Airbus and GMF AeroAsia (GMF), the maintenance and repair subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, have signed a memorandum agreement for Maintenance Training Collaboration to develop a 10-year strategic partnership. As part of this, GMF will become Airbus’ local maintenance training centre in Indonesia. This partnership, to be finalised following a definitive agreement in the near future, is aimed at developing the maintenance training capabilities locally in Indonesia, based on respective strengths and assets of GMF and Airbus. This co-operation will provide Airbus training standards locally to deliver flexibility and cost effectiveness. The scope of such collaboration will also address the following:
• Developing GMF’s ‘ab-initio’ (basic) training capabilities
• Integration of GMF’s instructors into Airbus’ global maintenance training organisation;
• Developing Type-training capabilities for Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft maintenance;
• Enabling of EASA 147 approval in Indonesia for type and basic maintenance training.
Richard Budihadianto, President and CEO of GMF AeroAsia says: “This joint venture with Airbus will help us ramp-up our maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and to benefit from Airbus’ high standards and latest technologies in maintenance training.” He adds: “This will be essential to meet our internal training needs, as well as Indonesian market ab-initio future requirements as Garuda Indonesia’s fleet expands considerably.”