APS gains ATR propeller approvals

KUALA LUMPUR: The Aircraft Propeller Services (APS) maintenance centre in Subang has received regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to carry out maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work on propellers used in ATR turboprop aircraft.

The facility has also secured AS9100 certification, a globally recognised quality management standard for the aerospace sector.

With this certification in place, ATR operators in the Philippines and Nepal can now send their Collins Aerospace 568F propeller systems to APS Malaysia for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), eliminating the need to ship components outside the region.

APS noted that there are currently 26 active ATR aircraft in the Philippines and 23 in Nepal.

Both countries depend heavily on turboprop aircraft for domestic connectivity, given their challenging geographies, ranging from Nepal's high-altitude mountain airfields to the Philippines' extensive archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.

APS Asia Pacific managing director Fergus Lopez said airlines in Nepal and the Philippines previously had to send their propellers to North America or Europe for repair and overhaul.

By keeping the work within the region at the Malaysian facility, he said turnaround times are shortened, logistics are streamlined and aircraft availability is improved.

"The certifications from the CAAP and CAAN are significant, because these two countries have a large installed fleet of ATR aircraft and several operators.

"Combined with our AS9100 certification, these regulatory validations reinforce APS Malaysia as a trusted regional hub for propeller and component MRO," Lopez said.