News
4 May 2011, SAMCO expands its CAMO approval with Bombardier DHC-8-400
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance has expanded its CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation) approval with the Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft type. With the CAMO approval SAMCO is authorized to manage the airworthiness of aircraft that are not involved in commercial air transport, based on its own maintenance program, including the Airworthiness Review privilege to issue recommendations and/or Airworthiness Review Certificates as specified in § M.A.710.
Currently the CAMO scope of approval covers the following listed aircraft types:
- Bombardier DHC-8-100/200/300
- Bombardier DHC-8-400
- Fokker 50/60
- Fokker 70/100
1 December 2010, December 2010, MRO Management - Going Dutch
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance has developed a strong reputation as an MRO provider for regional airlines. Ian Harbison reports from Maastricht
Although SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance was formed in 1988, it emerged from the engineering activities of Schreiner Airways, being part of the Schreiner Aviation Group, which was founded in 1945. Schreiner always operated a number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft worldwide but early 2000 it gradually turned back to it’s roots being a helicopter operator in the oil and gas industry. This led to the company being purchased by the Canadian Helicopter Corporation, CHC, in 2004. As a result, SAMCO was no longer a core business and became the subject of a management buyout.
One outcome of the MBO was the need to move the company culture away from being a subsidiary or “in house” maintenance organisation of an operator to being a competitor in the international market. This required various major changes in the organization. Not only in the area of IT reporting systems, facilities and personnel training but also in the cost structure. Greater flexibility was achieved following successful negotiations with the unions. Staff are contracted and paid for an agreed number of hours per year, plus a profit share. This allows maximum flexibility in matching labour to capacity, with overtime paid only in exceptional circumstances, says Constant van Schaik, CEO, and often allows a fast response to flexibility in market demand and requests for on site help to customers. He adds that SAMCO not only has to compete with MROs in lower cost areas but even with the likes of Fokker in the Netherlands or for instance KLMuk or Flybe in the UK, thanks to the euro/sterling exchange rate at the moment. However, he believes there is now a greater internal understanding of the company’s position and ambitions and is very optimistic. We have proven that our strategy works and that we have been able to adapt to the new setting whereby we have been able to have a good cost/quality ratio and are able to utilise our resources in the most productive manner.
The company now has 135 permanent staff and five bays in two hangars. It has capabilities covering the ATR 42/72, Bombardier Dash 8/Q Series aircraft (including the Q400) and CRJ200, Embraer ERJ 135/145 and Fokker 50 and 70/100. It became a Bombardier Recognized Service Facility in April 2009 and is part of a network including the OEM in Toronto, Flybe Aviation Services in the UK and Hawker Pacific in Australia. SAMCO’s primary responsibility is to provide Base and Field support for aircraft based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, although others can be directed to Maastricht by the OEM.
The wide range of capabilities is a burden and a strength, he says, requiring a greater investment in training, parts and equipment but offering greater flexibility in meeting fluctuations in market demand. In 2008 and first half of 2009 , he was turning work away, while in the early part of 2010, he says it is possible to see who is driving down prices to get work. Although demand has dropped, he used this period as an opportunity to further invest in Bombardier Classics and Q400 training and invest in training programs with the Aviation Competence centre , located next door of SAMCO, in order to further increase the, Part 66 qualified ,permanent staff base.
Some 60% of turnover is taken up by base maintenance, followed by line maintenance (25%), Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) (10%) and design (5%).
Base Maintenance
As well as maintenance up to D checks, SAMCO can also handle Out Of Phase work, cycles/hours checks, structural repairs, modifications, cargo conversion, interior refurbishments and avionic installations. These have included an E-class cargo interior for Fokker 50s and fuselage and door hinge modifications for ATR 72 freighters. Avionics installations typically include FMS, TCAS/Mode S, EGPWS/TAWS, ELTs and flight following.
