Aero Contractors is accelerating its MRO expansion with new safety equipment, electric ground-support systems and aircraft-handling technology. The investment supports its ambition to attract more airline customers and prepare its Lagos facility for wider maintenance requirements.
Captain Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, said the company had invested millions of dollars in equipment and tooling for its MRO. He also disclosed plans to increase its maintenance capabilities, pursue Embraer service-centre status and strengthen technical training. The developments form part of the airline’s strategy to grow its maintenance, repair and overhaul business beyond its own fleet.
Already, according to Sanusi, the company’s MRO facility had performed maintenance for airlines in Spain and Tajikistan, while also serving operators across West and Central Africa. He identified Royal Air Maroc as a current customer receiving substantial maintenance services and cited previous work for operators in Senegal, Mali, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo
MRO expansion targets Embraer service-centre status
Sanusi said Aero Contractors intended to increase its approved maintenance capabilities and develop the expertise required to repair Embraer aircraft. The planned service-centre capability would complement its existing maintenance operations and help attract additional third-party customers.
“We intend to increase our capability list for the MRO,” Sanusi said. He explained that the company was acquiring equipment and tooling to support the expansion. He also disclosed plans to enhance the airline’s training capabilities through a new training facility.
Engineer James Ominyi, Head of Aero MRO, explained how the new equipment would improve safety, protect aircraft components and support maintenance operations while boosting its MRO expansion. He said the business was preparing to serve customers beyond Aero Contractors’ own fleet.
Electronic tool cabinets strengthen maintenance safety
Among the acquisitions are two electronic tool-control cabinets designed to prevent tools from going missing during aircraft maintenance. Personnel must swipe a keycard to access the cabinets, while the system identifies individuals responsible for tools that have not been returned.
Ominyi explained that conventional toolboxes could make missing equipment difficult to identify. A forgotten tool could obstruct an aircraft’s mechanical movement and create a serious safety hazard. The new cabinets improve accountability by helping engineers track tools and identify missing items before releasing an aircraft.
FOD sweeper targets costly engine damage
Aero Contractors has also acquired a foreign object debris (FOD) sweeper to remove pebbles, gravel and other loose objects from aircraft operating areas. Ominyi said debris could cause damage costing between $1.5 million and $2 million to a Boeing 737 Classic engine.
“We cannot control bird strike, but at least we can control FODs,” he explained.
The airline has also acquired an industrial scrubber to keep its hangars clean.
Electric equipment reduces diesel dependence
The new equipment includes 28-volt direct-current power units and frequency converters for aircraft requiring specific electrical supplies on the ground. Ominyi explained that the converters transform industrial electricity into the 115-volt, 400-hertz alternating current required by compatible aircraft.
Unlike conventional diesel-powered ground power units, the electric systems can supply the required power without running diesel engines. This removes associated diesel consumption and reduces routine engine maintenance, including oil and filter changes.
Aero Contractors has also acquired hybrid ground air-conditioning equipment. The unit can operate on electricity or diesel to supply conditioned air to aircraft cabins when onboard auxiliary power is unavailable.
Aircraft-handling equipment supports wider customers
The MRO expansion also includes scissor lifts for accessing elevated aircraft sections during maintenance. An electric aircraft-handling unit is intended to accommodate a range of aircraft sizes, supporting the company’s ambition to serve operators beyond its current fleet.
“The airline is my customer. I am their maintenance service provider,” Ominyi said, describing the MRO operation’s relationship with Aero Contractors’ airline business.
The company has previously outlined plans to expand its hangar and workshop capabilities, strengthen heavy maintenance and develop a maintenance hub serving West and Central Africa. The proposed Embraer service-centre capability would represent another step in that strategy.
