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WORLD’S FIRST INDEPENDENT BUDGET COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT MAINTAINANCE CENTER LAUNCHED
KUALA LUMPUR, January 3, 2005 – In line with the government’s aspiration to see Malaysia’s aviation industry expand and achieve world class standards and recognition, particularly in the field of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), SME Aviation Sdn Bhd was successfully launched as the world’s first Independent Budget MRO centre today.
SME Aviation Sdn Bhd, is an independent, low cost maintenance centre where commercial airlines outsource its maintenance activities to specialized centre. Third party MRO services are a growing business worldwide and currently accounts for one-third of the US$18 billion spent on commercial aircraft maintenance and is set to grow significantly due to ever-increasing air traffic worldwide.
During the official launch of the company, which was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Y. B. Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, said, “This independent budget MRO centre is unique in the sense that we will be fully focused on providing aircraft maintenance services to commercial aircraft operators at a markedly competitive price”.
“We are able to achieve this via a lean operation, where we solely concentrate on our core business competencies while strategically outsourcing other components to our key business partners. Basically, we operate similar to the budget airlines that are growing in popularity worldwide,” Dato’ Seri Yunus Tasi, Chairman of SME Aviation added.
As part of the outsourcing strategy, the event also saw the Deputy Minister of Transport witnessing the sealing of a Bilateral Support Agreement (BSA) between AIROD Sdn Bhd and SME Aviation wherein AIROD will provide engineering support services to SME Aviation.
In addition, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was also signed between SME Aviation and Aventura Aviation a company incorporated in Indonesia wherein SME Aviation agrees to provide the engineering support services for Aventura’s aircraft operating in this region. SME Aviation will also undertake the Passenger-to-Freighter (PTF) conversion of six (6) Aventura’s Boeing 727 aircraft.
“While our innovative business strategy will invariably provide significant cost savings which we intend to pass to our customers, the independent budget MRO is still highly committed to maintain the highest standards of quality and services while guaranteeing customer satisfaction via the customary warrantees,” Dato’ Seri Yunus Tasi added.
The independent budget MRO will venture into the PTF (Cargo Conversion) of aircraft as part of its job scope. “We predict a significant increase in demand for converted freighters in the next 20 years and with the right business partners, we are confident that it is timely to be participating in this exciting sector,” said Dato’ Seri Yunus Tasi.
The official launch ceremony of independent budget MRO was capped off on a positive note when two (2) companies, Advance Air Traffic System Sdn Bhd (AATS) and SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd, presented checks worth RM250,000 and RM150,000 respectively to the Deputy Minister of Transport for the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund.
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