AMAC Aerospace has reported a flurry of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activity in the corporate and VIP markets. In recent months, the Switzerland-based group’s engineering teams have conducted extensive work on various large-cabin jets.
At the company’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, it recently completed 12-year inspections on a pair of Airbus ACJ319s. Work on the two Singapore-based aircraft included installation of an upgrade to the in-flight entertainment systems, refurbishment of the divans and carpet, as well as a new exterior paint job.
AMAC has also conducted a 72-month inspection on a Gulfstream IV based in the Asia-Pacific region. Its Swiss division recently delivered three aircraft back to operators in Asia, which included another ACJ, a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), and a G450 from South Korea. In the first week of September, the facility handled multiple scheduled inspections on a Bombardier Challenger 605.
The company’s facility at Bodrum in Turkey splits its MRO capacity between work on VIP and business aircraft during the summer months and commercial airliner support in the winter. It recently completed a 12-year inspection for a BBJ in a project that included the installation of an all-new cabin interior and the addition of an auxiliary fuel tank in the center section of the fuselage. Before the end of September, the company expects to finish a 12-year inspection on another BBJ.
Diverse MRO Work in Turkey
At Istanbul’s Atatűrk International Airport, AMAC operates another MRO facility. This specializes in supporting Pilatus PC-12s and PC-24s, as well as Dassault Falcon jets. Recent jobs include engine repairs on a Falcon 900EX EASy, decontaminating the fuel system on a Falcon 7X, and defect rectification and inspections on a Falcon 200EX EASy.
The Istanbul facility is in the process of completing a C inspection on a Falcon 2000, which is also receiving an extension cabin makeover and new exterior paint. A trio of heavy maintenance checks on Falcons conducted by AMAC’s Turkish engineers this year includes the recarpeting of a 900EX EASy model with the support of the company’s French subsidiary JCB Aero.
Since October 2024, JCB Aero has expanded its MRO capability beyond cabin completions and refurbishment. It recently acquired Kreative Engineering Services to increase its capabilities, which include 3D printing and a 4-axis CNC machine.
AMAC’s UK-based IT division, Gamit, is further developing its Records Online Asset Management (ROAM) tool to help aircraft operators predict maintenance needs. The system automates the analysis of data from fleets and maintenance processes to identify performance patterns in order to forecast parts failures before these disrupt operations.
The ROAM technology uses optical character recognition backed by artificial intelligence and a metadata platform that standardizes the format of legacy records that can be integrated with leading maintenance management software. It generates alerts that flag underperforming parts based on variance from the mean time between failures, variance from average lifespans, and maintenance incidents.