A Look At Some Of The UK's Prominent MROs

The national carrier’s MRO department holds a number of capabilities and services both the airline and third-party customers. It has heavy maintenance hangars at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Glasgow and Cardiff Airport, and hundreds of line stations at airports across the world. In Pontyclun, South Wales, British Airways Engineering also operates an avionics repair facility servicing most units along with some mechanical components.

As part of airline group Flybe, the maintenance provider Flybe Aviation Services specializes in EASA Part-145 compliant work on in-house Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 170 and 190 series aircraft. 9t also provides services for these aircraft operated by third-party carriers, along with BAe146/RJ, ATR 42/72 and various versions of Challenger aircraft. Based in Exeter, its capabilities include base maintenance and a range of technical services.

Operating from Norwich Airport in the East of England, KLM UK Engineering operates five heavy maintenance bays across three hangars where it repairs Embraer 170/190, Boeing 737, Airbus A320 Family, BAe 146, Avro RJ and Fokker 70/100 aircraft. Other capabilities include modifications work, airframe repairs, overhaul, NDT, paint shop, composite and component repairs. 

Having become an independent entity following the collapse of Monarch Airlines in October 2017, Monarch Aircraft Engineering is now looking to fill the maintenance work left by the defunct carrier. Offering base maintenance from its two main bases at Luton and Birmingham, while running an extensive line maintenance operation from London Gatwick, Monarch is also adding to its line stations overseas. In the past year, it has established new locations in Nice and Edinburgh, with more anticipated in 2018.

Co-founded in 2012 by aviation entrepreneur and Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, Cardiff Aviation holds capabilities for MRO, pilot training and simulation services and aircraft leasing. Operating from a 132,000 square foot former RAF maintenance hangar in Wales with capacity for 20 narrowbody aircraft, it services Boeing 737s, 757s, 767s and Airbus A320s.

Specializing in component supply and repair, Sussex-headquartered AJW has grown in recent years by landing some largescale contracts. One of these was signed in 2015 with low-cost carrier EasyJet to oversee component repair and overhaul, supply of consumable parts and the management of spares inventory on 241 Airbus A320 family aircraft. With locations around worldwide, including an engine division, an Irish leasing business and its AJW Technique maintenance hub in Canada, the company told MRO-Network.com at the end of last year that it expects a buoyant 2018 for the business.

Headquartered in Cornwall in England’s West Country, Apple Aviation offers line and base maintenance, AOG support, aircraft storage, aircraft teardown and recycling and parts processing services. In summer 2017, it also became one of the newest members of Boeing’s aftermarket services network, servicing 737MAX and 787 customers for line and base maintenance along with AOG support.

Founded in 1996, Storm Aviation exclusively operates in the field of line maintenance services. Located near London Stansted Airport, the MRO currently services more than 40 airlines customers including Lufthansa, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and EasyJet, with stations also situated across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It has been owned by Lithuanian maintenance supplier FL Technics since 2011.

Based in Portsmouth on England’s south coast, H+S Aviation is a smaller repair specialist with a focus on small to medium-sized engine repairs such as APUs, propeller systems and engine accessories. It employs more than 300 employees at workshops across two sites.

While Canadian owned, the aircraft manufacturer repairs holds repair capabilities at its facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. These include component repair and overhaul of engine nacelles, flight control surfaces, landing gear and electrical harnessing, as well as technical support, modification and repair development, inspection and testing, parts exchange or lease, and mobile repair assistance. Last summer, it added new capabilities in the form of hydraulic component maintenance and repair services across Airbus, Boeing and its own aircraft types.

Marshall Aerospace operates an MRO facility at its Cambridge headquarters, where it carries out a range of services including aircraft interiors and connectivity work. The company also runs one of Europe largest aircraft refinishing facilities in Cambridge, where it services Boeing 747-400, 777 and Airbus A330 sized aircraft.