February recap - FL Technics news

Join us at MRO Middle East to discuss the developments and topics of this months' newsletter and beyond! Stop by at booth #1115?

Announcements

Trainings Department extends their portfolio

We have extended our technical courses portfolio after receiving new approval to provide type training for Airbus A350 aircraft. We provide both theoretical courses and practical training.

We focus on narrow-body aircraft, such as Boeing B737MAX or Airbus A320NEO for the base and line maintenance capacity, while other business lines are more diversified to cater to broader market needs.

We are expanding the technical training courses to include popular long-range and wide-body aircraft, and have recently added Airbus A350 type training to the portfolio, which already includes Airbus A330, Boeing B777, and Boeing B787 Dreamliner type training.

Our training offerings go beyond type training, with a diverse array of specialized courses and an expanding range of online lessons covering full-scope aviation training.

FL Technics in the UK- Storm Aviation receives UKAS approval

Storm Aviation, part of FL Technics, is delighted to announce that our calibration laboratory in London-Stansted has been approved by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

UKAS is a national accreditation body that assesses against nationally and internationally agreed standards and organisations that provide conformity assessment for calibration services among other activities.

In most countries, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for which most laboratories must hold accreditation in order to be deemed technically competent. In many cases, suppliers and regulatory authorities will not accept tests or calibration results from a laboratory that is not accredited. Storm Aviation’s calibration laboratory has met this requirement and is now authorised to perform accredited calibrations in accordance with its scope of work.

With safety being at the forefront of our business, being UKAS accredited gives our customers the added confidence that their tools and equipment are being calibrated to the highest level, whilst meeting UK and international standards.

Ian Jones , Head of Sales for Storm Aviation commented, “At the end of this important and lengthy process, we are pleased with this success. The rigorous analysis of our internal procedures and policies that led to this approval signals an important milestone and reaffirms our commitment to delivering the best service to our customers.”

Danny Wells, Storm Aviation’s Head of Calibration, said “We have been calibrating tooling since 2007, primarily in the aviation industry. Now that we have obtained the UKAS accreditation this opens new doors and opportunities for us, allowing Storm Aviation to continue to deliver for our existing customers, expand into new sectors, and re-engage with organisations we have previously worked with.”

Special content

Let's talk Logistics!

By Raimondo Gramaglia

The Benefits of Choosing the Right Freight Forwarder for MRO Companies: Cost Savings, Efficient Supply Chain, and Peace of Mind

In today's global market, the aerospace industry is one of the most critical and complex sectors. As the demand for air travel and aerospace manufacturing continues to grow, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) companies play a vital role in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability of aircraft. In this context, choosing the right freight forwarder is a fundamental decision for MRO companies as it can have a significant impact on their operations and bottom line. Here are the reasons why relying on the right partner is important for MRO companies:

1.?Experience and Expertise: having the experience and expertise in the aerospace industry, allows freight forwarders to understand the specific requirements and regulations that must be met when transporting aircraft parts and equipment. They also have the resources and connections to handle the complexities involved in this type of shipment, such as obtaining the necessary certifications and permits.

2.?Cost Savings: with a deep understanding of the market, they can help MRO companies reduce costs by negotiating better rates with carriers and optimizing the supply chain. As a result, MRO companies can take advantage of economies of scale and lower transportation costs, which can result in increased profits.

3.?Efficient Supply Chain Management: A reliable freight forwarder can help MRO companies manage their supply chain more efficiently. This includes tracking shipments, ensuring that deliveries are on time, and dealing with any issues that may arise. By having a single point of contact for all transportation needs, MRO companies can streamline their operations and avoid costly delays or logistics disruptions.

4.?Peace of Mind: When MRO companies rely on the right provider, they can be assured that their shipments are in good hands. The freight forwarder is responsible for handling the entire logistics process, from pickup to delivery, and can provide real-time updates and tracking information. This peace of mind is fundamental for MRO companies that need to ensure that their shipments arrive on time and in good condition.

It is vital that a freight forwarder has the?expertise and experience?necessary for aerospace logistics. With a constantly evolving industry, it's important to have a partner who stays ahead of the curve and has a deep understanding of the various regulations, compliance requirements, and procedures involved in transporting aircraft assets.

