Category: Avionics

FL Technics has received RAD-145 Maintenance Organization certification from the Instituto Dominicano De Aviación Civil (IDAC) to begin operations at its new independent aviation MRO facility in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana). The approval marks a key step, paving the way for certified aircraft maintenance services in the fast-growing region and supporting local job creation and higher safety standards.

FL Technics has received certification from the Instituto Dominicano De Aviación Civil (IDAC) for its new maintenance hub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This certification clears the way for the company to launch services and deliver certified maintenance to local airlines and operators.

“This certification opens the door to significant growth opportunities in the region. With the IDAC certificate in place, we are now positioned to support the development of aviation and provide reliable maintenance services from our new facility in Punta Cana,” said Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO of FL Technics Group.

Obtaining the IDAC certification was an important milestone for FL Technics, a newly approved maintenance organization (AMO) in the Dominican Republic. Without this recognition, the company would be unable to provide services to Dominican-registered aircraft or to meet the host country’s regulatory standards.

The certification involved a five-phase process. It started with a pre-application assessment to confirm eligibility and define the scope of maintenance services, followed by the submission and review of documentation to ensure compliance. Regulators then conducted on-site inspections of systems, equipment, and staff credentials before issuing the approval certificate.

“Our ability to achieve certification at Punta Cana came down to the steady, detailed work our team carried out at every step,” says Mejico Angeles-Lithgow, CEO of FL Technics Dominican Republic. “It was a disciplined effort, led by our quality and project managers, to meet all regulatory demands and show our actual readiness to operate to international standards.”

Located in the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone, FL Technics’ maintenance hangar covers 20,000 square meters, with five maintenance bays in its initial phase, with plans to expand to 20 bays in the coming years. The initial layout will enable the facility to perform heavy maintenance on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families.

With an investment of $70 million, the project is designed to create over 300 local jobs in the near term and an estimated 2,000 jobs overall, while introducing international standards for aircraft repair and flight safety. As demand for aircraft maintenance continues to climb across the Americas, this site positions Punta Cana as a new emerging center for aviation maintenance services.

Now that the certificate has been secured, FL Technics is moving ahead with client onboarding and plans to expand its maintenance capabilities to serve more carriers across North, Central, and South America. “As we continue expanding our capabilities and investing in specialized training, we are building a strong foundation for long-term development and broader global partnerships,” adds Lapinskas.

The European Commission has decided to support Safran Helicopter Engines, MTU Aero Engines and Avio Aero in their technological research project known as SHARP (Sovereign High-performance Architecture for Rotorcraft Propulsion). This project, which aims to develop the scalable technological building blocks for a new state-of-art military helicopter engine, will be funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF) with a budget of around €25 million.

SHARP will involve a team of 25 partners from 12 European countries, including SMEs, universities and research institutes. By maturing key technologies, SHARP is paving the way for the ENGHE (European Next Generation Helicopter Engine). This next generation of advanced, cost effective, and sovereign helicopter engines aims to excel in the most demanding operational environments while simplifying maintenance.

The future ENGHE will feature breakthrough technologies that will considerably increase its efficiency while reducing its operating and maintenance costs. It will be particularly well suited to the next generation of military helicopters, which are expected to enter service in 2040, especially the ENGRT (European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies) and NGRC (Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability) projects. ENGHE’s exceptional characteristics will provide these future helicopters with enhanced capabilities, such as greater range and payload, higher speed, and increased availability.

Cédric Goubet, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, said: “By supporting SHARP, and more broadly our ENGHE engine project, Europe is showing its willingness to ensure self-reliance in sovereignty and technologies for tomorrow’s military helicopters. We thank the European Union and the EDF initiative, as well as the nations that support our project, for their confidence in our capability and commitment to stronger European defense capabilities.”

Dr. Ottmar Pfänder, chief program officer of MTU Aero Engines, commented: “In light of a continuously aging European fleet of military helicopters the need is obvious: from 2040 onwards, a large proportion of these rotorcraft will have to be replaced. We joined forces across the continent to underline the importance of this technology program. It will further reinforce European sovereignty and strengthen the European supply chain.”

Riccardo Procacci, CEO of Avio Aero, commented: “SHARP marks an important milestone in the journey toward Europe’s next-generation rotorcraft engine and reinforces the value of collaboration in developing sovereign, high-performance propulsion technologies. We are proud to partner with EURA on this initiative, contributing within a fully European framework while leveraging Avio Aero’s well-established expertise and know-how in helicopter propulsion.”

