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FAA Recognition Likely a Boon

Ruth Gutierrez - ASENSA
General Manager
Home > Aerospace > View from the Top

FAA Recognition Likely a Boon

Carlos Diez - ASENSA
Director General
Carlos Diez

STORY INLINE POST

Thu, 12/01/2016 - 17:12

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Q: How is Monterrey consolidating as the country’s center of private aviation and what role is ASENSA playing?

RG: The city’s competitiveness and ready access to airplane parts is its primary characteristic and attracts people from all over Mexico. From our side, the company’s accessible prices are complemented by our quality maintenance services. The Del Norte International Airport (ADN) also offers its customers accessibility and quality customer service. ADN is a private airport so it operates independently from OMA or ASA. ADN is becoming one of the most important airports for executive aviation following a substantial growth in the number of hangars since 2008.

Q: What role is competition playing in shaping ASENSA’s outlook?

CD: Competition has meant that companies must stand out with quality service and personalized attention. ASENSA is one of the few avionics workshops in the country and an authorized maintenance and distribution center for Garmin, Genesys and Aspen Avionics among others.

RG: Our main business is airplane maintenance, especially MRO services for private and executive airplanes. Training our employees is crucial for this area because despite managing a small number of airplanes we are one of the few enterprises that work by the book. We are strict because we know the risks of an imperfect plane in the air. We recently acquired the FAA Repair Station certification, for which we changed our manuals and procedures to adapt to FAA standards. This certification will allow us to offer maintenance services to American airplanes.

Q: What are the main challenges that private aviation is facing at the moment?

CD: One major challenge is the expensive dollar. When the dollar rises clients fly less and any modification or plans they had to replace aircraft parts are delayed. Unfortunately, private aviation in Mexico is still more expensive than in the US. Another difficulty that private aviation faces is the regulatory system. ADN does not depend on any airport operator group and therefore we do not have to pay the 15 to 20 percent fee on total billing that MROs in other airports pay. This fee, paid to the host airport, contributes to an increase in aviation prices and hurts the industry. To counteract this cost many airlines try to make up for the expenses generated by airports and the government by reducing their maintenance budget.

RG: The existing regulations in Mexico have also led to people buying fewer airplanes with Mexican registration. This is due to maintenance tending to be more expensive. In the US, certain inspections are recommended while in Mexico, they are mandatory and the DGAC can apply fines if regulations are not observed. For instance, plane manufacturers in the US recommend owners change the engine every 12 years, whereas this is obligatory in Mexico. The aviation rules we abide by are very general and primarily designed for large commercial airlines, making aviation expensive for small airplanes, something we have discussed with the Mexican Aircraft Owners and Pilots Federation (FEMPPA).

Q: What are ASENSA’s expectations for its operations in Mexico?

RG: We have many clients based in the center of the country. Flying to Monterrey for maintenance can be expensive so they tend to do so only for their annual servicing. Adding locations will definitely be part of our expansion plan.

CD: We have planned an expansion in the long term to meet Mexico’s need for quality workshops and to focus on our MRO becoming one of the best in Mexico, building on ASENSA’s existing national recognition. We also hope to end the year with the FAA certification to fly and provide maintenance to American planes, which will be an excellent opportunity. An advertising campaign to be launched in cities in the south of the US will attract new customers because our services match the quality of services in the US. Our goal is to show Mexican pilots that Monterrey can offer even better services than those they receive in the US.

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