Having a freight forwarder with years of experience in the aerospace logistics industry means they have a?proven track record of delivering shipments?on time and ensuring that they meet all necessary regulations and standards. This experience also gives them a better understanding of the challenges that come with transporting aircraft assets, and how to overcome them.

Moreover, their expertise allows to offer customized solutions to their clients. With the ability to understand the unique needs of each MRO company, a skilled freight forwarder can tailor their services to meet the specific requirements of each singular client.

Additionally, a freight forwarder with experience is also well-equipped to?handle complex and time-sensitive shipments. They have the necessary resources, processes, and technology in place to ensure a smooth and efficient delivery, while also being able to anticipate and overcome any potential challenges.

Cost savings?is a crucial factor for any company and especially for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies. When it comes to logistics, choosing the right service provider can greatly impact the overall cost of operations.

A well-experienced and knowledgeable freight forwarder can provide cost-effective solutions for shipping and handling aircraft assets, reducing the expense of transportation and ensuring the safe delivery of parts. They will have a?comprehensive knowledge of the logistics process, including customs regulations, import and export rules, and security requirements. They can negotiate better shipping rates, provide insurance coverage and offer end-to-end tracking of shipments, reducing the risk of loss or damage.

In addition, with a strong network of carriers and partners in the industry, they can provide a more smooth logistics process. This helps to?reduce lead times, increase efficiency and minimize expenses, leading to cost savings for MRO companies. Often they can also provide added value services such as inventory management, warehousing and consolidation of shipments.

Efficiency in supply chain management?is of utmost importance for MRO companies, as it directly affects their bottom line. By choosing the right freight forwarder, MROs can achieve improved efficiency in their supply chain, which results in?cost savings, increased productivity, and better customer satisfaction.

A reliable partner has the experience and expertise to handle the transportation, ensuring that they are delivered on time, in the right condition, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. This reduces the risk of delays, damages, or regulatory violations, which can cause significant financial losses for MROs.

In addition, a good freight forwarder can help MROs optimize their supply chain through the use of?advanced logistics technologies and processes. This can include real-time tracking, pro-active communication, and a data-driven approach to decision making. These capabilities enable MROs to make informed decisions about their supply chain, reducing waste, increasing accuracy, and improving overall efficiency.

Peace of mind?is another important benefit that MRO companies can achieve by relying on the right logistics service provider. Choosing a freight forwarder in aerospace logistics ensures that the MRO's?shipments are handled with the utmost care and attention. This reduces the risk of loss or damage to shipments, providing peace of mind to the MRO. The right supplier also has the resources to handle unexpected issues or disruptions in the supply chain, offering?extra insurance on cargoes transportation, minimizing the impact on the MRO's operations and minimizing stress for the MRO's employees. By relying on a trusted and reliable freight forwarder, MRO companies can focus on their core operations and providing the best possible service to their customers.

In conclusion, selecting a competent and professional freight forwarder in the aviation industry is key for MROs. In?FL Technics Logistics, we have decades of industry experience and we can provide tailored solutions, lower transportation costs, reduce risks, and give MROs a competitive edge worldwide.

News at FL Technics

Bigger premises and new equipment at DOA department

Did you know that the inside of a standard A320 aircraft is covered in around 800 placards? All of these internal stickers must be renewed when they wear out, some emergency equipment is installed or relocated, or when the aircraft owner changes. External technical markings (livery), on the other hand, reach an impressive number of around 500 per standard aircraft. These markings can be printed as stickers or as stencils for painting.

FL Technics printing station has been up and running since 2019, using a wide-format UV printer with a maximum resolution of 1200 x 1200 pixels — perfect for wide-scale as well as detailed designs. In addition to placards and livery, our experienced DOA team can help you take care of any internal needs your company might have, such as stickers for labeling parcels, chemical labels, signs on canteen trays, posters, or QR codes that mark all company-controlled items.

Since the spring of 2022, when the pandemic was no longer standing in our way, the workload of our printing station has jumped several times and is constantly growing. We’re happy to be able to offer a service that combines both design modification documents and the design part itself. To learn more, please visit?https://lnkd.in/edbfcrq3?and reach out!