Supporting workshops handle wheels and brakes, batteries, minor composite and paint repairs and full interior refurbishment. There is no need to invest heavily in much more than this explains van Schaik because additional support is readily available, although care needs to be taken to watch the margins with outsourcing in order to avoid a price increase for the customer versus doing the work in house. The outsourcing should be an advantage for our customers both cost wise and turn around time wise.
It takes from a few hours to less than half a day to reach OEM support centres in Amsterdam (Fokker Services), Frankfurt (Bombardier) and Paris (Embraer & ATR), while engine support can be provided by Lufthansa Technik Aero Alzey StandardAero, just 70km away, or MSI Aircraft Maintenance Services International in Ruesselsheim, both close to Frankfurt, the latter two also having regularly working parties in the SAMCO hangar at Maastricht. There is a radome repair shop an hour away, while other composite repairs will likely be sent to KVE Composites, another member of the Maastricht Maintenance Boulevard (see separate story), as is Hamilton Sundstrand for propellers and Maastricht Aviation Aircraft Services for aircraft painting. The latter is actually very important, as it frees up a bay for five to seven days, he comments and increases our flexibility and ability to provide a complete service to our customers.
To coop with the increasing demand from aircraft leasing companies for long term parking and maintenance services the company has negotiated favourable long term parking charges with the airport and this has provided quite a number of care and maintenance contracts from leasing companies. At present, the Fokker 50 & 100 accounts for most of the stored aircraft, but it still has a niche market and SAMCO can benefit from heavy checks and reconfiguration work before delivery to a new customer. For the same reason, the Fokker 50 was the first type on the list in November 2009, when Dutch CAA approval was received as a Part-M CAMO. This was followed by the Fokker 70/100 in April, Dash-8 in October this year and the ATR 42/72 and ERJ 135/145 are anticipated in the near future.
One challenge of working with older aircraft is that they can arrive from an operator in a remote area with a very small fleet. This can result in tricky situations where an aircraft might be delayed because spares supplied by the airline arrive late, or a significant amount of extra work is needed on the airframe or components because of their condition or the change to the scope of work during the base visit. There is also a tendency for some of these operators to request a slot at short notice. This is where SAMCO’s flexibility comes to the fore, says van Schaik. Our aim is to maintain our agreed slot and deliver the aircraft in time.
Our efforts to establish a position in the international market in the field of Regional Aircraft has been rewarded by Bombardier by granting the Recognized Service Facility approval, but also has been acknowledged by a number of clients entering long term contracts. For example, we are now into the second year of a three-year contract with Widerøe of Norway, under which it carry out base maintenance checks, major modifications and upgrades and other work that Widerøe chooses to outsource from its facility in Bødo.
Line Maintenance
SAMCO currently has ten line maintenance stations, including Athens, Geneva, Luxembourg and Olbia, Tripoli in Libya, Kabul (in support of a Denim Air, Dutch registered Fokker 50) and Lagos. The number of stations fluctuates, as they can be on short term contracts to support start up operations. Many of them, particularly in Africa, come from contacts made during the Schreiner days. In all cases, the company’s reputation is on the line as with the supply of Line Maintenance Services you are an extension of an airline and will be directly affected if aircraft don’t fly. Our challenge is to ensure that we find the right combination of engineers for a particular operator as it is important to understand the culture and way of cooperation between the MRO and the operator, which might vary from operator to operator. With our experience and the method that we operate we are able to keep a close watch on things despite the often large distance between our stations and our home base in Maastricht
The history of the company, being part of Schreiner Airways and having been a maintenance provider working worldwide, where short notice start ups were part of the day to day activites, has also been useful in another way, as the company is often called upon at short notice to provide working parties to deal with urgent requirements in the field such as bird strike repairs in Lagos, engine change to a Fokker 100 at a desert airstrip in the Sahara or major structural repairs to an Embraer ERJ 145 that had been hit by a vehicle in Africa, to smaller jobs such as troubleshooting support services.
