional transport costs, in Dubai or elsewhere in the Lufthansa Technik network. Last May, the company s new facility in the Aviation District at Dubai South became fully operational. Since, different parts have already been repaired on-site, e.g. thrust reversers, inlet cowls and radomes. 62 - BART: NOVEMBER - 2017
Falcon Aviation Falcon Aviation was created in 2006, at Al Bateen Executive Airport, only 10km from Abu Dhabi, to offer executive charter flights with a fleet of Gulfstream and Embraer jets and Agusta and Bell helicopters. In order to meet the demand, it then created its own maintenance subsidiary, Falcon Engineering, to provide full service maintenance on rotary and fixed wing aircraft, with service center approvals from Embraer and Airbus Helicopters, along with certification from Bombardier, Gulfstream, Agusta and Bell. Last Summer, the company announced that it was expanding its MRO activity in the growing turboprop market with the opening of a Pilatus PC-12 service center at its Al Bateen Executive Airport Hangar facility. Under the warranty services of Pilatus Aircraft and with the backing of AMAC Aerospace, the OEM s exclusive sales corporation representative in the Middle East, Falcon Aviation has ratified a new partnership agreement with PC-12 charter operator GI Aviation to provide line and base maintenance, plus regional AOG support. Last January, GI Aviation pioneered commercial charter services with the PC-12, following the award of GCAA certification in December 2016. Recently, it was working with Falcon Aviation (on the re-registration) of its newly accepted second PC- 12NG. For Ronnie McCrae, its Service Center Manager: We are investing in appropriate infrastructure and technical support for the region to help new operators like GI Aviation grow. We can see them providing excellent feeder opportunities, not just to the larger private jet companies but also to the commercial airlines. We are very enthusiastic about the PC-12 and PC-24. These aircraft are real game-changers in the Middle East as they will offer new opportunities to customers looking for cheaper short to medium haul charter fights. NasJet Launched in 1999 in affiliation with US partner NetJets, NasJet (originally NetJets Middle East - NJME), was the first private company in Saudi Arabia to be awarded an Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC) by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The company has since grown to managing/supporting in excess of 67 fixed-wing aircraft with a fleet insured value exceeding $2 billion. It is the largest Gulfstream operator in the Middle East and one of the top ten in the world. Part of an aviation group employing 1400 in-house aviation industry experts, it operates 24/7 from its main facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To date, it has completed 65 business aircraft. Nasjet and appointed partners provide advice on the design, selection and installation of the cabin configuration, layout, type of seats, carpets, sidewall treatments and other furnishings, entertainment and communication systems, galley and lavatory fixtures, avionics packages, exterior paint and extended warranty program. Qatar Executive Qatar Airways first announced in 2009 the formation of a corporate jet subsidiary Qatar Executive as part of the airline s ongoing global strategy, and continued commitment to the Middle East and global business travel community. Headquartered at Hamad International Airport, the company offers aircraft management, airliner charter, maintenance and FBO services. A Bombardier Authorized Service Facility, its services include both base and line maintenance capabilities for the Global XRS, 5000 and Challenger 604/605 aircraft. Maintenance services are accomplished at Qatar Executive s hangar facility at Hamad International Airport, which is designed to accom- EXPANSION Falcon Aviation handed over PC-12 to Abu Dhabi-based charter start-up Gi (right). NasJet has so far completed 65 business aircraft (left). BART: NOVEMBER - 2017-63
Royal Jet Headquartered in Abu Dhabi/UAE, Royal Jet is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Aviation and the Presidential Flight Authority or PFA, the royal flight service. As part of its aircraft management service, its maintenance department is able to plan, control and execute all aircraft maintenance work, either in-house or via another service provider. Its maintenance team is also capable of complete aircraft refurbishment, modification and completion services thanks to its inhouse skills and expertise. Its technical team offers maintenance support and planning services, as well as line maintenance activities, base maintenance activities, defect rectification modate four Global and Challenger aircraft simultaneously with over 6,400m² of hangar floor space and a further 8,400m² of dedicate business jet apron and parking space. Arabasco In business since 1982, Arabasco considers itself as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia s pioneer provider of Business Aviation services, from TOPS Qatar Executive (top), Royal Jet (center) and Arabasco (below) are the leading flight service providers in the Middle East. FBOs to aircraft maintenance, management and charters, it has strategic airport locations in Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Yanbu and Damman. Its Jeddah MRO facility is an FAA approved Part 145 repair station with OEM service center authorizations from Bombardier (CL604/5), Hawker HS-125 Series, all King Air Series as well as from Honeywell and Rockwell Collins avionics. Its type rated capabilities also includes