Independent Russian aircraft MRO company VTS ramps up its business

Pobeda Airlines is now the biggest customer for the Moscow, Vnukovo-based VTS (Pobeda)

Vostok Technical Services (VTS), one of the few independent service providers in the Russian maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry, recorded a major increase in the number of maintenance checks it performed last year. At the on-going MRO Russia & CIS 2019 convention in Moscow the company shared its 2018 results and described its plans for the current year to Russian Aviation Insider.

Last year VTS invested in upgrading its section of the hangar at the premises of Moscow’s Vnukovo Aircraft Repair Plant, whilst incorporating the purchase of additional equipment, such as a new wheel assembly stand.

In 2018 VTS completed 13 C-checks (six more than in 2017), 53 A-checks (four more), 960 weekly-сhecks (301 more) and 6,800 daily-сhecks (1,899 more). In the year, the number of component repairs increased by 1,292, reaching 6,200. The company also reports improved labour productivity as, despite the increased number of completed operations, the number of man-hours employed declined by 1.1 per cent to 74,900.

Last year VTS added two new contracts with Russian freight airlines Aviastar-Tu and Erofey, both of which started operating Boeing 757-200 freighters. Nevertheless, Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda Airlines remains its biggest customer. Last year Boeing recognised Vnukovo-based Pobeda for its highest utilisation rate of the Boeing 737-800, and VTS is delighted to have contributed to the low-cost carrier’s success.

In general, VTS says it remains positive about future developments, although a shortage of qualified staff is becoming an issue for Russia’s entire MRO industry.