SQ Boeing 787 aircraft at the Malé station
SriLankan Engineering, the aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul unit (MRO) of SriLankan Airlines, marked another milestone with the commencement of certification of the first B787 aircraft operated by Singapore Airlines to Malé, Maldives. The airline in the past has provided certifications to various Airbus aircraft of Singapore Airlines in Maldives and this is the first time the National Carrier certified a Boeing 787.
SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka said: “This signifies an expansion of our MRO services which are much sought-after in the South Asian region. As we strive to maintain the highest industry standards at all times, we anticipate more opportunities to serve third party carriers in the years to come.”
Two batches of SriLankan Airlines engineers underwent training at SIA Aviation Company Training Academy, one of Asia Pacific’s leading training institutions specialised in MRO, fully owned by Singapore Airlines. The three-month training sessions were held in Singapore, which included theoretical and practical components. Following its successful completion, SriLankan Engineering’s Maldives Unit currently has four B787 approved engineers to authorise third party aircraft certification.
SriLankan Airlines Chief Technical Officer D.A.G. Jayasuriya said: “It is our pleasure to be a part of Singapore Airlines’ milestone of operating the first B787 to Malé. We continue to explore potential expansion opportunities through widening the scope of our service portfolio for the benefit of more clients.”
SriLankan Engineering is accredited with several industry certifications of the highest recognised global standards, which includes EASA certifications for Line Maintenance, Base Maintenance and Engineering Workshops, and authorisation to certify aircraft operating to Bandaranaike International Airport and Malé International Airport in the Maldives.
SriLankan Engineering also holds approvals from numerous national aviation authorities including Seychelles, Singapore, China, India, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain to carry out aircraft maintenance. It also provides full engineering services for the entire SriLankan Airlines fleet, which is comprised of A320, A321 (CEO and NEO versions) and A330 aircraft. In addition SriLankan Engineering provides Line certification of B777, B737NG, B 787, A350 at Colombo and Malé Airports to third party Airline customers.