The SHARP project team is expected to be fully set up in the coming months. The project will be coordinated by the EURA (EUropean Military Rotorcraft Engine Alliance) joint venture, a 50/50 partnership between Safran Helicopter Engines and MTU Aero Engines. “We are ready to coordinate this multi-national and truly European team. We are all united by the will and the track record to provide our forces with most-modern technologies — while ensuring European sovereignty,” said Wolfgang Gärtner, CEO of EURA.

In Europe, there are approximately 1,800 transport and 600 combat helicopters with an average age of 20 years. In the 2040s, even rotorcraft that are still in production today will have been in service for over 50 years.

EPCOR, part of the Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) center of excellence for the repair of Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), components, asset management services and predictive maintenance, is pleased to announce the signing of a new long-term agreement for the support of Air Canada’s GTCP131-9A Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fleet. This agreement marks a significant milestone, extending a successful partnership between Air Canada and EPCOR with the support of a new product.

Air Canada will become one of EPCOR’s leading customers for the GTCP131-9A APU platform, a critical component installed on the Airbus A320 family. This new agreement underscores EPCOR’s continued commitment to supporting Air Canada’s fleet growth and ongoing fleet modernization program as this support accompany coincides with the arrival of Air Canada’s new fleet of A321XLR aircraft.

Heidi Haveman, managing director at EPCOR: “At EPCOR, we build our customer relationships on technical excellence, reliability, and mutual trust. We are proud that Air Canada has once again placed its confidence in our teams through this long-term agreement. As Air Canada continues to modernize and expand its fleet, we look forward to supporting its operations with reliable, high-quality APU services for many years to come.”

Rob van de Graaf, commercial director at EPCOR: “This is our second long-term agreement with Air Canada, which makes this milestone particularly meaningful for us. Since the start of our collaboration, our ambition has been to build a true strategic partnership based on transparency, shared objectives, and long-term commitment. This renewed agreement is a strong endorsement of that partnership and marks an important next step in our journey together.”

Josh Vanderveen, vice president, maintenance at Air Canada, commented: “Air Canada is pleased to continue and extend its long-standing partnership with EPCOR, building on more than a decade of collaboration. This new agreement reinforces our commitment to reliability and operational excellence across our Airbus A320 fleet, ensuring we continue to deliver world-class service to our customers.”

The new agreement highlights the strategic importance of the GTCP131-9A APU platform in supporting Air Canada’s operational excellence and sustainability goals. EPCOR’s technical expertise and dedicated customer-focused approach have been integral to Air Canada’s success as it expands its international network and modernizes its fleet.

SR Technics announced that Anisa Diwakar has been appointed business development director – Europe within its organization.

With extensive experience in the aerospace industry, SR Technics says Diwakar brings strong commercial expertise and a proven track record in global sales, customer relations and strategic partnership development, particularly across key engine repair programs.

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, has announced that the company’s new apprenticeship program, aimed at developing the next generation of aircraft maintenance professionals, has produced its first batch of qualified, full-time employees.

All six apprentices in the program have successfully completed their apprenticeship and have accepted full-time jobs at the company’s Kuala Lumpur facility.

The apprenticeship program, developed in collaboration with Malaysian MRO training organization, D’viation, is part of ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia’s long-term workforce development strategy to address growing industry challenges in attracting and retaining skilled aviation talent, particularly as aircraft systems become increasingly advanced and technically complex.

The program was designed with a rigorous entry process to ensure only candidates with strong technical and cognitive foundations were selected. Applicants were required to hold a diploma or degree in relevant engineering or aviation disciplines and successfully complete technical and non-technical assessments, including IQ and emotional quotient (EQ) evaluations.

The selected apprentices were drawn from established aviation and engineering institutions, including Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT), Aviation Australia, and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

Over the six-month period, apprentices were embedded in the company’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) environment, gaining structured hands-on exposure under the supervision of highly experienced licensed aircraft engineers.

Training covered key maintenance areas across business aviation platforms, including Bombardier, Gulfstream and Dassault Aviation aircraft.

Practical exposure included:

• Basic aircraft maintenance practices and safety procedures
• Aircraft engine removal and installation
• Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) removal and installation
• Exterior panel removal and installation
• Cabin interior removal and reinstallation
• Sealant application
• Paint touch-up and finishing works

All six apprentices have been successfully transitioned into full-time roles within ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, reinforcing the effectiveness of the structured development model in producing job-ready aviation professionals.

