Carts that carry parts are lined up in Enhance Aero’s hangar at Clermont-Ferrand airport.
Commercial
Enhance Aero:
Growth Through
Diversity
This young French company is bucking a trend by expanding instead of making
downward adjustments in response to a sagging economy.
BY THIERRY DUBOIS
E
nhance Aero, a two-year- First Came Consulting Ukraine’s third largest city, the air-
old firm based in Clermont- The two partners first created Enhance line operates 11 Embraer ERJ 145s,
Ferrand, in central France, Aero Consulting, which provides audit six Boeing 737s and one 767. Fleet
is growing fast toward a targeted and training services. Its first contract expansion is considered.
60-strong workforce, apparently was with Michelin Air Services, the “We have mechanics, electricians
managing to value, in many ways, flight department of the Clermont- and pilots working with them,” says
its founders’ expertise. It is bucking Ferrand-based tire manufacturer. Marchat. In addition to auditing,
the trend in a down economy, thanks Enhance Aero Consulting provided Enhance Aero does line maintenance
notably to its diversity by having Michelin Air Services with a Part M for Dniproavia. The operator eventu-
three distinct businesses in consult- audit for the European Aviation Safety ally aims at getting an EASA Part
ing, maintenance and engineering. Agency’s (EASA’s) new rule for keeping 145 approval.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Bruno fielded aircraft airworthy. In December 2007 Léchevin
Léchevin also looks rewarded as This division of the firm employs and Marchat set up Enhance Aero
a stubbornly determined entrepre- just two people—Léchevin and Maintenance, which is Part 145
neur, having failed to create a main- Marchat. “We supply assistance in air- approved. It began modestly. “We
tenance company in 2001. line set-up or certification,” Marchat started our maintenance activity by
Enhance Aero began operating explains. For example, in Ukraine, providing line maintenance with little
early in 2007, when Léchevin and scheduled air operator Dniproavia hardware—much less than other com-
fellow student Sylvain Marchat, wants to meet EASA standards to panies believe is mandatory,” Marchat
both in their early 30s at the bolster future growth. Enhance Aero recalls. The customer airline supplied
time, decided to team up and cre- is assisting the company, in part, by some hardware, and some equipment
ate their own business. “We had establishing a culture that is more in was simply rented. Close to 50 employ-
been following master courses in line with Western standards. “They ees, Enhance Aero Maintenance is
company management, after hav- now have the understanding of west- now the largest division.
ing worked years in the field,” ern maintenance philosophy and “In short, the distinction between
Marchat, now first deputy, told technology, optimizing aircraft avail- our consulting and maintenance divi-
Aviation Maintenance during a visit ability and improving its reliability,” sion is the same as between theory
to the company’s still humble head- says Léchevin. and practice,” Marchat summarizes.
quarters in Clermont-Ferrand. Based in Dnipropetrovsk, Enhance Aero Maintenance employs
38 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | Oct/Nov2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56