SHAH ALAM: CTRM Aviation Sdn Bhd will continue to tap opportunities in the rotary engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market, especially Southeast Asia’s military segment.
DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) chief executive officer Datuk Amril Samsudin said CTRM Aviation was well-poised to pitch for rotorcraft MRO contracts in Southeast Asia.
“By looking at the rotary MRO market in Malaysia, we have positioned ourselves as the leading military MRO centre with an original equipment manufacturer presence compared with other third-party MRO centres,” he told Business Times.
In April, CTRM Aviation was appointed as MD Helicopters Inc’s exclusive authorised service centre.
The contract is for the support of the first six MD 530G light attack helicopters to be deployed to the army’s aviation regiment.
Amril said the deal would have a positive impact on the company’s revenue, with an estimated growth rate of 20 per cent per year.
MD Helicopters provides comprehensive end-to-end support for its global fleet of military and commercial customers.
On how much CTRM Aviation was expected to invest in its authorised service centre, Amril said the company was looking at RM5 million in capital investment, mainly for human capital and upgrading of engineering capabilities, which involved technical training by MD Helicopters and purchase of tools and equipment.
As an authorised service centre, CTRM Aviation’s main role is to provide continuous and proximate maintenance support.
“The deal will be our entry point into the rotary MRO segment,” he said.
This appointment would also allow CTRM Aviation to offer opportunities to local graduates and engineers to venture into rotary engineering segments, he added.
In 2009, CTRM Aviation was granted to be an authorised service facility by Textron Aviation (formerly known as Cessna Co), which allows the company to be part of its supply chain channel for parts and components and MRO services for all types of Cessna piston-engined aircraft.
The company is also the authorised service centre for Diamond Aircraft, as well as authorised distributor for Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co and Mid Continent Instruments & Avionics.