Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Technics adds more types to its service roster

Silk Way Technics improved its operational performance by 27 per cent in 2019 (Nina Padalko)

Azerbaijani aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider Silk Way Technics, which is part of the private Silk Way holding, has won approvals both from the Azeri national authorities and from EASA to provide Boeing 737NG and B737 MAX maintenance services. Prior to this achievement, the company’s technical and engineering personnel successfully underwent extensive training, while the facilities were properly equipped with all the necessary tools and materials.

Simultaneously, Silk Way Technics, the Caucasus country’s largest technical aircraft specialist, has also secured approval from Azerbaijan’s aviation authorities for the maintenance of the Airbus A320neo type.

Notably, neither the NG/MAX, nor the neo B737 derivatives are currently in service with any carrier in Azerbaijan. The new types are being added to the organisation’s existing capabilities for line and base maintenance of the Boeing 747-400, the B747-8/9/10 range, the B757-200, the B767-300 and the B787, as well as the Airbus A319/A320/A321 and the А340-500/600 and also Embraer E170/E190s, the Gulfstream G200/G280/G450/G550/G650 range and the ATR 42, as well as their components.

Last year Silk Way Technics improved its year-on-year operational performance by 27 per cent, reaching a total of 263,000 man-hours. The company fully covers all the fleet maintenance requirements of the country’s state-owned AZAL flag carrier and its low-cost division Buta Airways. Also in 2019, it won contracts from Pegasus (Turkey), Kuwait Airways, Utair (Russia) and Belavia (Belarus) for line maintenance at Baku’s Heydar Aliyev airport.

Meanwhile, the company has revealed to Russian Aviation Insider that this year it is modernising the Universal Tail Dock docking system at its hangar, with the upgraded facility expected to become operational in July expanding the company’s capacities for Boeing 747-400/8, B787-8/9 and Airbus A340-200/300 wide-bodies.

Silk Way Technics’ technical personnel have recently received additional training for the GE90-powered Boeing 777, of which AZAL operates one unit, in VIP configuration. The approval for the type is underway.

Plans for this year also include several C-Checks on Boeing 747-400/8, and launching a new facility for brakes repairs and for cargo loading systems maintenance for all aircraft types.

The prospects and challenges facing Russia’s and CIS’ MRO industry will be discussed and thoroughly explored at the MRO Russia & CIS 2020 conference and exhibition, the 15th iteration of the largest annual event in Eastern Europe and Central Asia that is focused solely on covering the crucial issues of the fast-developing and restructuring MRO services for the region’s air transport industry