certified scheduled and AOG support on Gulfstreams (up to G450), BBJs and Falcons (900/2000). Two years ago, the company signed an agreement with Honeywell Aerospace to increase installation capability and reduce servicing time for Honeywell avionics-equipped business and general aviation operators across the Middle East. Through the agreement with Arabasco, operators of Honeywell s avionics systems, now have a Honeywell approved service center in Saudi Arabia that can provide retrofits, modifications and upgrades (RMUs), maintenance and services. This agreement was building on Arabasco s existing Honeywell servicing capability for Honeywell TFE-731 engine family and APU line. Furthermore, it granted Arabasco customers access to Honeywell repair transactions, the purchase of spares and Honeywell s SPEX parts exchange service for its avionics systems. and modification services. Royal Jet holds GCAA AMO 145 (aircraft maintenance organization) approval on a number of airframe types that include full approvals on BBJs, Gulfstream and Learjet aircraft. Additional aircraft types can also be serviced depending on individual client requests. It also offers continued airworthiness monitoring services (CAMO) approved by the GCAA, as well as full logistic and materials planning services, which include technical procurement, sourcing, warehouse support and stock control. During last EBACE, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) and Royal Jet agreed to develop a maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) service center agreement. Working with the experienced maintenance team at Royal Jet is an outstanding opportunity that supports our continued growth plans for the Middle East, stated Neil Book, president, and CEO of JSSI. For Rob DiCastri, Royal Jet s president and CEO, The expansion of our relationship with JSSI is an ideal fit. Our technical team performs a great deal of MRO for our own fleet of 64 - BART: NOVEMBER - 2017
AMAC has invested heavily in tooling and spare parts to support its new Falcon line service activity. It has also established a GoTeam able to help customers with AOG issues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, anywhere in the region. AMAC Istanbul maintenance services also include line maintenance for Airbus A319/320/321 with both power plants IAE V2500 & CFM56, as well as line and base maintenance for PC-12 (PWC PT6) for category A2 for aircraft below 5700kg. Additionally, it has a line station facility at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport. In its latest 10-year Global Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell recognized that concerning the MEA region, report of purchase plans, with another Boeing, Bombardier and Gulfstream business jets, but we have the capacity to do more, and look forward to supporting the growing number of JSSI clients. Saudia Private Aviation Engineering and Maintenance (SPA-E&M) Jeddah-based Saudia Private Aviation Engineering and Maintenance (SPA-E&M) has been since 2010 a Line Service Center for the Dassault Falcon aircraft based in the Middle East. The company, which is the Business Aviation unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines, has more than 40 years of experience in maintaining and inspecting business aircraft of all makes, including Falcons. Its 43,000- square foot facility has two large hangar areas as well as workshops and storage facilities, and employs more than 75 technicians. According to John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon, Saudia Private Aviation Engineering and Maintenance has been of great benefit not only to our expanding fleet in the region, but also to those transient operators traveling to Europe, Asia and Africa. SPA-E&M offers numerous capabilities, including a corrosion prevention and control program, aging aircraft inspections, landing gear repair and replacement, and paint services. It also houses a sheet metal, tire and battery servicing shop. The company holds Repair Station Certificates from the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) as well as the FAA. AMAC Istanbul A subsidiary of AMAC Aerospace Basel/Switzerland, AMAC Istanbul is based at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. It is equipped with 1,500 square meters (16,135 square feet) of hangar, shop and storage space and is staffed by professionals with more than 20 years of experience in aircraft maintenance. Since 2014, the company has been a Falcon Authorized Service Center for line maintenance. As such, it provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for Falcon 900 and Falcon 900EX EASy series, including the DX and the LX, and the Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX EASy family, plus the Falcon 7X, under Turkish DGCA SHY- 145 and EASA Part-145 approvals. year of significant political upheaval and ongoing conflict in the region, added to low oil prices, have lowered the projected five-year global demand attributed to the Middle East and Africa. The company said it expected annual fleet growth of 2-3 per cent in the Middle East and Africa region over the next five years to slow to 1-2 per cent through to 2021. Once one of the true hotspots of Business Aviation growth, this region is now experiencing a cooling in demand. However, despite the challenges still facing the region, MEBA chairman Ali Alnaqbi remains overridingly optimistic, firmly believing that there are still opportunities for progression. SOLIDITY Saudia Private Aviation is the Business Aviation services arm of Saudi Arabian Airlines (left). AMAC Aerospace facility (right). BART: NOVEMBER - 2017-65