A message from the CCO
2023 got off to a busy start at Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) with our MRO business operating at full capacity as we hit mid-way point in the winter base maintenance season. While 2022 was a period of rapid expansion for AAG, more than doubling base maintenance capacity with the acquisition of our second facility at Shannon Airport, our focus in 2023 is on product strategy and customer service delivery. Overall, demand for airframe maintenance and ancillary services remains strong with available capacity for 2023/2024 winter maintenance slots filling up quickly. We have not been immune to the labour shortages faced by the sector in 2022 and are proactively meeting this challenge with a continued focus on attracting and developing required industry talent through our EASA Cat A1 Traineeship and Apprenticeship Programmes.
On the customer side, we recently launched a Customer Experience Scorecard for our MRO customers, allowing us to capture feedback in real time and identify areas for improvement so that we are fully in tune with customer’s needs. Outside of the MRO operation, we are continuing to expand our Part 21 and CAMO capabilities as well as providing a broad range of Aviation Training Programmes. As we continue to expand and define our overall service offering, we remain open to welcoming existing and potential customers on site to showcase our capabilities and introduce you to the expert teams responsible for delivery of your MRO, Part 21, CAMO and Part 147 training needs.
For enquiries, please get in touch by email to sales@atlanticaviation.ie.
Susan Keating, Chief Commercial Officer
MRO
We are delighted to announce that Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) has secured the addition of the A320 NEO (LEAP 1A) variant to its current Part 145 maintenance approvals as of December 2022. Securing approval for the A320 NEO is core to our longer-term product strategy, allowing us to serve a broader customer base from our MRO facilities in Shannon, Ireland. As one of Europe’s largest independent MRO’s, we now have capacity for up to 9 lines of heavy base maintenance across two sites at Shannon Airport with approvals to maintain the B737, B757, B767, B787 and A320 family aircraft types. Our fast-expanding MRO services extend to base and line maintenance on these aircraft types, aircraft storage and parking programmes, GSE & tooling loans as well as specialised NDT services.
The AAG Sales team will be attending MRO Middle East (March ‘23) and MRO Americas (April ‘23) and will welcome the opportunity to meet with existing and prospective customers to discuss the solutions AAG can offer in MRO, Part 21 Design, CAMO & Technical Services and Part 147 Training. If you would like to discuss your fleet and/or operational support requirements with a member of our Sales team, please email us at sales@atlanticaviation.ie
CAMO & Technical Services
In October 2022, Emily Mellett was appointed as Head of Business Development and Sales for CAMO and Part 21 Services. Emily brings a wealth of experience, and a passion for global cross-border business and the aviation industry to the team. She has strong customer relationships with key airlines across Europe, the Middle East, and the Nordic regions, and maintains ongoing relations with the leasing community in Ireland and the UK to drive and accelerate revenue growth with airline operators and aircraft leasing companies. Emily works closely with the CAMO and Part 21 teams to support the ongoing development and growth of these services.
In parallel, the team scheduled Gen Fam courses on A320 and B767 to maintain the approvals and prepare for audit as the team transitions over to our Hangar 1 facility in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the team look forward to welcoming new experienced CAMO engineers initially in March and incrementally as market demand for services progresses throughout 2023.
Design Services
The DOA team had an exceptional Q4 with increasing demand from lessors and airlines for engineering modifications including:
Minor modifications: Registration mods (Mode-S, SELCAL, ELT Reprogramming, Temp Reg Mods), Livery Drawings, Technical Markings, Cabin Interior Modifications, LOPA Change, Emergency Equipment Layout Revision, IFE Deactivation and removal, Seat installation, Cabin reconfiguration (dual to single), Curtain Installation, Carpet Installation, EGPWS Altitude Callout, Flight Crew Headset Installation, EFIS Pin Reprogramming, Portable ELT, Life Raft Removal, EFB Tablet Mount Installation, Reactivation of 8.33kHz.
Lessors have issued requests for quotation (RFQs) for cabin reconfiguration programmes which include engineering design and source and supply of materials. The team plan to capitalise on this opportunity by expanding the scope of capabilities currently on offer.
Training
2022 ended in a very positive note for Training as we delivered a diverse range of courses, including our BSc in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, B737 MAX type courses, Differences courses, and Engine Run courses, ensuring that we were able to meet the needs of our customers.
2023 is shaping up to be a busy year for Training as we continue to offer our EASA Cat A1 programs, both at our Training facility in Shannon and at the CDETB Finglas Training Centre in Dublin. Additionally, we have added 5 new Cat A1 programs to our calendar, set to commence in 2023, to further expand our offerings and meet the diverse needs of the industry.
We are delighted to see an increasing number of Host Part 145 organizations expressing interest in our EASA Cat A1 Traineeship programme to meet their future technical resource needs for their operations. This indicates a growing demand for well-trained and competent aircraft maintenance technicians, and we are excited to play a role in helping to meet this need.
We are proud to announce the successful completion of our pilot program for the Cat A1 to B1 conversion. Given the positive outcome of the pilot, we are now planning to make the program available to the industry. The schedule for the modules will be released shortly. This program offers an online, flexible learning option that allows learners to complete their training at their own pace and on their own schedule, providing them with the ability to learn when, where, and how they prefer.
Our 2023 type training calendar is now available on our website. We understand that our customers have varying needs, and we are committed to being flexible in accommodating our training dates to suit them. We continue to offer type training across a wide range of Boeing aircraft, including 737NG, Classic and MAX, 757, 767 and 777. Additionally, we offer differences training, General Familiarisation training and Engine Run training, to cater to the specific requirements of our customers.