StandardAero Becomes First MRO to Receive Aerospace Coatings Application Certification from Embry Riddle/Society for Protective Coatings

TEMPE, Ariz. – January 17, 2013 – StandardAero and eight of its aircraft paint technicians have completed the Embry Riddle Aeronautics University/Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) program in aircraft painting. The six-week program confers a license in Aerospace Coatings Application (ACA) to those paint technicians who successfully complete the course and pass an examination administered by an SSPC proctor. StandardAero is the first MRO to implement the ACA program into its paint operations.

The ACA program, a joint venture developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide’s Office of Professional Education (OPE) and the Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC), was developed to verify the knowledge, skills, and abilities of aircraft-specific paint technicians throughout the aerospace industry. The ACA initiative is the very first of its kind; it confers a certification and license to an industry standard for aircraft paint quality, with an emphasis placed upon safety of flight concerns. It teaches core knowledge and promotes a common language regarding the aircraft coatings process.

"For a while now, we’ve been talking about our CompleteCare™ strategy which puts the needs and convenience of our customers at the very heart of everything we do," said Scott Taylor, Senior Vice President, Business Aviation, StandardAero.  "This is one of those key foundational elements that quietly supports the strategy.  By investing in a team with legitimate credentials specific to their field of expertise, we distinguish ourselves from the rest of the industry; giving our customers a quality of workmanship that is unparalleled in the business and saving them time and money."

Of the fourteen certified Aerospace Coatings Applicator Specialists (ACAS) in existence, eight of them work for StandardAero.  The company’s goal is to have 100 percent of their paint technicians ACAS certified within the next 12 months.

In addition to this new certification for paint technicians, every technician in the company's Business Aviation sector is a licensed A&P Mechanic. We believe we’re the only MRO that provides the industry with 100% certified A&P mechanics at all of our repair facilities," Taylor added.

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