Prague, 5. 2. 2019

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of Prague Airport, which provides aircraft repair and maintenance services, has appointed a new member to its Board of Directors. Effective Monday, 21 January 2019, the role has been performed by Ing. Petr Doberský (age 42) who will be in charge of the company’s Finance, Development, Procurement and Logistics departments. He was elected Board Member to fill the post vacated by Mr. Ivan Pikl who had left the company. The entire aircraft maintenance department has been under the management of the current Vice-Chairman, Ing. Igor Zahradníček, since December 2018. In addition, as at 1 January 2019, CSAT has two new Supervisory Board members.

“I was really looking forward to working at Czech Airlines Technics. I closely followed its activities during my previous role with Prague Airport. CSAT is a company with a long tradition; a company of which we can be proud. Its staff are very professional, and the company promotes a unique know-how within its field of expertise. Personally, this is a great career advancement and, at the same time, a great challenge. I believe that, through my work and using my experience, I will be able to contribute to company’s further growth and success,” Petr Doberský, the new Member of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, stated. .

For the last seven years prior to his arrival in CSAT, Petr Doberský worked as the Prague Airport Executive Director in charge of Accounting, Taxes and Financial Relations. He also worked for various consultancy companies in the area of mergers and acquisitions and also focused on financial audits. Petr graduated from the Faculty of Finance and Accounting of the University of Economics in Prague.

As at 1 January 2019, Czech Airlines Technics also has two new Members of its Supervisory Board, namely Ing. Jan Brázdil, appointed by Prague Airport, the company shareholder, and Ing. Jan Kment, elected by CSAT employees. Ing. Radek Hovorka remains the Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Supervisory Board; Ing. Jan Brázdil was appointed Vice-Chairman during the Board’s meeting.

CSAT’s client portfolio includes important airlines with whom the company has signed long-term agreements with guaranteed work volumes on B737, A320 Family and ATR aircraft. Last year, the company performed 120 base maintenance jobs using its five production lines in Hangar F and launched operations of its new space at Václav Havel Airport Prague, primarily designated for line maintenance. Alongside base and line maintenance, the company focuses on aircraft landing gear maintenance and component maintenance as well as consumables sales.

New Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors as at 21 January 2019:
Mgr. Pavel Haleš – Chairman
Ing. Igor Zahradníček – Vice-Chairman
Ing. Petr Doberský – Member
New Czech Airlines Technics Supervisory Board as at 1 January 2019:
Ing. Radek Hovorka – Chairman
Ing. Jan Brázdil – Vice-Chairman
Ing. Jan Kment – Member
 

Prague, 19.11. 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of Prague Airport Group, has officially launched another season of aircraft maintenance and repairs with new hangar for line maintenance on Prague Airport’s premises. Thanks to the construction of a space opposite the existing Hangar F, the company’s base maintenance capacity has also increased. Last year, CSAT employees performed over 120 base maintenance jobs for several airlines. Additional investment in the acquisition of new space, landing gear sets and certification for other aircraft are planned in the future.

„The company follows a long-term set strategy which focuses on the development of all four main business divisions, namely base, line, component and landing gear maintenance. Both economic results and the interest of airlines in high-quality services confirm that the trend has been set correctly. Investment in the construction of a new hangar, special equipment, IT technologies and landing gear sets, alongside the equipment of an additional base maintenance stand, are key to an increasing competitiveness in the aircraft maintenance market," said Vaclav Rehor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport, CSAT shareholder. „In just a few years, we have managed to transform the company into a fully independent maintenance organisation which offers complex services to a number of important customers," added Rehor.

The company decided to build a new hangar on the premises of Václav Havel Airport Prague for its line maintenance purposes. Primarily designed for lower level of maintenance checks, the hangar is located in the immediate vicinity of the original hangar used by the company and is designed for one Boeing 737, Airbus A320 Family or ATR aircraft. The construction of the new hangar, know as a Hangar S, started in September 2017 and was finished this spring. After all inspections and approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic, the new hangar has gradually launched its operations. It was successfully test-run during the high summer season.

