Aircraft Propeller Service to Launch Prop U– A Component MRO Training Resource
Once again demonstrating its industry’s leadership and innovation, Aircraft Propeller Service, LLC (APS, www.aircraftpropeller.com, Lake Zurich, IL),one of the leading commercial propeller Maintenance Repair Organizations (MROs) in the world, has established a state of the art component MRO training and knowledge resource – Prop U. According to APS Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dennis Santare, “We saw a real need to help our customers and the broader marketplace reduce their scrap rates and extend the life of their components through greater knowledge and training. That is the single mission of Prop U.” The new training resource is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2016.
Santare explained that while OEMs provide training, most MROs have not made customer training a top priority. “We’re unique as an MRO in that we train our customers to do a lot of the service work that we get paid for. We believe that customers are most satisfied when they are getting the most life out of their propellers. We also believe that well-maintained propellers will, in the long run, provide the most value to our own operations in two ways. First, we are a repair shop and do not like to see valuable components scrap out because of preventable damage. Second, rather than spending time and money fixing preventable damage, we like to focus on major inspections and the repair tasks that only we can perform as a licensed repair station. This reduces the overall dollar value of each overhaul, but improves our throughput and increases our repair volume. It’s a real win-win for us and our customers.”
APS has been offering customer training for many years, however, with Prop U, the company will offer a more formal curriculum. Among the topics to be covered in Prop U courses are: corrosion prevention, propeller assembly and disassembly, light repair, and shipping and handling procedures.
APS will continue to provide on-site customer support and training and also apply its in-house training tools, which include mock propeller assemblies and component cutaways. Santare also noted that, “Prop U will also serve as a focal point for research, knowledge sharing, and best practice development as we continue to learn from the OEMs, our customers, and our regulatory agencies.”
APS’ highly-skilled and knowledgeable technicians who possess over 300 years of combined experience in propeller MRO will serve as Prop U instructors. Historically, the company has used its top three to five technicians to perform training, sending them to its customers to do the on-site instruction. Santare noted that, “These team members are highly competent, patient instructors who love to teach.” Fees for Prop U training will be set to compensate for instruction time and materials associated with the training.
More About APS
Founded in 1953, Aircraft Propeller Service, LLC (APS) is one of the world’s oldest, largest and leading commercial aircraft propeller MROs. In 2015, APS relocated to a 46,000 square foot facility in Lake Zurich, Illinois and extended its license to perform MRO services on UTC Aerospace Systems regional turboprop propeller systems in the Americas. APS also deployed OEM-proprietary Blade Compression Wrap technology, becoming the first third-party MRO licensed to perform any OEM-proprietary, asset-saving repairs and inspections involving the compression wrap processes on UTC’s 568F system. The 568F six-blade electronic control composite propeller system is deployed on the ATR family of aircraft. In 2016, the company opened a facility in Atibaia, Brazil, approximately 90 kilometers from São Paulo’s international airport and will also be opening a new facility at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia later this year.
APS serves as a one-stop-shop, handling in-house all blade inspections and repairs as well as repair of hubs, actuators and other components. Air carriers, OEMs, MROs, and asset managers worldwide have come to depend on APS for its competitive pricing, fast turnarounds, in-depth OEM technical support and comprehensive exchange pool. Today, APS serves over 800 customers, processes more than 5,000 flight-critical parts annually and sells an extensive parts inventory which it also repairs. The company holds key certifications and licenses; a testament to its high quality service and commitment to delivering the highest value and return on investment in every customer engagement. APS is a proven resource across key categories of regional turboprop MRO services, general aviation MRO services, parts sales and exchanges, technical support and Aero Technologies Governors. For more information, visit: www.aircraftpropeller.com or contact: 847-541-1133 (USA).
