AN INSIGHT INTO THE AVIATION MRO MARKET
EME
According to statistics from international consultancy firm Oliver Wyman, the global in-service commercial airline fleet is forecast to grow from nearly 25,000 aircraft to 35,000 by 2027.
With this in mind, the MRO industry will have to change substantially over the next decade to meet evolving demands that are being driven by a range of factors including growth, geographic shifts, fleet mix trends and new technologies.
With the average retirement age of commercial aircraft remaining at just 18 years, rising withdrawal numbers are expected to fuel the growing used serviceable material market – a market that has substantial potential in regard to reducing material costs for airlines and MRO players.
OEMS are also expected to increase their share of the aftermarket by pursuing revitalised strategies, many of which have already proved to be successful.
Alongside this, new generation aircraft (built after the turn of the millennium) readily provide improved operating costs and new technologies that have required, and will continue to require, substantial investment. This includes new construction materials such as carbon fibre composites, hybrid alloys, special coatings and new data collection measurement tools designed to provide advanced prognostication capabilities.
The major barrier within this is that many systems are not yet proven but still require substantial investment. cost cutting initiatives. However, the different elements of smart cost management often vary from one company to the next, something that has led BSB to its case-by-case approach.
“In simple terms, BSB Aviation’s key purpose is to serve its customers by catering to their bespoke needs,” states Rubi. “In many ways we make things difficult for ourselves. Our business is not carved in stone, and a large part of our model calls for flexibility on a daily basis.”
For Rubi, working in such a way is very much a delicate balancing act, ensuring that the company’s image and services remain relatively stable, whilst also adhering to the unique and ever-changing requests of its clientele.
“I must admit, it’s a tricky exercise,” he reveals. “In order to proactively avoid major issues, we encourage open space environments, cross-team brainstorming, problem solving and most importantly lateral thinking to avoid falling into traditional decision making.
“Ultimately, we’re working in a very innovative and evolutionary industry, so to keep pace it is crucial we work in equally innovative and evolutionary ways. In my view, in a rapidly developing industry, rapid process changes ensure competitiveness.”
Emphasising quality over quantity and focusing on achieving maximised customer satisfaction above all else, the company’s growth has remained an organic process, securing both new and repeat work off the back of its consistent results.
Compromise incorporated
Evidence of this approach can be found in one of BSB’S diversified business units, named BSB-TRONIX – a division that is tasked specifically with supplying aerospace OEM subcontractors with electronic and interconnection components.
Backed up by the firm’s ability to support a vast range of aircraft, including seven Airbus models, two ATR models, four Boeing models, seven Bombardier CRJ and Embraer models respectively, and four Airbus Helicopter models, BSB-TRONIX has equally excelled alongside the wider BSB Group on the global stage.
Whether it be wires, connectors, passive components or alike, BSB- TRONIX allows the company to operate both in the aftermarket and MRO phase, and directly within the manufacturing sphere.
“We supply the equipment manufacturers in one phase, and the end users in another,” adds Rubi. “Working at both ends of the spectrum, we frequently supply the manufacturers before the aircraft maiden flight, long before it enters our customers’ hangars, offering us a head start on aftermarket supply and product technical knowledge.”
Equally, following the introduction of Saudi Arabia’s new low-cost airline, Flyadeal, BSB Aviation has sought to offer an even wider range of low-cost aftermarket solutions, particularly emphasising cost efficiency and safety The company’s cabin, avionics and airframe products include:
Airbus & Boeing Standard consumables, Actuators, Bellows, Bolts, Circuit Breakers, Connectors, Emergency Equipment, Escutcheons, Extinguishers, Filters, Fittings, Lights, Gaskets, Hoses, Igniters, Insecticides, Insulation Blankets, Latches, Leather, Lenses, O-rings, Panels, Relays, Roller Shades, Screen Screws, Shades, Seat Belts, Sensors, Shields, Studs, Sensors Sunvisors, Tubing, Valves, Washers…
The company’s services include: • • •