ATR, the European manufacturer of turboprop aircraft, and Atlantic Air Industries (AAI), a French company specializing in aircraft maintenance, have signed a collaboration agreement making AAI a new member of ATR's network of partner maintenance centers. Adding AAI to ATR's MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) network attests to the compliance of its maintenance station at Toulouse-Francazal airport, specializing in the heavy maintenance of ATR airframes, in line with the aircraft manufacturer's quality standards. Presently, about 60 airlines operate some 320 ATR aircraft in Europe.
The arrival of AAI in ATR's maintenance network follows the recent introduction of Germany's Rheinland Air Service (RAS) for the European market. The partnerships with AAI and RAS in Europe, plus the existing partnership with Fokker Services for the Asian market, reflect ATR's ambition to grow and to offer a worldwide network of independent and highly qualified aircraft maintenance service providers for its operators.
According to the terms of these agreements, ATR's partners commit to offering maintenance solutions to operators through compliance with the fundamental customer service rules defined by ATR. ATR's MRO network is an important part of the regional policy implemented by ATR's Customer Support Department, which aims to offer high-quality, local solutions to ATR operators in terms of maintenance, logistics and training.
AAI's Chief Executive Officer, Didier Bernardeau, stated that he is “delighted to join the network of approved ATR maintenance centers. We have been familiar with ATR's aircraft for more than 10 years now, so we are in a position to offer a quality of service that meets the manufacturer's demands. This agreement heralds a very important new phase in our cooperation that will allow us to offer our expertise to even more ATR operators in Europe.”
Lilian Braylé, ATR Product Support and Services Senior Vice-President, stated: “It is very important to support our operators as they grow, by also providing assistance and advice in the field of aircraft maintenance. The development of this network of ATR-approved centers fits in perfectly with our wish to guide our operators towards maintenance centers, like AAI, that are well experienced with our aircraft.”
ATR has a strong presence in Europe, with over 320 aircraft in operation in 25 countries on the continent. The presence of ATR Customer Support in Europe includes pilot training centers in Toulouse and Paris, as well as a spare parts distribution logistics platform also located in Paris.
About Atlantic Air Industries:
For more than 15 years, Atlantic Air Industries has been a leading MRO operator for the aerospace industry, offering maintenance services, technical support and top-quality logistics, thanks to its team of experienced engineers and technicians and its specialized and innovative infrastructures. Thanks to its top-quality services and flexibility, AAI has won the trust of numerous airlines in the regional transport, government and business sectors. As it continues to grow, Atlantic Air Industries now proposes its skills and know-how on two strategic sites: one at Toulouse-Francazal airport in France and the other near Casablanca in Morocco. AAI offers maintenance services for the ATR 42 and 72, plus the Embraer 120/135/145 and Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft.
About ATR:
Founded in 1981, ATR has become the world leader on the market for regional aircraft with 90 seats or less. Since its creation, ATR has sold over 1 300 aircraft. With more than 21 million flying hours on the clock, ATR's models are operated by 180 airlines in 90 countries. ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica Group company) and EADS. Its head office is in Toulouse. ATR is ISO 14001 certified. This is the international reference standard in the field of environmental friendliness.
For additional information, log on to www.atraircraft.com.
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