AMAC Aerospace will show off its highly reputed Swiss expertise in maintenance and VIP completions at the 2017 Dubai Airshow this November.

The MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) and VIP completions specialist was founded in 2007 and is celebrating a decade of service in which it has grown to become the largest private facility of its kind the world, offering turnkey solutions for private, VIP and corporate business aviation through its seven hangars in Switzerland, Turkey and France. It is led by Executive Chairman and Group CEO Kadri Muhiddin, Group Chief Operating Officer Bernd Schramm and Group CFO Mauro Grossi.

AMAC started off the year at a frenetic pace and the trend has continued throughout the summer and into autumn with a steady stream of aircraft arriving and departing at its facilities in Basel. Its Ka-band expertise has also been in hot demand, and the company has made further inroads into Asia, by winning maintenance approvals on Taiwanese-registered aircraft.

The month of October saw private BBJ2 and a head-of-state’s BBJ1 fly into AMAC’s hangars in Basel for annual base maintenance checks while September and August saw AMAC busy with work on several BBJs, ACJs, Bombardier and Gulfstream jets.

In September, a private Bombardier Global Express 5000 entered its hangars for a pre-purchase inspection with minimised downtime in order to meet operational requirements, while a Gulfstream GV entered for an annual base maintenance check. Two BBJ2s also flew in for base and annual maintenance checks respectively and AMAC also welcomed a private ACJ 318 for a base check.

Sales and Key Account Manager Eric Hoegen says: “We are delighted to see increasing demand for maintenance checks. Our customers recognise the quality and flexibility that we have shown over the last 10 years when it comes to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance checks.”

Commenting on the ACJ 318 customer, Director Maintenance Rudi Kurz says: “We highly appreciate the fact that our esteemed client values AMAC’s service excellence and has chosen us once again for work on its ACJ 318.”

A new contract was also awarded to AMAC’s CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization) department on a private A319 which was already in Basel for a maintenance check.

August saw a Gulfstream G550 successfully delivered after an annual base maintenance check. The aircraft, which entered the facility in Basel for the first time, had been inducted on short notice.  

Two Airbus jets, an A340-300 and an ACJ 318 Elite, were also returned to service during the month. The A340-300 was returned to a commercial VIP operator, a first-time AMAC customer. AMAC performed the heavy base maintenance input and also provided maintenance support and the jet was delivered on time to re-enter charter operations. The A318 Elite, meanwhile, underwent a C-check and was delivered on time to rejoin the fleet of a European commercial operator.

August also saw AMAC engineers develop a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Ka-band antenna installation on an A330-200 VIP jet. The Honeywell Jetwave Ka-band satcom system and antenna was installed during a base check, when several cabin interior modifications and upgrades were performed and the jet was delivered on time and on budget.

Ka-band delivers broadband internet service giving business jet passengers greater access to Internet TV and video streaming across multiple devices. It also supports uninterrupted wi-fi enabled email, web-browsing, video conferencing, data file transfers, and voice and text capabilities. “This STC covering the Jetwave Ka-band antenna has been developed as a multiple STC so that it can be installed on other A330 aircraft to meet the increasing demand for high-speed connectivity on large VIP aircraft,” says Gunnar Jancke, Director Design Organisation Quality Assurance.

AMAC also won a contract on a private BBJ B737-700 for a C-check in conjunction with a landing gear overhaul, cabin works and an IFE (inflight entertainment) system upgrade. 


SUMMER’S HOT

AMAC Aerospace completed several projects over June and July including VIP completions and maintenance contracts while winning a key approval from Taiwan.  

In July, a private A319 was returned to service after a C-check and landing gear overhaul. In addition, AMAC’s experienced Airbus team installed a cockpit EFB (electronic flight bag) on the jet. The month also saw AMAC win maintenance approval to work on Taiwanese-registered aircraft. The process was initiated by a new customer who owns an A319 aircraft and requested to have the maintenance done in Basel. The approval, issued by Taiwan’s CAA (Civil Aeronautics Administration), allows AMAC to perform further maintenance checks on aircraft that are registered in Taiwan. 

Kurz says: “We are delighted to have received this approval and we look forward to extending our business in the Asian region.”

Also in July, AMAC successfully returned to service a BBJ for a Russian customer following an annual base maintenance inspection. “We are always happy to see returning clients and our Russian clients enjoy the quality we invest in our people, to ensure the commitments we have with our esteemed clients,” says Senior Sales and Key Account Manager Alexis Ott.

The month of June, meanwhile, saw AMAC complete a slew of contracts that included the redelivery of Boeing B777-200LR after a VVIP completion and six returns to service after extensive maintenance inputs.

AMAC redelivered the Boeing B777-200LR on time after a downtime of 20 months. State-of-the-art technology systems, high-end IFE systems including large monitors, the latest generation of soundproofing, RGB mood lighting as well as customised artwork were installed. The nose-to-tail VVIP cabin was decorated with the highest levels of custom furniture, monuments and exotic material. As per request of AMAC’s esteemed customer, the cabin was fitted with extensive lounge areas and dedicated areas for entertainment. 

“We are all proud to have our third VVIP B777 completion project returned to service since the establishment of AMAC ten years ago. And we are thankful that our customer recognises the level of details, the commitment, the efforts and the highest quality standards coming from our skilled teams within AMAC Aerospace,” says Schramm.

The returns to service included a head-of-state Airbus A340-200 VVIP jet which underwent a 12-year base maintenance inspection, a head-of-state Boeing B747-8i VVIP aircraft, an ‘N’ registered BBJ 737 of a private owner from South Asia, a BBJ 737 belonging to a private owner from Asia, an A330 for a Middle East head of state and a Gulfstream GIV belonging to a Middle East customer. 

Since its inception AMAC has won as many as 22 VIP and VVIP completions contracts on Boeing, Bombardier and Airbus jets.

AMAC is at Stand 1058 at the Dubai Airshow.