Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has sealed a trio of maintenance deals with airlines for its ERJ-145 regional jet.
The OEM announced at MRO Europe it had signed agreements with Nigeria’s Air Peace, Trans States Airlines of the US and Western Air of the Bahamas. The signing with Air Peace was for a multi-year pool programme agreement for spare parts and support covering more than 250 components for the carriers six ERJ-145 jets.
Based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, the airline provides passenger and charter services and serves the major cities of Nigeria, the African west coast, and plans to launch international operations soon. The contract involves access to a large and reliable stock inventory of more than 150 different parts under the Embraer Parts Exchange Programme (EPEP+), which provides part availability in far less time than usual, avoiding Aircraft on Ground situations and delays due to lack of specific parts.
The component solution programme is part of a suite of services Embraer offers through its TechCare platform. “We are humbled to have Air Peace as our customer in Africa, further reinforcing Embraer’s commitment to customers in the region with TechCare portfolio of solutions. Embraer’s Pool Programme leverages increased competitiveness providing repairable solutions through reduced lead times and costs,” said John Linn, Embraer vice-resident customer relationship management, Commercial Aviation.
“The Pool and EPEP+ Programmes are a natural fit and the best options as they offer sensible, cost-effective and practical parts solution to our business, guaranteeing efficiency and competitive results,” said Air Peace chief operating officer, Oluwatoyin Olajide.
The Trans States Airlines contract, meanwhile, will see them implement the Embraer Collaborative Inventory Planning (ECIP) programme, a supply chain solution for expendable parts. Under the agreement, Embraer will assume the planning and guaranteed replenishment of a portion of the airline’s spare parts stock for its fleet of ERJ-145s. ECIP is also part of Embraer’s TechCare platform.
“The ECIP programme is a natural fit for Trans States Airlines as it will optimise our inventory and increase the availability of spare parts for our fleet of ERJ-145 aircraft with, at the same time, the security of being able to count on the support of the OEM with a competitive value,” said Brian Randow, Trans States Airlines’ chief operating officer.
At MRO Europe, Embraer also confirmed the signing of a Flight Hour Pool Programme agreement with Western Air to provide repairable component support for the carrier’s fleet of ERJ-145s. Western recently bought three of the aircraft from Embraer, and plans to purchase additional aircraft by the end of this year.
The multi-year programme for the carrier’s fleet of ERJs includes material services engineering and advanced component exchanges from Embraer’s spare parts warehouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“We are looking forward to working with Embraer as we transition into our new fleet of ERJ-145s. The support of the Pool Programme will be instrumental in the upkeep of our daily operations,” said Rexy Rolle, vice-president of operations and General Counsel at Western Air.
The privately owned airline operates daily scheduled flights between Nassau, Bimini, Congo Town, Exuma, Freeport, Marsh Harbor and San Andros, as well as on-demand flights throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.