Suniljit Singh, general manager maintenance at ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, says the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to building long-term industry capability rather than short-term recruitment solutions. “Aircraft technology is advancing rapidly, increasing the level of skill and precision required in maintenance operations. At the same time, the industry faces growing challenges in attracting technically strong young talent,” Singh says. “This program focuses on building solid foundations. Without strong fundamental skills and hands-on experience, it becomes increasingly difficult to develop engineers capable of supporting modern aircraft systems,” he adds. “Our priority is not only to train apprentices, but to develop competent professionals who can grow with the industry and contribute to its long-term sustainability.”

The program highlights the importance of collaboration between aviation industry players and training institutions in creating structured career pathways for young professionals. ExecuJet MRO Services continues to invest in workforce development initiatives aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s aviation talent pipeline and ensuring the industry remains sustainable amid increasing technical demands.

GA Telesis has completed a major enhancement to its fuel pump test bench infrastructure, significantly expanding its component repair capabilities to include full overhaul, testing and certification of GE90 jet engine fuel pumps.

The investment represents a substantial advancement in GA Telesis’ technical capabilities and includes upgrades to state-of-the-art test equipment, expanded performance-validation capabilities, and the implementation of advanced testing protocols designed to meet the stringent operational requirements of GE90 engine fuel systems. The upgraded platform now enables GA Telesis to deliver end-to-end maintenance solutions for one of the world’s most widely deployed and mission-critical widebody engine programs.

“This investment reflects our continued commitment to expanding our technical capabilities and supporting our customers with reliable, high-quality component repair solutions,” said Pastor Lopez, president of MRO Services Group. “The addition of GE90 engine fuel pump overhaul and testing capability further strengthens our position as a premier independent MRO provider while offering airlines and engine MROs with a responsive, cost-effective maintenance solution.”

The enhanced test bench provides comprehensive performance verification across the full operating envelope of the GE90 engine fuel pump, ensuring strict compliance with OEM specifications and industry standards. As a result, customers will benefit from improved turnaround times, increased component reliability, reduced operational risk, and access to the unparalleled deep technical expertise that has become synonymous with the GA Telesis brand.

As the GE90 jet engine continues to power B777 passenger and cargo fleets worldwide, demand for reliable, high-quality aftermarket support remains essential. By expanding its repair and testing capabilities, GA Telesis is further reinforcing its commitment to supporting airlines, leasing companies, cargo operators, and maintenance organizations with innovative solutions that maximize asset performance and lifecycle value.

This latest investment reflects GA Telesis’ broader strategy of continually enhancing its OEM-aligned MRO infrastructure and technical offerings to meet the evolving needs of the global aviation industry while delivering exceptional customer service, operational excellence, and long-term value.

AAR CORP., a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced the launch of Airvoyant, an AI-powered aviation procurement solution that connects buyers directly to suppliers, searches available inventory, requests and consolidates quotes, and guides users to a streamlined, one-click purchasing decision. Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the platform directly integrates with Aeroxchange’s extensive ecosystem of more than 5,000 suppliers.

Built for airlines and MROs, the Airvoyant platform automates the traditionally manual parts sourcing process and integrates with Trax and other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, embedding intelligent procurement directly into customers’ existing operational workflows.

The platform’s AI Agent workforce analyzes inbound supplier quotes and generates purchase recommendations based on historical procurement data, including prior transactions, pricing patterns, and supplier performance. By surfacing insights not readily accessible through manual review, the Airvoyant platform lays the foundation for autonomous ordering.

Additional AI agents focused on demand consolidation, vendor optimization, and automated negotiation are expected to launch later this year, expanding Airvoyant’s intelligent procurement capabilities.

Delta Air Lines and Air Canada are collaborating with Airvoyant as subject matter experts, providing early feedback and real-world perspective to help shape the evolution of the platform.

Air Europa, Allegiant, Atlas Air, JetBlue, Thai Airways, and Virgin Atlantic are serving as launch partners and advisors, experiencing how Airvoyant can transform their MRO parts procurement.

Built natively on AWS, Airvoyant benefits from a highly resilient cloud architecture, enabling real-time processing, seamless integration with enterprise systems, and continuous learning capabilities across its AI agents. This approach ensures customers can adopt advanced automation with confidence, backed by industry-leading security and compliance standards.

