MAEL to open £2m Component Maintenance Centre in Northampton

The new Centre (above), in which MAEL has invested approximately £2 million, is being located in Northampton as that is mid-way between its Luton and Birmingham base maintenance facilities, and on the motorway network within four hours’ drive of all of its UK line maintenance stations.



Above : Monarch Aircraft Engineering has promoted Lee Burgess to Head of Maintenance and appointed Keith Earnden to Head of Engineering.

Twenty people will work at the new Component Maintenance Centre, with 10 new jobs being created. The Centre will be led by Lee Burgess, MAEL’s Head of Maintenance.

Chris Dare, Managing Director at Monarch Aircraft Engineering: "Our new Northampton facility will enable us to more effectively and efficiently support our burgeoning line and base maintenance facilities across the UK. This multi-million pound investment in new facilities, equipment and, most importantly, skilled engineering talent, is an integral part of our long term growth plan and will play a vital role in our success in the years ahead."

The Centre will have a wide range of capabilities, including:

• Composite Repairs – repairs to an ISO class 9 standard, with composite oven supporting required repairs to both interior and exterior components
• Welding – dedicated welding bay and flexible work space for support of larger weld repairs including techniques such as flame spraying
• Machining – vertical and horizontal milling machines, multiple lathes, and a range of other equipment to support repairs, part fabrication and tooling development
• Cadmium Plating – trained operators supporting industry plating standards for base materials and applications, including PANTA process for composite repairs
• Bearing Spinning – standard bearing removals and installation, including capabilities on high spec components such as V2500 Engine Mounts
• Spraying – a spray booth large enough to facilitate a 787 elevator, with separate drying room catering for interior and exterior painting finishes
• Heat Treatment – ovens compliant to industry standard for standard heat treatment and detail fabrication requirements
• Therapeutic Oxygen cylinders – re-charging of breathing oxygen
• Emergency batteries – re-charging of emergency power packs and batteries
• Hardness Testing – material proof testing facilities
• Aircraft Tooling - repairs and calibration services

Monarch Aircraft Engineering has provided maintenance and repair overhaul services for more than 50 years and has significant experience, working with some of the world's leading airlines.

Since becoming an independent MRO provider in October 2017, MAEL has announced a wide range of new agreements with airlines which, in addition to Thomas Cook, include Virgin Atlantic Airways, China Airlines, Wizz Air, Icelandair and La Compagnie.

MAEL has permanent year-round stations at 9 airports across the UK where it provides line maintenance support including all levels of maintenance on Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and Bombardier aircraft types.