ACC Aviation is adding to its business beginning in September with the creation of a Technical Services division. The new division sees ACC add a fourth practice area to its consultancy offering, following its move into aviation finance services earlier this July.
Leading the new business unit is Julian Aldana, an experienced aviation technical professional with specialist skills in aircraft asset management, aircraft inspections and technical consulting services. He takes on the role of vice president, Technical Services,
Aldana brings 16 years’ aviation technical experience to ACC, having previously spent the last two years as technical manager, Americas for IBA Group, based in Toronto. Prior to this, Aldana held several senior technical roles with airlines such as Etihad, Air Berlin and Swiss.
ACC Aviation’s Technical Services Division will offer aircraft inspection services (from pre-purchase to final assembly); lease returns, asset recovery, and transitions; maintenance event management; airworthiness assessments; and technical due diligence.
The company says their newly added services closely complement their established activities in asset management, aviation finance and consulting, widening the expertise offered to lessors, lenders and airlines on a global basis; leveraging an office network that spans Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA and Asia.
“This is an opportune time to widen our portfolio of services, offering unbiased, independent counsel, building on our strengths across aircraft trading, financing and advisory work,” said ACC Aviation CEO Phil Mathews. This means we can offer a ‘complete’ service, bringing multi-disciplinary insight and adding value to projects we work on. We are pleased to have someone of Julian’s caliber help us build the business,” he added.
“The landscape for technical services is ripe for market entry,” saids Rob Watts, ACC Aviation’s director Consulting. “The number of aircraft that are expected to change hands as lessors redeploy and rebalance portfolios; the unfortunate truth that many airlines will not persevere through to full market recovery, and the plethora of new market players entering the market presents a compelling opportunity for market entry, especially combined with our existing aircraft trading and financing capabilities. We believe we are well placed to make a strong move into this market segment.”
Aldana added: “It’s a great challenge to lead this new Technical Services division. ACC Aviation is a well-respected, well-backed, diverse group, with structure. These were major factors for me in joining them and I’m also looking forward to being back in Dubai again, re-establishing business relationships and forging new ones. The market is opening up after 18 months of pandemic distress and a Dubai base is the right location to explore business opportunities in EMEA and Asia.”
Aldana, who has a MSc in air transport management from IT Aerea Business School in Spain and an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria, holds multiple qualifications in engineering, including USA FAA A&P, EASA Part 66 B1/B2/C, UAE GCAA, and Australia CASA on various Airbus and Boeing type ratings.