Firm plans $100m investment in Bahrain’s aviation sector
AS many as 100 jobs for Bahraini pilots and 50 for local engineers will be created as a $100 million investment in the kingdom’s aviation sector plays out.
Dr Mohammed Juman, founder and managing director of MENA Aerospace, told the GDN in an exclusive interview during the Bahrain International Airshow that the company is expanding its existing general aviation hangar facility at Bahrain International Airport (BIA).
“We have also signed a partnership with US-based Aviance Global for the establishment of a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service centre in Bahrain and double the operational cargo fleet within the region,” he added.
“The three major ventures have the potential to create jobs for 100 Bahraini pilots and at least a 50 engineers.”
At present, the company’s 6,400sqm purpose-built facility consists of two 3,200sqm hangars, each capable of accommodating up to 757-500 sized aircraft or numerous business jets.
The new 4,200sqm expansion increases the company’s ability to provide aircraft maintenance services for both commercial and private aircraft, as well as private jet parking.
Dr Juman also said MENA Technics, a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace, has entered into a partnership with US-based Aviance Global for the establishment of a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service centre in Bahrain, covering both commercial and private jets.
MENA Technics is the technical division of MENA Aerospace, offering avionics workshop, modification solutions projects and ground handling services.
The centre will be a collaboration with NextGen Aviation Services (formerly known as Pulsar Aviation Services), a subsidiary of Aviance Global, and introduces Part 145 EASA set up for base maintenance.
Together with Aviance Global/NextGen Aviation Services, MENA Technics will offer a full turnkey solution to its clients, making Bahrain a competitive location for both private aviation and commercial airlines for their heavy checks.
This partnership bolsters the MRO industry in the region and the two-party collaboration plans to expand the services to Saudi Arabia in the near future, to offer the same support services to their clients there.
As part of the agreement, MENA Technics and Aviance Global/NextGen Aviation will offer their expertise in developing and training Bahraini personnel who are accredited with aircraft maintenance licences.
It is estimated that 10 Bahraini aircraft engineers and 20 technicians will benefit from the training over the next three years and eventually the number is expected to grow to 50.
The training programme is supported by Tamkeen under its ‘Train and Place’ scheme.
Earlier, it was announced that Singapore-based Asia Cargo Network (ACN) has acquired a 49 per cent stake in MAE Aircraft Management, a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace.
The investment by ACN consists of a mixed contribution of capital, asset deployment, management services and expertise.
Under the new agreement, ACN will base six of its cargo planes in Bahrain and the GCC where it plans on serving the Mena region as well as cargo routes into and from it.
The deployment will be over the next 18 months, with the first of its six aircraft to include a B737-800F and B767-300F, due to arrive within the next two months, and to begin operations immediately.
ACN’s aircraft and MAE’s existing Boeing 737-300 converted freighter expand the operational fleet within the region.