TAP Expands MRO Capability In Brazil
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By Lee Ann Tegtmeier
TAP Maintenance & Engineering "is one organization with two branches" since it finished integrating the former VEM Maintenance & Engineering into its fold in May, and now growing the Brazilian facilities' capabilities is the next step, according to Jorge Sobral, TAP member of TAP Portugal executive board and TAP Maintenance & Engineering COO.
The Brazilian unit hopes to achieve FAA certification for Airbus A330 and A340 maintenance the end of July and EASA approval by the end of August, to round out the Brazilian ANAC and Transport Canada approvals it already holds for those aircraft.
It also hopes to gain ANAC certification by yearend for Embraer ERJ 170 and 190 aircraft, according to Nestor Koch, senior VP of TAP M&E in Brazil. The Brazilian unit already services EMB120, ERJ145 and Legacy aircraft.
Sobral also would like to offer more landing gear service, a high-margin business, in Brazil. He expressed interest in A330 and A320 gears, in particular.
"Our priority is to keep our good name and ensure each step is a sure step," said Sobral, and ensure "we satisfy on a worldwide perspective, because this is a global business."
