Asia Digital Engineering Eyes U.S. Market With FAA Approval In Sight - CEO Mahesh

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram & Mikhail Raj Abdullah

SEPANG, Dec 4 (Bernama) – Capital A's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) arm, Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), aims to expand its international footprint with plans to service American airlines in the near future, pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval.

It has already received the green light to service European airlines and is firmly entrenched in eight regional markets including its biggest market in Malaysia servicing commercial aircraft belonging to its sister company AirAsia.

ADE chief executive officer Mahesh Kumar said the auditing process is currently underway as part of the necessary steps to meet FAA's requirements.

The move underscores ADE's commitment to expanding its international footprint and enhancing its capabilities in the competitive MRO market, he told Bernama recently.

Adding to its list of international and regional clients, ADE recently obtained Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority’s approved maintenance organisation (AMO) certification, which allows the company to expand its footprint there.

Besides Vietnam, ADE now holds AMO certifications in eight countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar.

“With approvals from various countries in ASEAN, we could now service airlines throughout the region, giving them the confidence that our services meet high safety and quality standards,” he said.

Another feather in ADE’s cap, it also obtained the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 maintenance organisation approval last year and is looking to service European airlines soon.

“The distance is not an issue in the MRO industry as long as we can provide the right pricing, the shortest turnaround time with good quality, safety and airworthiness are good.

“Therefore, I don't see any issues with bringing airlines from Europe or the United States over here,” Mahesh said.

With its diversifying domestic, regional and international clientele, he said he was optimistic about the company's outlook for the coming year, backed also by its cutting-edge services and unwavering commitment to quality and turnaround time, all of which will drive continued growth.

Outlook for MRO industry and ADE’s future growth

Overall, given the brisk expansion of the aviation industry, he said the outlook is bright for the MRO industry especially with demand for aircraft maintenance services continuing to surpass supply.

“There is no MRO company that is lacking business, or short of business unless there are other issues,” he said.

An advantage ADE has is that the aviation industry and MRO operations are not directly proportional, which means even if an aircraft does not fly, it still needs to be serviced in the same way as a car.

Pointing to the demand in the industry, he said ADE has completed its 100th C-check in just two and a half years, setting a record since it was established in September 2020.

Recognised as heavy checks involving maintenance procedures for critical aircraft components and systems, a C-check is a comprehensive maintenance inspection that ensures the airworthiness and safety of an aircraft and demands extensive tooling, test equipment, and special skill levels.

“We are now almost reaching 200 C-checks soon,” he said.

He said ADE is focusing on growing its regional presence in the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand and servicing more non-AirAsia planes.

Founded in September 2020, ADE offers a range of aircraft services focused on the Airbus A320, A321, A330 and Boeing 737 family for engineering maintenance services, component and warehouse services, and engineering support services.

– BERNAMA