AMECO-Beijing took its first important steps into the international market for heavy aircraft maintenance in 1997, showing how far the Chinese joint venture has come over the past eight years.
AMECO was set up at Beijing's Capital Airport in 1989 as a joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa, which took a 40% stake. The original aim was to maintain and overhaul the Air China aircraft and engine fleet.
As the venture's capabilities have increased, so has its customer base. Today, AMECO provides line maintenance to 28 international airlines and more than 42 domestic operations. By the end of 1997, the share of third-party work was up to nearly 26% of the business and rising.
Last year included contracts to repaint three Boeing 747-100s for Northwest Airlines, winning plaudits for its "professionalism" from the US carrier. Air New Zealand and Vietnam Airlines also each put a Boeing 767-300 through the paint shops over the year, as did Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services with an Airbus A300.
The real breakthrough came in August, however, when AMECO completed a D-check and strut modification for one of Lufthansa Cargo's Boeing 747-200 freighters.
For AMECO the job represents a first venture into the European heavy maintenance market and has already brought the promise of further contracts. Lufthansa has agreed to programme in a regular stream of D- and C-checks at the Beijing centre.
Meanwhile, AMECO plans to press ahead with its expansion. Ever since setting up, the company has been investing in modernisation, including the opening of a new $70 million four bay hangar in early 1996, possibly the largest of its kind in Asia. For the future there are plans to invest $100 million over the next 15 years to upgrade the component and engine repair operation. The company already handles overhauls on a range of engines including the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 and Rolls-Royce RB.211-535.
The Awards judges recognised that the latest 747 work represented a significant step for AMECO and Chinese aviation.
Source: Flight International
