Search archive          Sign up for our Newsletters          Aviation Jobs
Latest Aviation News  |  Industry & Technology  |  Air Transport  |  MRO & Support  |  Aircraft Interiors  |  Editorials  |  Events Calendar  |  About UsFR
 
Aviation News SGS heads out to conquer the MRO sector

SGS heads out to conquer the MRO sector

Emilie Drab
18 SEP 2019 | 799 words
SGS heads out to conquer the MRO sector
© SGS
SGS has put its finger on the fact that aviation maintenance is an activity that is full of promise. Two years ago, the Swiss group (though founded in France) decided to transpose its traditional activity, non-destructive testing during production, to the aviation sector, then take up a solid position in one particular niche: MRO on non-destructive engine testing. This story began at the 2017 Paris Airshow at Le Bourget with the award of Part 145 certification by the ESEA, valid in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa). Since then, the company has grown exponentially, as Jérôme Relave, the director of SGS's Field and Testing Services Division - Transportation BU, explained to us.

"Our traditional activity involves sending our technicians out to our equipment manufacturers' assembly lines to carry out non-destructive testing (NDT) on their products. Our second activity now involves producing the service bulletin, where we carry out NDT on an engine and issue a Form 1 (release certificate). We launched this new activity just over a year ago. Our ambition is to be the world leader in this sector within the next twelve months, and we're well on the way", he was happy to say.

SGS Aeronautics is actually already working with two of the largest engine manufacturers, on all types of engine. The company thinks that it will even exceed its objectives for 2019. "In 2019, we had planned to test around a thousand engines. Today, I can tell you we're going to do a little bit more than that". This growth will be seen in the company's revenue: "In July, we were already at 100% growth on MRO in relation to the whole of 2018. This is an activity which will enable us to achieve 20% growth over 2019 over the whole aviation sector", estimates Jérôme Relave.

Bright perspectives

SGS Aeronautics therefore has no reason to slow down. Contracts are starting to diversify and the company is in contact with more and more airlines. "Certain engine manufacturers want to take charge of NDT themselves and call on use directly to sub-contract to them. Others want to be integrators and will connect us to their customers. There are two different strategies and we have tackled both ".

Nor is it out of the question that the company may add other skills to its MRO activities. "Our main objective is to satisfy our customers from the point of view of quality, cost and deadlines on non destructive engine testing. The increase in workload and volume means that we need to concentrate on this. But we can imagine working on other service bulletins over the months and years to come, such as landing gears. This is something that we're not going to rush into, but we could target for mid-2020".

At the same time, SGS Aeronautics is working to expand its global footprint. The company received TCCA approval for Canada during the last Paris Air Show and is expecting FAA approval very soon. This means that it will be able to cover North America. The next step will be to obtain approval to service Latin America - by the end of the year. Asia should follow by mid-2020, with the Japanese market as the next target.

Recruitment and foreign set-up in progress

As quick reaction times are a major objective in maintenance, SGS Aeronautics is currently setting up teams in the largest hubs around the world to be able to intervene more quickly in the event of AOG. "This year, we have built up a team of around twenty people for the MRO activity. Over the next twelve months, we'll be expanding the team by recruiting in all the countries where we are targeting airports with large maintenance hubs: London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi initially. Before the end of the year, ten people, whom we'll be recruiting locally, will join the team"; says Jérôme Relave, specifying that the team will be based in Nantes. Five technicians are already operational on site: two in London, two in Frankfurt and one in Addis Ababa.

But SGS Aeronautics is still experiencing the same difficulty as the other actors in the sector: "the market is tense", confirms Jérôme Relave. He emphasises that it is easier for the company to attract staff in the maintenance sector than in the production sector thanks to the promise of mobility but "the wear phenomenon is high". The company's dual activity may still be an asset, as technicians who are trained in maintenance may be transferred to production, which offers more stability and where the needs are higher. The teams currently have just over 140 people, but SGS Aeronautics wants to reach 200 employees by the end of 2020 "because we can't keep up with the market ".
Emilie Drab
Assistant editor
Civil aerospace, Air transport


 
They made this section possible
Top stories
09 DEC 2021
The world's first Airbus A320 freighter takes off The world's first Airbus A320 freighter takes off
We knew its first flight was near, but Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) was able to keep the surprise until the end. The first Airbus A320P2F (Passenger ... Continue Reading
09 DEC 2021
NYCO signs a major strategic agreement with Air France to develop sustainable aircraft lubricants NYCO signs a major strategic agreement with Air France to develop sustainable aircraft lubricants
NYCO, the French specialist in aeronautical lubricants, has signed a strategic agreement with Air France to cooperate on engine oil field service evaluation and ... Continue Reading
09 DEC 2021
New long-term agreement between Safran and SIAEC on CFM International's LEAP engines New long-term agreement between Safran and SIAEC on CFM International's LEAP engines
Safran Aircraft Engines has just signed a new 10-year engine MRO contract with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC). Under the agreement, Singapore Airlines' MRO division will provide ... Continue Reading
09 DEC 2021
The world's first Airbus A320 freighter takes off
09 DEC 2021
NYCO signs a major strategic agreement with Air France to develop sustainable aircraft lubricants
09 DEC 2021
New long-term agreement between Safran and SIAEC on CFM International's LEAP engines
09 DEC 2021
Boeing to add two 737-800BCF conversion lines at STAECO's facility in China
09 DEC 2021
Sabena Aerospace to take over several maintenance activities from Lufthansa Technik
Top stories
 
Latest News     Industry & Technology     Air Transport     MRO & Support     Aircraft Interiors     Editorials
© 2024 Le Journal de l'Aviation - All rights reserved