VEM WINS CONTRACT FOR HEAVY MAINTENANCE OF THAI AIRWAYS MD-11's

01 June 2003 10:24

VEM-Varig Engineering & Maintenance has just signed a contract with Thai Airways International, Thailand's flag airline company, member of Star Alliance, to perform heavy maintenance in two wide-body aircraft MD-11. The services will encompass a "D Check", replacement of all fuselage insulation blankets and the incorporation of several smaller modifications. VEM was selected in an international bid, in which participated the most expressive MRO companies in the world. In this process VEM had to bid against the low price of MRO providers in Asia and against high quality of European MRO companies. This was the first time VEM had participated on a bid on the competitive Asian aviation market, but due to its known quality, competitive price, short turnaround time and large experience with this aircraft model, VEM was awarded with the contract.

Revenue is estimated to surpass US$2 million for the two aircraft scheduled for June and July this year. It also opens the possibility for future business in that region. The overhaul and modification services will have to be performed in less than 30 days, a very tight TAT for this kind of work. VEM is one of the most experienced companies and is a reference center for this kind of aircraft. Up to now VEM has already performed more than 80 MD-11 overhauls and successfully performed more than 500 overhauls in wide-body type aircraft. VEM-Varig Engineering & Maintenance is one of the Top 10 MRO providers in the world, both in productive man-hours and in facilities size. VEM's industrial complex is comprised of two main maintenance centers, one located at Rio de Janeiro Int'l Airport (GIG), in which its hangar is the biggest in the Latin America, and the other facility at Porto Alegre Int'l Airport (southern Brazil). Those two industrial complexes perform overhauls on eight narrow-body aircraft, three wide-body and two regional jets, all simultaneously. Component overhaul shops, also located in both maintenance centers, are capable of overhauling around 10,000 different kinds of electronic, mechanic and hydraulic components, engines, landing gear, etc. The total VEM work force is around 4,500 technicians and engineers.

For more information on this company:
VEM - VARIG Engineering & Maintenance - Complete Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul