Romaero has become the first Romanian aircraft company to receive European Joint Aviation Authority JAR-145 approval, paving the way for additional business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work for the state-owned manufacturer. "We have undertaken MRO work on most commercial airliners for some time, but this approval finally gives us credibility," says the Bucharest-based company.
The world aircraft sales boom is being felt at the firm with a surge in demand for its services, notably in the manufacture of business and general aviation aircraft parts and sub-assemblies.
This, Romaero claims, represents a thriving segment of its business, with contracts including manufacture of the rear fuselage for the Galaxy Aerospace Galaxy business jet, empennage for Bombardier's Learjet 45, and the cabin and floats for the Bombardier CL- 415 amphibian.
Romaero was recently forced to halt manufacture of the Britten Norman Islander/Trislander fuselage after the UK firm collapsed in April. It says that "since 1968 we have built 570 aircraft for Britten Norman and if things pick up under its new ownership we hope to continue working with them."
Britten-Norman tried to acquire Romaero last year but pulled out, claiming the $21 million price tag and $60 million four-year investment programme was too high. Romaero concedes that "the government is still looking for the right buyer, but we can survive without a new owner."
Source: Flight International
