KUALA LUMPUR: KarbonMRO Services Sdn Bhd aims to boost the talent pool in the aircraft maintenance space, given the promising career path in the aviation sector.

Its managing director, Kevin Teoh, said as the company builds up the talent pool, it is also providing them with opportunities in the aviation industry.

Teoh, who has more than two decades of experience in aircraft maintenance, wants the younger generation to have a good career progression in the field.

He said the company plans to build its capability in the next three years and ensure the workforce deliver quality maintenance, including collaborations with technical and vocational education and training institutions.

Teoh also said KarbonMRO aims to boost its workforce to 150 people in the next five years from the current 30 to meet the growing demand of the maintenance, repair and overhaul

(MRO) business.

"By setting up our own MRO facility, both for the airframe and engine shop, we create jobs for those who have attended our training programmes.

"At the same time, the hangar and engine shop can be used as platforms for on-the-job training and apprenticeships."

Teoh said the engine shop, focusing on the CFM56 series of engines, has been fully operational since July, while the hangar is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of next year.

KarbonMRO is a joint-venture company established by Marubeni Corporation and Dviation Group last year.

Based at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, or better known as Subang Airport, the company is now certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and is in the process of attaining other internationally recognised certifications.

The company focuses on narrow body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 series and the Boeing 737 series.

Teoh also said KarbonMRO aspires to be the first independently approved asset life-cycle solutions provider in Malaysia, providing services from entry-into-service right up to end-of-life.

"As the stockpile of older generation aircraft continues to build up, it is a timely opportunity for us to venture into this space.

"Right now, we are extending our hangar by 20m to accommodate two narrowbody planes and install hangar doors, which will allow us to comply with EASA requirements."

On sustainability, he said as the industry is committed to the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce carbon emissions, KarbonMRO is looking at aircraft and engine teardown business opportunities. 

"Unlike airlines which can use sustainable aviation fuels, we are not in a position to directly contribute to carbon emission reductions yet, but there are other avenues we can explore.

"On the maintenance front, we can do things like aircraft teardowns, recycling and repurposing. Today, up to 92 per cent of aircraft weight can be recycled, so by offering these services, we can effectively play our part in contributing to sustainability goals," he added.

KarbonMRO was one of the exhibitors at the Selangor Aviation Show (SAS 2024) held recently at the Skypark Regional Aviation Centre in Bukit Jelutong on Sept 12 to 14.

SAS is a regional networking platform for industry players showcasing the future of aviation.

At the event, SAS has achieved the RM1.3 billion potential transaction value target set by the state government.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2024/10/1113706/karbonmro-seeks-widen-aircraft-maintenance-talent-pool