Uzbekistan Airways Technics adds the B737 to its MRO menu

Until now, Uzbekistan Airways Technics has been focusing only on aircraft types operated by its airline: Boeing 757/767/787s and Airbus A320s (Uzbekistan Airways Technics)

Uzbekistan Airways Technics (UAT), the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) arm of Uzbekistan’s national carrier, has announced plans to add the Boeing 737, both Classic and NG versions, to its capability list, making it the first type not operated by its parent airline.

“After researching the aviation market in Eurasia, we came to the conclusion that the Boeing 737 is one of the commonest aircraft types today. So with the aim to satisfy the increasing demand for MRO services, and to attract foreign customers, we have made the decision to build up our capabilities to start offering maintenance services for the Boeing 737CL/NG,” UAT explained to Russian Aviation Insider.

Lithuania-based FL Technics Training has been selected as the training provider for UAT’s 17 technicians and engineers, who will start their new training courses later this month. “The target is to service the first Boeing 737 in the first quarter of 2019. So all there’s left to do is obtain the respective approval after training – and purchase the necessary equipment,” UAT commented.

Until now, UAT has been focusing only on aircraft types operated by its airline: Boeing 757/767/787s and Airbus A320s.

The Tashkent-based maintenance provider has customers in Kazakhstan (SCAT Airlines), Tajikistan (Tajik Air) and other countries. Russia’s VIM Airlines opted for its services before it left the market.

The cooperation with Tajik Air, which started in 2016, has been particularly intensive. One of the airline’s Boeing 757-200s is currently undergoing maintenance at Tashkent, and another aircraft is scheduled to arrive before the end of this year. In January, UAT performed a C-check on Tajik Air’s Boeing 767.

Uzbekistan Airways Technics is also targeting potential customers in Turkmenistan and Russia.