Today, most aircraft parts procurement relies on fragmented systems, email-driven RFQs, and manual quote comparison. Airvoyant overcomes this complexity with a unified, AI-driven system that optimizes sourcing decisions, improves visibility into lead times, strengthens supply chain planning, and unlocks measurable savings on parts spend.

Customers will also benefit from a direct integration with Aeroxchange, enabling the agent-driven platform to instantly access a broad, trusted network of vendors. The connectivity of solutions accelerates sourcing, expands supplier reach, and enhances decision-making across the procurement lifecycle, bringing greater speed, efficiency, and intelligence to airlines and MROs.

Following Trax and Aerostrat, Airvoyant becomes the third company in AAR’s growing aviation software portfolio, reinforcing AAR’s long-term commitment to developing the next generation of software for airline and MRO operations.

“AAR continues to invest in our transformative software platforms to bring increased efficiency to all corners of the aviation industry,” said John M. Holmes, AAR’s chairman, president and CEO. “Airvoyant represents the first scalable solution to deliver agentic AI to airlines and MROs. These AI tools will reshape how customers source and procure parts, plan maintenance, and optimize operations.”

StandardAero, an independent pure-play provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services, announced that, after 13 years leading the company and 45 years in the aerospace industry, Russell Ford has informed its board of directors of his decision to retire as chief executive officer. The board of directors has appointed Paul McElhinney, a 35-year industry veteran and the company’s current lead independent director, to succeed Ford as CEO effective October 1, 2026.

Ford will work closely with McElhinney to facilitate a seamless leadership transition and will continue to serve as executive chairman of StandardAero’s board of directors through December 31, 2026. McElhinney will become chairman effective January 1, 2027, and Ford will continue to serve on the board thereafter.

Ford, who has served as CEO since 2013, has led StandardAero through a remarkable period of transformation and growth. During his tenure, the company increased annual revenue from $1.6 billion in 2013 to more than $6 billion in 2025, while significantly expanding its global footprint, broadening its capabilities, increasing its profitability and strengthening its relationships with leading operators and OEMs. Ford also guided StandardAero through its initial public offering in 2024, positioning the company for continued long-term growth. Since becoming a public company, StandardAero has consistently delivered strong operational and financial performance, including revenue and earnings growth and backlog expansion.

McElhinney, who serves as senior operating partner and co-head of the Portfolio Strategy and Optimization Group at AE Industrial Partners, LP, brings more than three decades of aerospace and industrial leadership experience and has been a member of the company’s board since 2019. He previously served as president and CEO of both GE Power Services, a $15 billion power generation aftermarket business, and GE Aviation Services, where he was responsible for more than doubling the backlog of the business to over $100 billion. He also held general counsel and business development roles at GE Aviation and GE Capital Aviation Services over the course of his thirty-year career at General Electric. 

“On behalf of the board, we congratulate Russ on an extraordinary tenure leading StandardAero and thank him for his exceptional leadership and lasting contributions to the company,” said Doug Brandely, director, StandardAero. “Under Russ’ leadership, StandardAero has grown into a market leader, delivered significant value and established strong momentum across the business. After accomplishing the ambitious goals he set out to achieve, Russ has made the decision to retire with the company well positioned for continued success.”

Brandely continued, “Paul’s appointment as CEO is the culmination of the board’s thoughtful succession planning process. He is a seasoned industry leader with a deep and unique understanding of StandardAero’s strategy, customers and culture, and the board is confident he is the right person to build on that momentum and guide StandardAero through its next chapter.”

“It has been a privilege to lead the StandardAero team as CEO over the past 13 years,” said Ford. “Together, we have strengthened our portfolio, deepened our customer relationships and continued to deliver value to shareholders with strong financial performance. I have worked closely with Paul over the past several years in his capacity as lead independent director and am excited about the future of StandardAero with him at the helm. I look forward to supporting a seamless transition of leadership and continuing to contribute on the board.”

“StandardAero plays a critical role in the aerospace aftermarket and, with robust demand across all its end markets and a clear trajectory for continued growth, is well positioned to capture the market opportunity ahead,” said McElhinney. “I am honored to be appointed the next CEO of the company and look forward to building on the strong foundation Russ and the team have established as we continue to deliver for our customers and shareholders.”