An extension of the line maintenance services is assistance with start up operations, allowing an airline to develop its own capabilities supported by SAMCO staff. For example, in April 2009, SATA –Air Açores acquired two Bombardier Q200s from Horizon Air, while anticipating the arrival of four Q400s that were delivered earlier this year. SAMCO provided under SAMCO’s approval line maintenance support for these aircraft and provided on-the-job training, including troubleshooting skills, for SATA staff. With the arrival of the Q400s, it carried out the same work again, allowing the airline to focus on retiring its BAe ATP aircraft and type-train their staff on the Bombardier aircraft. Set ups like this have been proven to be very succefull.
It was also involved with another European carrier that acquired a number of Q400s as feeders for its main operations with Airbus A320 Family, A330 and Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline used SAMCO to get its personnel up to speed on the new type without distracting from its daily business.
As well as providing tooling support on a rental basis, the company can also assist with spares packages. This includes advice on those items that are most likely to affect reliability balanced against the investment levels required. While the company has a spares inventory at Maastricht, packages will often be negotiated with specialist suppliers, with SAMCO taking responsibility for al logistics. It can also look after the management and outsourcing of repairs, including exchanges and consignment stock.
The CAMO and DOA activity and Maintenance management services which SAMCO has been performing since the 1990’s under Schreiner Airways has been generating a steady flow of work with long term contracts such as for example with Baboo in Switzerland, and Arik Air in Nigeria, both for Q400s.
This inevitably leads to van Schaik’s long term plan, which is to further strengthen our name in the international market by being a high quality total care provider, covering base maintenance, line maintenance, logistics support, maintenance management and field support. Van Schaik is confident that with the changes and company’s strategy he will achieve the set targets and be able to adapt to the changing market As the Maastricht Maintenance Boulevard grows, bringing more support services closer to SAMCO, other aircraft types and further specific activities are being planned. In a few years time, new hangars should be available as part of the MMB. In the meantime, he is working hard to consolidate the success so far and to try to take advantage of a recovering market.
Reference: http://www.mromanagement.com
1 November 2010, November 2010, SAMCO extends Bombardier Authorised Service Facility agreement for 5 years
This week Samco Aircraft Maintenance has extended the Authorised Service Facility agreement with Bombardier for another 5 years. This means that Bombardier has fully confidence in Samco to support their product and will recommend Samco to their customers.
1 September 2010, September 2010, Low-Fare & Regional Airlines – Third-party politics
What advantages are there for airlines in choosing third-party maintenance providers, and which areas benefit most from being outsourced?
Reference: http://www.hmgaerospace.com/hmgmags/LARA_AugSept2010/pageflip.html
1 August 2010, August 2010, SAMCO extends CAMO capabilities with the Dash-8 series
Samco Aircraft Maintenance has expanded its Part-M approval (ref NL.MG.8120) with the Bombardier Dash 8 series aircraft type. This further expansion of our Part-M approval together with our Bombardier accreditation as an Authorized Service Facility, provides a high quality and competitive services portfolio for the Dash 8 airframe.
Together with our Part-145 and Part-21 approvals, Samco provides a competitive service to aircraft owners and lessors when moving aircraft between operators.
1 May 2010, May 2010, SAMCO agrees on long term parking conditions with MAA Airport
Recently, Samco Aircraft Maintenance has agreed on new conditions concerning long-term aircraft parking areas with MAA Airport. This makes it possible for Samco to store more aircrafts on the airport side in future.
13 April 2010, SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance expands Part-M approval with F100 and ARC
Maastricht Airport, April 13, 2010 - SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance has expanded its Part-M approval (ref NL.MG.8120) with the Fokker F100 aircraft type and has also been recognized as an Part-M subpart I organisation for the renewal of Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC). With this expansion of its capabilities, SAMCO can now offer import and transfer services for aircraft when these are delivered to new operators for both the Fokker 50 and Fokker 100 airframes.
