Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Lithuania-based Aviatic MRO UAB have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deliver a maintenance centre for aircraft at Siauliai Airport in Lithuania.
The maintenance centre will deliver support to aircraft and staff, including staff training, education as well as the transition of the B737NG into a cargo aircraft. Aviatic is expected to oversee communications with the Lithuanian regulators and manage the development of critical infrastructure.
It is hoped that the maintenance centre will be up and running by 2022.
IAI’s Aviation Group – the business unit that will oversee the agreement – manages both civilian and defence aircraft, including their production and restoration. Meanwhile, Aviatic oversees the continued airworthiness across aircraft.
Yossi Melamed, IAI EVP and general manager of the Aviation Group, welcomed the announcement.
“IAI is a long-standing player in the aircraft maintenance category with an excellent reputation accumulated over many years. The new centre will create a professional and commercial anchor for aircraft maintenance in Lithuania.
“It is strategically located near some of the busiest air transport hubs in the world. Signing the collaboration MOU with Aviatic at a time the aviation market is experiencing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic testifies to IAI’s aviation expertise and the strong confidence our worldwide customers have in us,” Melamed noted.
Dmitrij Cheliadin, board member of Aviatic MRO, further noted, “We are glad that IAI has trusted the high-quality specialists, strategically convenient location of Siauliai International Airport and prospects of future growth – the features we offer at Aviatic MRO.
“This is a big achievement to Lithuania’s sector of aviation and a special acknowledgment of the effort we have already dedicated to this project and can only hope that this partnership will only grow stronger in the near future. In the meantime, we are preparing the needed infrastructure at SQQ.”
Written by Liam Garman.
