For complete write-ups please visit www.avm-mag.com Jerry Tarnacki Vice President Pratt & Whitney Services Commercial


In your opinion, what is the state of the aviation maintenance industry? Today’s aerospace industry is highly competitive. We see airlines continue to outsource engine maintenance, which has resulted in highly competitive MRO environment—there are more and more companies providing services operators previously did in-house. We see OEM providers focused on capturing maintenance within their network at the point of engine sale, with OEM support of the customer throughout the product life cycle being the new norm. We also see continued high fuel prices driving legacy fleet retirements while available financing for new aircraft is driving record new aircraft orders. In our case, Pratt & Whitney currently has more than 3,000 new PurePower engines on order. What were the biggest developments for your company in 2012? With UTC’s acquisition of Goodrich in 2012, we expect to start driving toward expanded maintenance service offerings to include joint engine, component and nacelle maintenance. PureSolution, the engine maintenance program for our PurePower engine, continues the trend towards greater flexibility and options for the customer. Today more than 70 percent of customers have chosen PureSolution with their PurePower engine purchases. Pratt & Whitney is increasingly focused on optimizing our customers’ maintenance budget. With our strong MRO network and experience, we work with customers to find better, more cost-effective solutions—including flexible maintenance agreements, customized workscope planning, material support programs, part repairs and lease engine support. The key word at Pratt & Whitney is value. We provide customer- focused value. Our priority is to save customers money and extend their time on wing by focusing on repairing parts rather than replacing with new ones when it’s the best option and developing new repairs to save customers money by repairing more and more parts that were considered scrap and replaced previously. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the MRO industry in the last several years? One of the biggest changes is the increased focus on driving down costs. Operators are increasingly outsourcing maintenance to achieve a lower cost structure. More part repair and increased use of serviceable material are reducing maintenance costs. New on-wing and hospital bay repairs have been developed to avoid costly shop visits. Next generation engine health monitoring tools are keeping engines on wing longer. Fuel savings practices such as EcoServices LLC’s EcoPower engine wash have helped airlines mitigate increasing fuel prices. Additionally, service providers are tailoring maintenance solutions to address each customer’s specific needs. What did your company do in 2012 to adapt to changes in the market?


As a matter of course, we collect and analyze customer feedback on every transaction. In 2012 we spent time working directly with our customers to further understand their specific needs...For more of Jerry Tarnacki’s answers go to www.avm-mag.com


Dan Komnenovich President and CEO Aviall Commercial


In your opinion, what is the state of the aviation maintenance industry? The aviation maintenance industry was impacted by the recession of 2008 and it has been recovering ever since. The business and general aviation segment, as well as regional airlines, and sales to military customers have seen some recovery in the past four years. The commercial airline business has been relatively strong across most product lines, but sales of certain legacy product lines, particularly to European customers, have been less predictable. Aviall continuously works to partner with our customers so that we can provide the support necessary to enable their growth and recovery. What were the biggest developments for your company in 2012? Aviall does not release earnings details, but we can say that we have added significant new product lines and programs to our portfolio year-over-year. Our ongoing commitment to inventory availability has ensured we remain a reliable source for aviation products around the globe. Last year, Aviall landed long-term distribution rights with several OEMs such as Rolls-Royce, CFMI, Pantheon, Columbus Jack, Sturtevant Richmont, and Ontic. What are the biggest changes you have seen in the MRO industry in the last several years? More companies are expecting e-commerce solutions and improved technology. Also, key supply chain functions such as forecasting, purchasing, warehousing and fulfillment will become increasingly complex as the number of products, suppliers and customers increases.


What did your company do in 2012 to adapt to changes in the market? Aviall stocks more than $2 billion in new parts inventory from a catalog of two million different line items. We carry virtually every kind of part from nuts and bolts, to tires, to major turbine engine components. Each of these items is managed using the same foundation of tools, facilities, people and processes. We built in flexibility to accommodate unique needs of specific programs and products. Aviall has invested heavily in technology to increase its ability to quickly and accurately meet its customers’ needs. Aviall. com, our website, has unique capabilities in respect to the aviation parts world. Aviall’s proven customer-centered programs like eStock and Chemical Management save owners and operators time and money. Aviall continues to invest in technology and makes decisions every day which enable scalability and allow us to remain efficient, yet lean. This will keep Aviall at the leading edge of our industry, despite market challenges that may arise. What are the trends, big or small, you are beginning to see in the MRO business? Supply chains in general are becoming more complex, and customers are beginning to demand greater levels of service. The same goes for MRO business. For more of Dan Komnenovich’s answers go to www.avm-mag.com


Aviation Maintenance | avm-mag.com | April 2013 25


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