New US completitons partnership aiming at Mid East business

M&D Aviation of central Florida hasteamed up with Avocet Aviation Services, to offer turn-key interior completions for Airbus and Boeing VIP customers. Backlogs from both OEM’s have created opportunities in the completions arena for a new player, the company said.

“Marketing data indicate that there is an increased demand for airline class VIP aircraft conversions over the last few years. Most centres are at capacity and M&D Aviation provides customers a tactical option”, said chief executive Doyle Sisson, “Even in the current market environment, the near term future for VIP airliners has never been stronger”.

Located at the Orlando-Sanford International Airport, M&D selected this region for its easy access to European and Middle East clients. “We selected this airport for its growth potential and the region for its manufacturing and maintenance base” said M&D’s COO, Mike Plavchan.  The new 56,000 square foot hangar can easily house twin aisle Boeings for completion and maintenance. M&D and Avocet are poised to expand to an additional, larger hangar facility later this year.

 
The company is already in final negotiations for its first contract to convert two 737-800’s from airliner configuration into VIP beginning this year. “We’re very excited about these new projects to get our operation off to an excellent start” said Sisson, “our goal will be to execute a few of these programs per year”. The first aircraft is scheduled to arrive in April 2011 with the second coming in spring of 2012. “We have employed experienced managerial staff and senior engineers with a primary focus on customer service to provide M&D Aviation a tactical advantage over our competition” adds Dr. Sisson, “by doing so we can exceed our customer’s expectations on quality and delivery as promised”.

 
Partnering with Avocet Aviation who will provide the MRO services was a key ingredient to jump starting M&D. “We are very excited to be a part of the VIP completion business with M&D” said Patrick Arellano, Jr. Director of Aircraft Technical Services, “we have been in the maintenance and teardown of airliners for some time and this is a natural progression of growth for us”. An FAA repair station, Avocet is also an accredited Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA). “M&D dove-tails into Avocets’ areas of expertise nicely” said Plavchan “they will provide the necessary maintenance and conversion resources that our projects will require.”