Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co (GAMECO) says the company is looking forward to the full roll-out of the Comac C919, as it prepares for MRO capability on the aircraft type.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that GAMECO’s 50% shareholder China Southern Airlines has five C919s on order and another 15 on option. The carrier’s first C919 is scheduled to arrive in 2017, although delays on the programme are widely expected.
“We’re definitely in the planning stage to get our [C919] MRO capabilities ready when the aircraft launches. We believe Comac can potentially be a major player [in the airframe business] in the near future,” says Norbert Marx, general manager of GAMECO.
“However, the aircraft’s entry into service is Comac’s issue and beyond our control. We will be ready and have good processes in place to help us prepare for it.”
Marx adds that GAMECO’s constant acquiring of new capabilities falls in line with the company’s overall strategy to eventually aim for more third party work.
In 2014, the MRO firm saw 72% of its business come from China Southern, with the remainder from other carriers. While no timeline has been set, Marx says GAMECO hopes to have third party business account for up to 60% of its business.
“That doesn’t mean we will not give China Southern our 100%. We will continue to serve and support their growth. What we’re interested in is sustained progress over a period of time, rather than an immediate surge.”
Marx adds that in line with GAMECO's growth plans, a third hangar is on target to be operational by 2019. The three facilities will be able to accomodate up to six widebodies or 18 narrowbodies concurently.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
