Month: November 2025

In the November issue of AviTrader MRO360°, Pascal Parant, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at Vallair, offered insights into the economics of C- and D- checks.

Speaking to David Dundas, Parant explains that the main cost drivers of these heavy checks are highly skilled labour and hangar fees, which MRO providers must charge in order to offset any zero-stress waiting periods on aircraft.

He also offers advice on keeping costs under control for operators. “Securing the right slot at the right time is essential,” he says. Much like airlines, MRO prices are higher during peak seasons, so operators who can schedule schedule heavy checks during traditionally quieter periods usually obtain better pricing”.

Additionally, Parant reveals “manpower is critical to success,” citing estimates which suggest 700,000 new maintenance technicians will be needed globally over the next 10-15 years. He highlights Vallair’s dedication to training the next generation of mechanics through its training platform, Aircraft Academy.

On the integration of AI, digital checks, and paperless documentation, Parant supplies succinct insight: “These technologies increase speed and improve efficiency. However, implementation costs are significant, and not all MROs can transition immediately.”

Lastly, Parant shares what he would introduce into the heavy maintenance check process. “I would create a full-airframe scanner capable of identifying corrosion, structural issues, and impact repairs months before the check, allowing optimal planning and provisioning. I would also deploy robotic support units to assist technicians.”

To read the full article, click here.

Article courtesy of AviTrader.

Montpellier, France, 18th November 2025: Vallair, a leading aviation asset lifecycle support company and MRO support specialist, is pleased to announce the on-time redelivery of the first of two Airbus A320 aircraft undergoing scheduled C-Checks for Air Corsica. This milestone marks a continuation of the long-standing cooperation between the two companies, which has been built upon consistent operational performance.

Vallair is committed to supporting Air Corsica with reliable base maintenance solutions, ensuring efficiency, safety, and operational continuity for the airline’s fleet.

Gilles Fossecave, CEO of Vallair MRO at the organisation’s facility in Montpellier, France, stated: “We are proud to support Air Corsica’s fleet with high-quality maintenance services. Our partnership moves forward seamlessly as we now welcome the second aircraft for its planned heavy maintenance visit. Our team is inspired by the confidence that Air Corsica continues to place in us as we strive to be their trusted ‘go-to’ MRO provider whilst the airline expands its operations.”

Jean-Luc Moine, Technical Director of Air Corsica, added: “We know Vallair well and have extensive experience working with their helpful and friendly teams. We are completely satisfied with the quality of the work performed and with the punctuality of this first redelivery.”

Created in 1989 by the Corsican Assembly to give the island control of its air transport, Air Corsica has a primary Public Service mission on twelve existing routes between the four Corsican airports (Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari) and Marseille, Nice and Paris-Orly. This year the airline announced a stronger operational focus to widen its route network across popular tourist destinations through the Mediterranean region. With a fleet of 14 aeroplanes (4 Airbus A320 Neos with 186 seats, 3 A320 Ceos with 180 seats and 7 ATR72-600s with 72 seats), Air Corsica currently serves 17 different airports with 35 annual or seasonal routes while carrying 2.3 million passengers yearly.

Châteauroux, France, 17th November 2025: Vallair, a leading aviation asset lifecycle support company, and AeroX, a specialist in advanced in-flight connectivity solutions, are proud to announce the signing of a strategic alliance enabling the fast and efficient installation of Starlink satellite communication systems across commercial aircraft fleets.  With Starlink, passengers will have access to high-speed internet anywhere in the world, even in areas without coverage.

Under this agreement, Vallair will allocate dedicated night-shift modification capacity at its state-of-the-art maintenance centre in Châteauroux (France), enabling the rapid installation and integration of Starlink antenna systems on both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft operated by AeroX’s customers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This approach ensures airlines can upgrade connectivity offerings without disrupting scheduled operations.

Grégoire Lebigot, CEO & Founder of Vallair, commented, “We are honoured to contribute to this digital revolution in commercial aviation and to support the rapid deployment of this outstanding connectivity system for the benefit of AeroX’s customers. Beyond the installation programme, Vallair can also provide full base maintenance services, allowing operators to combine cabin connectivity upgrades with scheduled checks in our flagship hangar.”

Aaron Grigsby, Chief Executive of AeroX, stated, “We are extremely happy to provide our customers with a fast, reliable and centralised modification solution in an ultra-modern facility in the heart of Europe. Partnering with Vallair allows airlines to adopt Starlink connectivity with minimal downtime and maximum operational efficiency.

The alliance strengthens both companies’ commitment to enhancing the passenger experience (which includes streaming entertainment platforms, online gaming, and cloud-based work), and supporting the next generation of real-time operational data, crew communication, and EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) performance reliability.