Freighter Trends – The Maintenance Implications of Aging Fleets and OEM Delays
In the June 2025 issue of Freighter Trends, our Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Pascal Parant, discusses the ageing fleet implications for global maintenance demand amid OEM delivery delays.
Parant comments on the factors that are currently driving demand, “We are experiencing a perfect storm. Since 2019, approximately 2,000 aircraft that were expected to be produced have not been delivered. In some ways, this is a positive outcome – had they been produced we would now be facing issues related to over capacity.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of Freighter Trends.
Freighter Trends – Engine Leasing & Trading Amid Supply Chain Strains and Diverging MRO Strategies
In the June 2025 issue of Freighter Trends, our Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Pascal Parant, discusses the current trends in Engine Leasing & Trading amid supply-chain strains and diverging MRO strategies.
Parant comments on the engine leasing market’s performance over the past 12 months, “It’s been like a casino. Green time has been heavily utilised, and now we’re reaching the limits.
“Some airlines are even leasing entire aircraft just to access their engines, as this remains a more cost-effective solution than leasing spare engines alone.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of Freighter Trends.
Aircraft Academy Receives EASA Part 66 Approval for Aircraft Maintenance Training and Examinations
Le Bourget, Paris, France – 16th June 2025: Aircraft Academy, a Vallair Group company and a leading provider of aviation training solutions, is proud to announce that it has received formal approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to offer EASA Part 66 training and examinations. This prestigious certification enables Aircraft Academy, which is already a Part-147 training facility, to deliver comprehensive training and assessment services for aircraft maintenance engineers across multiple categories.
The EASA Part 66 certification is an internationally recognised standard that ensures the highest levels of competence and compliance for licensed aircraft maintenance engineers. With this approval, Aircraft Academy can now provide theoretical and practical training, as well as conduct approved examinations in accordance with EASA’s rigorous standards.
“We are delighted to announce that we have achieved this important milestone at the Paris Air Show 2025,” said Armel Jezequel, CEO of Aircraft Academy. “This approval not only validates the quality and integrity of our training programmes, but it also enables us to contribute directly to the development of highly skilled professionals within the global aviation maintenance community.”
“Under Part 66 our training will include categories such Category B1 (Mechanical), and Category B2 (Avionics), among others. The training programmes are designed to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry and support both aspiring and current engineers in attaining their professional goals,” Jezequel adds. “We are experiencing huge demand from all over the world for aircraft mechanic training. Students from as far away as the Philippines and India are joining their European colleagues of all ages to attain qualifications or upskill to new aircraft/engine types.
“It makes sense to talk to Aircraft Academy because we can offer the full package – from initial training, to aircraft type modules, plus real EASA accredited Part 145 on-the job training. We are especially fortunate, being part of the Vallair Group, to be able provide practical training experience on-site at Vallair’s MRO hangars in Châteauroux and Montpellier in France – this is a huge benefit.”
Adding the Part 66 approval reflects Aircraft Academy’s ongoing commitment to quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in aviation education. As demand for qualified maintenance engineers continues to grow worldwide, this new capability underpins Aircraft Academy’s ambitions to build a reputation for excellence within the aviation training sector.
Visit Aircraft Academy at the Paris Air Show 2025: Hall 2b, G93
Aircraft Academy provides EASA Part-147 and Part 66 Maintenance Training Programmes (Theoretical & Practical) for aircraft technicians and engineers. With our EASA Part-147 Approved Training Centre, and EASA Part-145 Approved Maintenance Facilities at Vallair’s commercial MRO stations in Châteauroux and Montpellier in France. www.aircraft-academy.com
AviTrader MRO 360°- Aircraft Disassembly and Used Serviceable Materials
In the April issue of AviTrader MRO 360°, our Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Pascal Parant, discusses the current trends and challenges in the MRO supply chain. An in-depth discussion into the disassembly process.
Parant comments, “Storing and maintaining an aircraft with the hope it will fly again comes with a cost. This can sometimes be offset by depreciation strategies beneficial to lessors or airlines. But if you’re sitting on full maintenance reserves, the calculation becomes straightforward: sell the aircraft, cash in quickly, and let the USM specialists like Vallair handle the asset.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of AviTrader.
Freighter Trends – Narrowbody Freighter Conversion Outlook
In the March issue of Freighter Trends, our Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Pascal Parant, offers an outlook on the narrowbody freighter conversion sector.
Parant comments, “The A321 freighter fleet is expanding, but Vallair has recently noticed an operator returning a significant portion of its fleet due to a lack of market demand. While there are conversion slots available, the number of suitable aircraft is limited.
“Passenger demand remains so high that it is often more profitable to extend leases, or transition aircraft to another passenger airline, rather than convert them to freighters. The market isn’t quite there yet, but we know it’s only a matter of time.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of Freighter Trends.
Freighter Trends – Aircraft Disassembly
In the March issue of Freighter Trends, our Group Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, Pascal Parant, shares the trends that are driving the demand for aircraft disassembly and how the teardown process helps address the supply chain issues.
Parant comments, “Vallair observes that parts recovered from aircraft teardown almost always hold their value – especially those harvested from younger aircraft. It is logical for owners to seek to maximise the residual value of their assets, and they do this primarily by participating in the Used Serviceable Material (USM) market.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of Freighter Trends.
Turning surplus parts into cash, Armando Filho features in the September issue of AviTrader.
Director of Trading and Material Management, Armando Filho, features in the September issue of Avitrader sharing insight into how to effectively manage inventory.
For many businesses, inventory management can be critical to overall success. However, unlike MROs, demand for products can usually be easily managed and future demand accurately forecasted. Beyond that, inventory levels are not usually based on ‘worst-case scenarios’ and it is not usually a financial catastrophe if a part or product has to be put on back order with delivery due somewhere between two days and a week.
Armando Filho warns: “Companies need to consider OEM/supplier lead time, transit time, customs and other factors. If they don’t have the right tools to consolidate this information and control minimum/maximum stock and restocking levels, they are likely to experience shortages or excess inventory. While some deviations can be expected in any process these must be managed to minimise impact.”
Filho also advises on who would be best placed to sell surplus inventory “Airlines and MROs may not have an experienced team to manage such sales. If this is the case, it is better to have a consignment agreement with a specialist organisation like Vallair to manage such sales for you. This approach avoids diverting your team from their primary responsibilities for something that is already causing storage costs, instead of wasting time and money trying to manage the surplus inventory yourself. A specialist can manage the process on your behalf in a professional way.”
To read the full article, click here.
Article courtesy of AviTrader.