Vallair has recently ramped up its widebody MRO capabilities at the new hangar at the Marcel Dassault Airport in Châteauroux with an A330 twelve-year check program. The new hangar opened for commercial operations last month and since then the hangar is reported to have been busy with customers utilising Vallair services such as complementary support services on-site, including aerostructure repairs, with other maintenance processes. Vallair has also reported healthy bookings with a number of airlines and lessors booking slots way into 2023.
Malcolm Chandler, Head of Commercial & Marketing at Vallair, said: The experienced maintenance team is prepared for these complex and labor-intensive programs. This was our first A330-200 maintenance check in Vallair’s new MRO facility at Marcel Dassault Airport in Châteauroux - a 6Y/12Y check with landing gear change. The aircraft had been stored in the USA prior to coming into CHR for its heavy check and transfer to the next operator. During the check our technicians discovered major corrosion on the wings which necessitated the aircraft being placed into ZERO-G, a significant pylon repair was also required. The team also managed the full paint process with our partners in Châteauroux. These different operations, all of which dictated specific aircraft configurations, required critical work coordination and scheduling.”
Post completing the work on A330, Vallair started its second A330 MRO line with a C-check. Vallair has also inducted a further A330-200 for a 6Y/12Y heavy check, which also includes a landing gear change and full repaint paint with an imminent transfer to an operator in the Far East.
Vallair’s new hangar has parking and storage space for over 30 aircraft, an in-house aerostructures division covering all flying controls, composites, and other elements; the ability to overhaul and repair nacelles from the GE, Trent, and PW4000 powered aircraft; plus, an adjacent paint facility.