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SAA Technical is targeting African markets

3rd July 2015

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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South African Airways Technical (SAAT), the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) subsidiary of the South African Airways (SAA) group, is pushing strongly into the African market. This was reported at a recent media briefing by SAAT head of department: sales and marketing Mike Kenny. “One of our strategies is to grow into the African market,” he said, pointing out that there were not many MRO facilities on the continent. “We have a huge thrust into the African market – that is working very well for us.”

SAAT is seeking to expand the proportion of its business that it does with third parties – that is, with operators other than SAA (and Mango, the SAA group’s low-cost airline). The aim is to increase the value of third-party work to more than 50% of the MRO company’s revenues.

To this end, for example, SAAT has obtained the necessary certification to work on the widely used Boeing 777 wide-body airliner, a type not operated by SAA. This has already won the company work, with a contract to carry out ‘C checks’ on 777s operated by an airline in west-central Africa. (A ‘C check’ is a thorough inspection and checking of individual components and systems in an aircraft.)

SAAT is also in the process of restoring full capability to its jet shop to enable it to provide full MRO services for the CFM International CFM56-7B engine. This is the exclusive engine for the Boeing 737 next-generation family of narrow-body airlines (the 737-600/-700/-800/-900/-900ER and BBJ types). This process is being carried out with assistance and training from German national airliner Lufthansa.

In May, SAAT was declared the best line maintenance provider in the world at the 2015 Aircraft Technology, Engineering & Maintenance Awards, in London. These are presented by MRO Network (a specialist media organisation) and the judging is by an international panel of senior MRO executives.

Line maintenance is carried out on operational aircraft, often between flights and frequnetly while the airliner is parked in front of the terminal. Line maintenance services offered by SAAT cover ‘A checks’ (which include the visual inspection of the aircraft, checking the crew oxygen system pressure, some lubrication if required and the operation of the aircraft’s Built-In Test Equipment to check key systems), defect rectifications, supervision of refuelling, aircraft exterior cleaning and polishing, interior deep cleaning, short-term parking, aircraft towing, aircraft on-ground support and aircraft recovery.

SAAT offers much more than line mainte-nance. It also provides base maintenance, supported by a comprehensive system of work-shops. Base maintenance covers C and D checks. (‘D checks’ involve intensive nondestructive inspection of airframes, checking for corrosion, cracking, structural deformation or any other signs of deterioration or stress; they involve significant disassembly of the aircraft to permit the required examinations and testing.) Base maintenance also covers structural repairs, modifications, painting of aircraft, interior retrofits and interior refurbishments.

These operational elements are supported by the planning and engineering departments. The planning department, among other things, forecasts, schedules and plans short-, medium- and long-term maintenance operations. The engineering department’s activities include the development of standards and specifications, reliability and monitoring control and evaluation and development.

SAAT CEO Musa Zwane jokingly compared his company to a garage where cars are serviced. But he had a serious purpose. “I hope people will get to understand the stringent maintenance we do on these aircraft,” he told the media. “We are EASA-(European Aviation Safety Agency-) certified [and] FAA- (Federal Aviation Administration-)certified – those guys don’t allow you to work on these things unless you are stringently qualified . . . . We’re passionate about fixing aircraft!”

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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