Four western aerospace firms are looking to establish businesses at Don Mueang, Bangkok's old international airport.

Thailand civil aviation department director general, Wuthichai Singhamanee, says an EADS company plans to establish a landing gear over-haul centre there.

EADS Sogerma had a landing gear maintenance division, EADS Revima in France, which it sold in October.

Wuthichai adds that French MRO firm Europe Aviation plans to do Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 heavy checks at Don Mueang, and that a manufacturer of small aircraft engines plans to establish a MRO firm there too.

He declines to name the engine-maker or disclose the identity of the fourth western aerospace company.

"Our government policy is that Don Mueang will become a MRO and training centre," says Wuthichai.

It is important for Thailand to have more MRO businesses, given that many commercial aircraft registered in Thailand are being sent overseas for heavy checks, mostly to China and Singapore, says Wuthichai.

Officials at Europe Aviation were unavailable for comment.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news