Elevating our DOA services to the whole new level. Quite literally.

With the recent expansion of capabilities and new equipment we moved our DOA team to the new facility. And we did it our way - with a hands-on approach and personal effort and attention to detail. In other words: it is a small step for independent global MRO, yet it is a leap for our DOA team aiming for future growth.

Care to know more about our DOA solutions? Contact us at?https://lnkd.in/e3NxNC7n.

Vueling contracts FL Technics for the Base Maintenance

We’re delighted to announce that FL Technics has been contracted by?Vueling Airlines?to deliver ‘C Check’ maintenance for the forthcoming season.

This news is hot on the heels of last year’s successful aircraft maintenance and livery refresh project that was carried out at the hangar facility in Kaunas. Our workshop team, Bay One, from the total of four, has been instrumental in this win, demonstrating their hard work, commitment, and whose high-level skills and workmanship have left our new clients extremely impressed.

It’s a big start to the year and we’re particularly excited to be working with Vueling again as we service their fleet from Lithuania in 2023.

Supporting Ukraine

FL Technics continues to support Ukraine - we are starting to provide training services for State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU).

Reacting to the needs of SBGSU to maintain the qualification and expertise of their staff in these uncertain times, FL Technics granted access to four core online courses, relevant to technical and engineering teams, working in, or related to aviation industry.?

No matter the circumstances, in aviation it crucial to keep your knowledge up to date, so our team is glad and proud to offer our know-how and tools of online (remote) trainings to the teams in Ukraine free of charge. 8 people already enrolled the trainings by far and started learning course covering these topics:

? Safety Management System (SMS) Foundation Training. A course that provides a general understanding of Safety Management Systems (SMS) concept as well as main SMS definitions and provisions.

? EASA Part - 66 Regulatory Training. Content of this course enables to build up the knowledge on European regulatory framework and regulations applicable for maintenance certifying staff.

? The transition from Part - M Subpart G to Part - CA(M)O. The training course is designed to provide the attendees an understanding of the revised structure of Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 with a focus on the new Annex Vc (Part-CAMO).

? And a bundle package of multiple courses one set (HF based on Part 66 - module 9 + FTS (1+2) + EWIS1-2). The package includes more comprehensive and interconnected training covering: Human Factors, Fuel Tank Safety (phase1+2), and EWIS modules.

We are glad to be of help, as we know we're stronger together!

Base Maintenance capabilities

Good news needs to be shared! Today, we’d like to celebrate our secret heroes from the Base Maintenance Sheet Metal Mechanics team. We’re putting them on a pedestal for a reason — even though their deeds are mostly unseen, the team performs extremely complicated tasks daily.

Let us tell you one short story that proved it recently (P.S. Don’t get overwhelmed by the Base Maintenance gobbledygook).The team was working on one of our projects when, during the planned inspection, they detected several cracks using a special non-destructive eddy current inspection. The cracks were located across the entire left and right-side lateral frames, which strengthen and ensure the stability of the front upper cockpit side window’s corner. The team requested OEM for repair procedures or replacement immediately due to damages in critical areas, and the replacement procedures were provided. Structure engineers prepared instructions for the repair and ordered special parts (also known as repair KITS).

Preparation for the huge workshop repair required removing all access, components, and wiring from all flight decks first, which was done by the Avionic and B1 staff. After the removal of impacted frames, all structures had to be checked for damages or additional cracks and involved NDT staff using special tooling. Workshop staff drilled and reinstalled more than 2000 rivets for both frames’ replacement. Once the structural work was done, all components and access needed to be reinstalled, followed by more than 100 tests performed to avoid some INOP systems. One of the special tests is pressurizing the aircraft cabin and checking the leakage from structure connections.

We want to take our hats off and say a big thank you to NDT specialists, sheet metal workers, and aircraft engineers who completed this project successfully — you all rock, and we couldn’t be prouder!

FL Technics people

Aviation Hero stories

This month we have had a chance to introduce you to another 3 inspiring colleagues.

Read the stories of women at FL Technics, visit our LinkedIn page every Thursday - https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/fl-technics .