SUBANG JAYA: Swiss aviation company RUAG Aviation (RUAG) is keen to tap into the US$500 million (RM2.1 billion) aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business in Southeast Asia.
RUAG Aviation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (RAM) general manager David Jones said out of the US$500 million, RAM aims to capture US$160 million as it opens the first component repair centre in the region here.
The decision to open a service centre in Malaysia is based on the increasing number of military aircraft operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), as well as the growing demand for fixed-wing and rotary-wing airplanes in Southeast Asia, said Jones.
He said there are over 400 civil helicopters and some 380 fixed-wing aircraft in the region, which RAM is currently eyeing.
“We are seeing very positive MRO growth in this region. By us having a footprint here (Malaysia), it shows that we are confident with the market,” Jones told reporters at a media briefing here today.
RUAG’s service centre in Malaysia will provide MRO services for aircraft components, particularly turboprop and helicopters, to local customers as well as those in the broader region.
The company has worked with RMAF previously, as it partnered with Airod Sdn Bhd to carry out an extensive upgrade on RMAF’s Falcon 900 aircraft last year.
RUAG is also an authorised service centre for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) such as Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Bombardier, Cirrus, Cessna, Diamond, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Leonardo-Finmeccanica (AgustaWestland), Piaggio, Sikorsky, Pilatus, Piper and Mooney.
RUAG Switzerland Ltd director of marketing and communication, Pirmin Berger, said the company’s service centre in Malaysia is closely positioned near customers in Southeast Asia.
“It gives them a much shorter turnaround time as compared to when they send the components to Europe,” he added.
Currently, RAM has a total of 10 employees and it plans to add five technicians by end-2017.