Together with their Part-145 and Part-21 approvals, SAMCO is now able to provide a competitive service to aircraft owners and lessors when moving aircraft between operators.
About SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance, established in 1988, is an independent third party maintenance provider for a complete range of regional jet and turboprop aircraft.
Our modern, fully equipped facility is located in the heart of Europe, at Maastricht Airport in the South of The Netherlands. This base supports a wide range of aircraft maintenance activities varying from heavy base-maintenance checks, line-maintenance, CAMO approved Continuing Airworthiness services, logistic support, asset and maintenance management to EASA Part 21 approved design changes.
Contact: Andre Velda
Tel: +31-43-358 79 53
Cell: +31-6-50243228
Email: velda.a@samco.aero
Reference: http://www.samco.aero/files/NL.MG.8120%20(SAMCO).pdf
10 November 2009, SAMCO AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE QUALIFIES FOR PART-M APPROVAL
Maastricht, Nov 6, 2009 - SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance based at Maastricht Airport has received CAA-NL approval to act as a Part-M Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization. With the CAMO approval SAMCO is authorized to manage the airworthiness of aircraft that are not involved in commercial air transport, based on its own maintenance program. The Fokker 50/60 is the first type on the approval and within the next days SAMCO will expand their approval schedule to include the Fokker 70/100, CRJ 200, ERJ-145 and Dash 8 type aircraft.
Together with their Part-145 and Part-21 approvals, SAMCO is now able to provide a competitive service to aircraft owners and lessors when moving aircraft between operators.
About SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance, established in 1988, is an independent third party maintenance provider for a complete range of regional jet and turboprop aircraft.
Our modern, fully equipped facility is located in the heart of Europe, at Maastricht Airport in the South of The Netherlands. This base supports a wide range of aircraft maintenance activities varying from heavy base-maintenance checks, line-maintenance, CAMO approved Continuing Airworthiness services, logistic support, asset and maintenance management to EASA Part 21 approved design changes.
Contact: Andre Velda
Tel: +31-43-358 79 53
Cell: +31-6-50243228
Email: velda.a@samco.aero
23 September 2009, SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance expands activities on the Fokker 70/100
On par with the growth plans of SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance and the recent expansion of the facility with additional hangar space at Maastricht Aachen Airport, SAMCO was pleased to welcome the first Fokker 100 in Maastricht for a Base Maintenance visit. Besides Base Maintenance activities on the Fokker 100, SAMCO also intends to provide Line Maintenance on this type in the EMEA region, for which the first contract has been signed this week.
The development of the F100 support seamlessly fits the package of services SAMCO already offers on for instance the Dash-8 as Factory Recognized Service Facility. At SAMCO, operators can select a service package varying from a Total Care Package to a single activity such as Line Maintenance support.
At this moment SAMCO provides services on the Fokker 50, 70, 100, ATR, Embraer 120, 145 and Dash-8 series aircraft. Together with Base Maintenance, the 12 Line Stations, Continuing Airworthiness, the Part 21 approval and soon a CAMO approval, SAMCO is capable of placing a complete product on the market of which both starting and existing operators and lease companies make use of.
3 July 2009, Wideroe / SAS group
Wideroe has signed up with SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance for a three year Base Maintenance Contract.
The contract is an agreement that outlines the terms and conditions for the Base Maintenance Checks, major modifications and upgrades and other work that Wideroe chooses to outsource to SAMCO.
Due to the increase in aircraft and operational activity at Wideroe the contract with SAMCO is a logical choice in order to ensure that Wideroe has access to the required additional Base Maintenance capacity on top of the capacity available at the home base of Wideroe in Bodo, Norway.
Reference: http://www.aerospace-technology.com/contractors/maintenance/samco/press2.html
10 April 2009, Province grants subsidy
Province Limburg and aircraft engineer school Leeuwenborgh invest in educational facility at Maastricht Aachen Airport.
