European turboprop aircraft manufacturer Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) has appointed France-based Atlantic Air Industries (AAI) as a new member of its network of partner maintenance centers under a new collaboration agreement.
AAI noted that its addition to ATR's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network reflects the compliance of its maintenance station at Toulouse-Francazal airport, specializing in the heavy maintenance of ATR airframes.
This move follows the recent introduction of Germany's Rheinland Air Service (RAS) for the European market.
The partnerships with AAI and RAS in Europe, the existing partnership with Fokker Services for the Asian market, are part of ATR's plan to offer a worldwide network of independent and highly qualified aircraft maintenance service providers for its operators.
ATR's MRO network is a vital part of the regional policy implemented by its Customer Support Department which seeks to offer local solutions to ATR operators in terms of maintenance, logistics and training.
"The development of this network of ATR-approved centers fits in perfectly with our wish to guide our operators towards maintenance centers that are well experienced with our aircraft,"
AAI chief executive officer Didier Bernardeau says. "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."
ATR Product Support and Services senior vice-president Lilian Braylé says: "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 currently has approximately 60 operators, with more than 320 aircraft in operation in 25 countries in Europe.
The company's customer support presence in Europe includes pilot training centers in Toulouse and Paris, as well as a spare parts distribution logistics platform located in Paris.
AAI is a MRO operator for the aerospace industry, offering technical support, logistics and maintenance services for the ATR 42 and 72, plus the Embraer 120/135/145 and Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft.