Dornier Technology gets US FAA certification

Clark-based Dornier Technology, which is headed by Nikos Gitsis, has been officially certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) as a foreign repair station, authorized to perform heavy maintenance on the Airbus A320 aircraft family.

- MARIANNE GO

Dornier Technology is now approved by the US FAA to carry out scheduled preventive maintenance, major repairs and alterations and heavy airframe maintenance up to D-Check (12-year check) on the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321.

This includes both CEO and NEO variants, powered by CFM International CFM56, International Aero Engines V2500 and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.

The US FAA certification gives Dornier Technology a strategic edge over its foreign competitors currently servicing local airlines such as the Tan family-owned Philippine flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and the Gokongwei family-owned low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air.

PAL outsources its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to various external providers — specifically Lufthansa Technik and the HAECO Group, as well as to other specialized service providers for specialized components such as landing gear from Safran Landing Systems and a few others.

Lufthansa Technik is a joint venture between PAL’s affiliate MacroAsia Corp. and the Lufthansa Group of Germany.

Lufthansa Technik likewise provides MRO services to low-cost carrier CebuPac. The Gokongwei-led LCC also has a long-term agreement with Lufthansa Technik for the management of CebuPac’s integrated supply of consumables and expendables (C&E) for its aircraft fleet covering A320, A321CEO and NEO, and A330NEO aircraft.

In a statement, Gitsis, chief executive officer of Dornier Technology, said, “We secured the certification following a thorough audit by US FAA officials who visited our facilities.”