As the first passenger-carrying flight of the A350 took off on 2 June 2014, AFI KLM E&M was shaping its industrial development program and is now poised to become a major maintenance player for the newly certified aircraft.
Without waiting for the first commercial flights, AFI KLM E&M has already been tooling up to maintain the A350, enabling it to design and then market a full range of MRO services for operating airlines. In line with its industrial strategy, AFI KLM E&M is developing in-house A350 maintenance capabilities and is constructing an appropriate engineering program in conjunction with the airframer, and the component and engine manufacturers.
Leveraging on the skills developed for supporting A380s and 787s, AFI KLM E&M is to finalize its engineering program and the deployment of the necessary investments in technology and human resources to meet the A350 engineering, production and logistics requirements.
Fabrice Defrance, Senior VP Commercial, AFI KLM E&M, emphasized: "For us, it's rather an evolution than a revolution, since AFI KLM E&M is the only MRO part of an airline group which ordered A380s, 787s and A350s. This gives us a decisive edge in mastering the latest technologies. All our units have mobilized their expertise and skills to achieve the best possible position for the now ongoing first wave of calls for tender for A350 component support.