Province Limburg grants a subsidy of almost €1,3 million to the Aviation Competence Centre project. The Aviation Competence Centre will be established at Maastricht Aachen Airport.
The project Aviation Competence Centre fits within the policy plan Talentrijke Regio, the strengthening of technical education in the area, and increasing the inflow of new students. This project has also been included in the development of the plans for the Westelijke Mijnstreek, and contributes to the strength of Maastricht Aachen Airport.
The educational facility at the airport is the result of close cooperation with other partners and aircraft maintenance companies at the airport.
Leeuwenborg Opleidingen is the party ultimately responsible. The most important pillars of the project are: increase of inflow and outflow of qualified aircraft engineers, structural cooperation with the business community and new accommodation.
Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen has been training aircraft maintenance staff at the airport for eight years. It is important that students can obtain a complete European Part-66 certification, next to a Dutch diploma. This kind of education has specific accomodation requirements.
The new building will be finished in 2010
The airport has sufficient free space for the establishment of aircraft maintenance companies, and those could enable MAA to become a strong player in the field of aircraft maintenance. The LIOF, MAA, the city of Beek and province Limburg have been successfully dedicated to this regional development.
Both companies and schools, united in a new Aviation Competence Centre, are responsible for optimal cooperation and education of top quality. Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen, the joint partners, the maintenance companies and province Limburg are responsible for realization of the project.
Reference: http://www.aviationcompetencecentre.nl/home/18
9 April 2009, SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance Becomes Bombardier's Second Recognized Service Facility for Dash 8/Q-Series Aircraft in Europe
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance Becomes Bombardier's Second Recognized Service Facility for Dash 8/Q-Series Aircraft in Europe
Bombardier Aerospace announces today that SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance B.V. has been selected as a Recognized Service Facility (RSF) for the Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft. Located at Maastricht Airport in Beek, the Netherlands, SAMCO will service aircraft based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Under an RSF agreement, SAMCO is recognized by Bombardier as a quality service provider for “C” checks and other heavy maintenance on all Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft. The company can also perform aircraft modifications and upgrades on Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft.
The Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft, including the Q400 airliner, are flown extensively throughout the region with over 300 in service or on firm order from operators in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
”Accrediting SAMCO as a Bombardier RSF assures potential customers that the company has met Bombardier’s expectations for quality service and customer attention,“ said Todd Young, Vice President, Customer Services and Support, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The combination of SAMCO’s advanced maintenance facilities and highly professional personnel will provide exceptional and cost-effective maintenance services to the Dash 8/Q-Series customers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.”
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance is Bombardier’s third RSF in Europe, joining Adria Airways of Slovenia and Flybe of England. Adria Airways services CRJ Series aircraft while Flybe services Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft continues to expand its international presence, with over 70 per cent of its Dash 8/Q-Series operators based outside of North America. This latest announcement follows Bombardier’s RSF accreditation in Oceania to Hawker Pacific for Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft and in Asia to STAECO of Jinan, People’s Republic of China for CRJ Series aircraft.
In North America, Bombardier provides heavy maintenance for CRJ Series aircraft at West Virginia Air Center in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Tucson Air Center, Arizona. Bombardier also provides line maintenance for CRJ Series aircraft at Ronald Reagan Washington National, D.C.
About SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance
Established in 1987 as an independent third party maintenance provider for a complete range of regional jet and turboprop aircraft, SAMCO’s modern fully equipped facility provides a vast array of aircraft maintenance activities, including heavy base maintenance checks, line maintenance, logistic support, continuing airworthiness, structural repairs, and structural & avionics modification programs. SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance has an EASA part 21 DOA approval for the design of minor changes and repairs on the aircraft. News and information are available at www.samco.aero.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier, CRJ, Dash 8 and Q400 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Reference: http://www.bombardier.com/en/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d80090e19
6 March 2009, MRO Management – Airframes: 42 + 72 = 25
MRO Management – Airframes: 42 + 72 = 25
Reference: http://www.mromanagement.com