TAM MRO offers maintenance for Embraer aircraft

TAM MRO, a business unit of TAM Airlines, has completed its first inspection checks on the Embraer 170/190, also known as E- Jets. The E-jets are suitable for medium density routes and are often used in point-to-point routes and for regional flights. Currently, more than 60 airlines around the world operate the Embraer 170/190 family. “It is our debut in a booming market for Latin America,” explains Luiz Gustavo Silva, CEO of TAM MRO. “While the growth of commercial aircraft fleets in Latin America is estimated 3.9% per annum, the growth outlook for E-Jets is 9%.” The market potential for servicing these aircraft could be worth more than $150 million per year, with customers in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and the Caribbean. In July 2012, TAM MRO was certified by ANAC (the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency) to work on the Embraer 170/190. Among the many services are authorised checks, and replacement of engines and landing gear. To become able to offer these services, TAM MRO sent engineers and mechanics to São José dos Campos, Embraer ’s headquarters and main aircraft assembly plant, to receive from the manufacturer the required training and to purchase the materials and special tools needed to perform the services in the TAM MRO hangars in San Carlos, São Paulo. "We already performed maintenance on the components of the E-Jets and now we enter the market of aircraft maintenance, which puts us in a position to take advantage of a new market, offering the competitiveness of price and quality of maintenance services that TAM MRO is globally known for. We have completed the checks on a second aircraft and are now negotiating other contracts.The next step is to obtain the full certification as an EASC – Embraer Authorised Service Centre, " adds Silva.