Scottsdale, Ariz. – June 1, 2017 – StandardAero Turboprops & Fleets business unit has been selected to provide PW125B engine maintenance and field services support for Antwerp, Belgium-based VLM Airlines’ fleet of six Fokker 50 model aircraft. Engine maintenance will take place at StandardAero’s European Service Center (ESC) located at Tilburg, the Netherlands, for in-region engine shop support as well as at the company’s Winnipeg, Canada facility. Field services support will also be available onsite at VLM’s base in Antwerp. The new, two-year agreement was completed on May 16, 2017 and was modeled on a previous successful agreement.
“The ongoing expertise of our ESC’s PW125B MRO services and capabilities to provide Fokker 50 Quick Engine Change (QEC) support is what solidified our new and expanded relationship,” said Peter Turner, President of StandardAero Airlines & Fleets. “Our service quality and delivery to VLM Airlines has paved the way for StandardAero to continue our agreement under the new ownership.”
“We selected StandardAero because they offer full PW125B engine maintenance, including QEC capabilities and AOG support and a similar engine maintenance service philosophy is continued under the new agreement.In addition, the close proximity of the ESC will allow for faster and more efficient service delivery for VLM,” confirmed Stefan Verstraeten, Technical Director for VLM.
StandardAero is one of the world’s largest independent providers of services including engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, interior completions and paint applications. StandardAero serves a diverse array of customers in business and general aviation, airline, military, helicopter, components, energy and VIP completions markets. The company celebrated its 100th year of industry leadership in 2011. StandardAero is owned by and partnered with Veritas Capital, a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York City. Veritas invests in companies that provide critical products and services to government and commercial customers worldwide including those operating in aerospace & defense, healthcare, technology, national security, communications, energy and education. More information can be found on the company’s web site at www.standardaero.com.
SHS Antwerp Aviation NV is a subsidiary of SHS Aviation B.V. (Netherlands) and is the successor to VLM Airlines NV, which ceased all its activities on June 22, 2016. SHS Antwerp Aviation is the parent company of the Slovenian company VLM Airlines d.d., which granted an air operator’s license (AOC) for a Fokker 50 operation by the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure on May 10, 2017. SHS Antwerp Aviation also started an application procedure with the Belgian Ministry of Mobility for a Belgian Fokker 50 AOC. SHS Antwerp Aviation and VLM Airlines d.d. will commence joint scheduled flights later this year under the common trading name VLM Airlines. Details regarding the number of aircraft to be used, planned routes and timetables will be announced at a later stage. SHS Aviation B.V. (Netherlands) is owned 60% by Dutch investors and 40% by Canadian investors. More information can be found on the company’s web site at www.flyvlm.com.