AviTrader_Monthly_MRO_e-Magazine_2013-12
AviTrader_Monthly_MRO_e-Magazine_2013-12
AviTrader_Monthly_MRO_e-Magazine_2013-12
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Industry Interview<br />
23<br />
In the hot seat.....<br />
Keith Mwanalushi speaks to Bruce Dickinson, Chairman, Cardiff Aviation<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: What attracted you to work<br />
in Aviation?<br />
Dickinson: The constant challenge, great<br />
technology, and above all great people. This<br />
is a people industry, despite the associated<br />
heavy metal.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: Cardiff Aviation is a new<br />
player on the scene having launched in 20<strong>12</strong>,<br />
what are your expectations of the market?<br />
Dickinson: To grow the business and to be<br />
among the top service providers offering a full<br />
360 degree capability – <strong>MRO</strong>, painting, flight<br />
training, AOC operations and ACMI leasing.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: What are your current and<br />
planned <strong>MRO</strong> capabilities?<br />
Dickinson: Currently we have the ability to<br />
perform maintenance on aircraft up to B767-<br />
300 dimensions, either Airbus or Boeing. We<br />
want to fast-track the growth of this business<br />
into a full narrow body maintenance, repair,<br />
modification and storage facility, and we are<br />
continuously exploring new areas.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: The <strong>MRO</strong> business is very<br />
competitive what made you decide to enter<br />
the industry?<br />
Bruce Dickinson, Chairman, Cardiff Aviation<br />
Dickinson: Our experience as customers of<br />
<strong>MRO</strong> was often unsatisfactory. We wanted to<br />
start a customer orientated service.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: What sets you apart from<br />
other similar maintenance organisations?<br />
Dickinson: We are unique in that we offer a<br />
Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency<br />
one-stop shop. We will service, paint and<br />
store aircraft as well as being able to offer<br />
leasing and operating services.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: A key trend these days is to<br />
lean towards partnerships and joint ventures<br />
in order to extend resources and expertise.<br />
What emphasis are making on such initiatives?<br />
Dickinson: Clearly this is a useful tool to start<br />
up quickly. We have JVs with several companies<br />
including Serco with whom we are busy<br />
painting as we speak.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong>: As we enter 2014, what are<br />
your prospects for the New Year?<br />
Current capability is for maintenance on aircraft up to B767-300 dimensions form either Airbus or Boeing.<br />
Photo: Boeing<br />
Dickinson: Santa has brought his sleigh round<br />
but we have had to red tag one of his runners.<br />
Luckily we have a fully equipped manufacturing<br />
facility on-site operating 24 hours a<br />
day. We are commissioning aircraft painting<br />
in Q1 and our training school complete with<br />
simulators in Q2, and we’ll be well placed in<br />
the market to capture 2014-15 winter maintenance.<br />
We still have a lot to do but our facilities<br />
at Cardiff International Airport and St<br />
Athan as well as our engineering road teams<br />
are ready to capture some substantial business<br />
next year.<br />
<strong>AviTrader</strong> <strong>MRO</strong> - Dezember <strong>2013</strong>
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