One of the UAE’s foremost MRO specialists is forging a new identity as the MRO arm of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE. Etihad Airways (Chalet A47) acquired aircraft maintenance services provider Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) in May 2014, renaming it Etihad Airways Engineering (EAE). EAE has three decades of MRO experience, employs staff from more than 50 countries, and has MRO capabilities on all major commercial aircraft types.

EAE’s site is based close to Abu Dhabi International Airport, the airline’s global hub. Etihad Airways line maintenance stations are located at 11 stations around the globe and supported by EAE. Its teams also travel to airports around the world, in cases where an aircraft is not in a position to fly to Abu Dhabi.

Jeff Wilkinson, senior v-p technical, Etihad Airways, said, “2015 was a pivotal year as EAE was established and its MRO strategy finalized. We launched various projects for productivity and process improvement of back shops and hangars, and focused on developing new facilities like a new paint hangar and B787 MRO heavy maintenance checks and technical training.”

“EAE is the first port of call for the entire Etihad Airways fleet, including the A380s and the 787s. We also serve fleets of Etihad Airways Equity Partners and some legacy capability, such as the 767s,” he said.

EAE had facilitated the entry into service of Etihad Airways’ A380s and 787s and carried out the MENA region’s first 787 heavy maintenance C-check, he said. This was on a LATAM Group 787, which took delivery of its first such aircraft, a 787-800, in August 2012.

“This was the first C-check carried out in the Middle East region, and provides a strong endorsement of the inherent quality and skill of the team involved, and of our dedicated MRO facilities,” said Wilkinson. EAE has now done C-checks on two more LATAM 787s, the last being completed in October. LATAM Group is South America’s largest airline group with 300 aircraft in its fleet, and a further 230 on order.

EAE established an engine-production and quick engine-change facility to handle every engine type in the Etihad Airways fleet. Aircraft painting capacity has doubled, enabling painting widebody aircraft up to 777s and A340s.

EAE has a close working relationship with sister Abu Dhabi-held MRO company, SR Technics, owned by Mubadala Development Corporation, Wilkinson said, adding, “SR Technics is one of our many key suppliers.” Wilkinson said that EAE did not have a formal VIP completions business, but did occasionally carry out maintenance on VIP aircraft.

“The design, engineering and innovation team at EAE achieved two major milestones with EASA and GCAA approvals for the new Part 21 design organization and submission of documentation and manuals for Part 21J major cabin modification approval,” he said.

“As we approach 2016 we will maintain the high standards and continue to upgrade new capability and capacity, and increase value to our customers.”