Paris, A new joint venture for the repair and overhaul of jet engine nacelles in the Middle East region has been created by Air France Industries and Aircelle, SAFRAN Group. This 50/50 joint venture is to be based at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates.

The new organization will benefit from Air France Industries’ expertise as a top provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and Aircelle’s position as a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of small, medium and large engine nacelles.

 The two partners will offer their joint capabilities to Middle East customers, providing services for a full range of nacelle types. Together, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance (the combined repair and overhaul organizations of the Air France/KLM merger) and Aircelle will be able to handle nacelles for Rolls-Royce, General Electric, CFM International and Pratt &Whitney engines.
 The sizable fleets of Airbus A320s, A330s, A340-500/600s, A380s and Boeing 777s in the Middle East were a driving factor behind the creation of this joint venture. With its close proximity to customers throughout the Middle East, the joint venture will be positioned to provide high quality services that are reactive and competitive.

Customized Services. The joint venture’s operations are expected to begin end 2009. Among the tailored capabilities to be offered are the management spare parts for engine nacelle components, assistance in optimizing maintenance programs to airlines’ specific needs, as well as the on-wing inspection and repair of engine podding. The joint venture’s services will be commercialized by the Air France Industries/Aircelle sales teams.
 Expertise & Proximity. “The joint venture is in phase with the industrial and commercial development plan for Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance,” explained Alain Bassil, the President of Air France Industries. “This new effort will rely on the power and support of its two international groups, offering their acknowledged know-how and a full range of products and services for customers’ engine nacelles.”
 “This agreement is part of a determined strategy to develop our services offering by bringing our capabilities closer to the customer – offering the largest range of solutions in terms of service and material,” said Aircelle Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Cojan. “The expertise of Air France Industries and Aircelle is highly complementary, and will be an asset in the Middle East.”

Source: Press Release (Air France Industries and Aircelle, SAFRAN Group)