Boeing has signed a letter of intent with Russian maintenance organisation East Line to create a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre for Western aircraft at Moscow Domodedovo airport.
East Line will invest $40-45million in the new venture, to be known as Russian Technique, before the end of 2004.
The investment will create 1,000 jobs, says Domodedovo airport's general manager Vladimir Prokopchuk.
"We have reached the volumes of 1999 - the record year for Russian air traffic - and want to grow further both physically and technologically," he says.
Russian Technique could receive US Federal Aviation Administration certification "within six to eight months" and start work on Boeing aircraft immediately, he says. Domodedovo has four hangars, each designed to hold two large widebodies.
Boeing "will not" take a shareholding, but will provide technical assistance, personnel training and marketing services, it says.
According to Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing vice-president for Russian programmes, the company has been interested in establishing a "large, high-quality maintenance centre" in Russia in order to improve the Boeing aircraft's attractiveness and profitability for Russian operators.
Boeing hopes to win the maintenance business for up to 60 Boeing jets, including 30 737s, that currently operate in Russia and neighbouring CIS countries.
Boeing says it chose to partner with East Line because of its proven management capability and its commitment to high international standards.
The MRO centre could also carry out cargo conversions and will accept work on the country's Airbus fleets and other types, including new generation Russian aircraft.
Source: Flight International
