Clark-based firm cleared as Airbus repair hub

MANILA, Philippines — The US aviation regulator has certified a Clark-based aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider as an authorized foreign station for the heavy servicing of Airbus A320s.

Dornier Technology yesterday confirmed it has received authority from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct heavy maintenance on the A320 family, expanding its portfolio of MRO services.

The certification grants Dornier the right to do scheduled maintenance and perform major repairs on the A318, A319, A320 and A321, which are some of the most popular single-aisle aircraft in the world.

Dornier can also perform airframe maintenance and 12-year check, also called D checks, on both CEO and NEO variants. Given this, Dornier CEO Nick Gitsis expects the company to grow at a faster pace over the next few years.

“The US FAA is globally recognized and this certification positions Dornier to meet the stringent requirements of aircraft owners and lessors worldwide. It confirms that our processes, inspection systems and personnel are fully compliant with the US FAA’s standards,” Gitsis said.

Moreover, Gitsis said Dornier anticipates an order increase in airframe maintenance from foreign carriers in the US, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Currently, Dornier serves mostly domestic carriers who are in need of airframe maintenance, but with the FAA certification in hand, the company expects foreign airlines to eat up a larger share by 2026.

“With this certification, we anticipate growth in the following markets: US, the Southeast Asian region, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Pacific Island nations,” Gitsis said.

“Airfram heavy maintenance remains our core business, largely supported by domestic carriers. With the US FAA certification and our competitive labor cost advantage, we aim to increase the share of foreign airlines to 70 percent by the end of next year,” he added.

Gitsis also placed his optimism on the Philippines in its quest to become an MRO hub. He noted that the country is filled with enough talents who are devoted to high quality of service, which is imperative in the MRO industry.

Apart from the A320 family, Dornier is capable of extending MRO services to ATR 42s and 72s; Boeing 737s; and British Aerospace 146s.

The company, which employs more than 200 personnel in the Philippines, operates its main base at the Clark International Airport, backed by line maintenance in Bohol, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila and Puerto Princesa.