„We pursue line maintenance both in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia, where we also have our operations. We provide our services to over 85% of airlines operating at Prague Airport. The importance of the segment for CSAT has also been confirmed by the launch of operations of the new hangar. We provide services to a wide range of customers, from regular to charter flights and governmental flights. Within the segment, we take care of many types of aircraft, from narrow- to wide-body," shared Pavel Hales, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors.

„We also offer our clients the option of running a station with our mechanics on site outside the Czech Republic and the services of our on-wing team, which is ready to fly to any destination around the world and solve potential aircraft technical issues there," Hales added.

Thanks to the move of line maintenance to the recently built hangar, it has also been possible to increase the base maintenance capacity, which represents almost 50% of CSAT’s revenue. Currently, the operations of Hangar F, launched in the 1960s, support five standard base maintenance lines and a sixth line used for minor maintenance jobs. „In the last four years, we have increased the number of base maintenance lines from the original three to the current five. Despite the increase, the hangar capacity is fully booked for several years. On the long-term horizon, we plan to build another hangar with the goal of performing the base maintenance of both narrow- and wide-body aircraft,"said Hales, sharing the company’s future plans.

Dividing the maintenance between two hangars has proven to be more efficient both from the process and time points of view. Hangar S also supports less demanding base maintenance jobs at times when it is not used for line maintenance. Last year, CSAT employees performed over 120 base maintenance jobs on B737, A320 Family and ATR aircraft, primarily on foreign customers’ aircraft.
Base maintenance is primarily performed during the winter months when the aircraft are less busy than during the summer season. The maintenance season always lasts from the beginning of October until the end of April.

 

Prague, 12. 9. 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft repair and maintenance services, has entered a new market segment of aircraft consumables sales. The company has decided to take the step based on the demand from airlines, MROs and Brokers. Thanks to the established network of suppliers, the amount of stored inventory and already established logistics support, the company will be able to respond to the demanding customer requirements connected with sales of a wide range of aircraft consumables in a flexible manner. The company already provides the service to Czech Airlines, Travel Service, Enter Air and, as of recent, to the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic.

„After careful market analysis and research, we have identified the consumables sales to be another interesting development area in line with the long-term growth strategy of Czech Airlines Technics’ business" said Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Czech Airlines Technics.

Aircraft consumables and component sales will be the responsibility of a new team which will actively offer our stock to customers. The size of the inventory, to a value exceeding $15 million as stored in CSAT’s facility at Václav Havel Airport Prague, is an immense advantage over our competitors. Unlike in other industries, a sufficient amount of stored spare parts and aircraft components is crucial, primarily in situations where it is necessary to replace a component as quickly as possible so as to ensure the aircraft’s speedy return to operations.

„Despite the market in this segment being highly competitive, we believe that, thanks to the mentioned inventory, our years of experience and broad supplier network, including aircraft manufacturers, our product will prove appealing to customers," Haleš added.

CSAT also considers the conclusion of an agreement regarding aircraft consumables sales with the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic a great success, preceded by a public tender under the Public Procurement Act. CSAT has won the four-year contract thanks to the established network of suppliers (over 900) and direct purchases from original aircraft component manufactures.
 

Prague, 3 September 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft repair and maintenance services, has appointed a new Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. Effective 3 September 2018, Mr. Igor Zahradníček (51) will be in charge of finance, development, procurement and logistics at the company.

“Czech Airlines Technics is a company with a long tradition where unique high-level expertise go without saying and quality and safety are not subject to discussion, but a must. Becoming a part of such a company’s further growth and this team is a challenge for me as a manager and I therefore look forward to working at CSAT,” Igor Zahradníček, the new Vice-Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said.

For the last nine years, Igor Zahradníček worked as the CEO of TOUAX s.r.o., a producer and designer of modular buildings. In the 1990s, he held several management positions at PepsiCo and later was also in charge of companies DHL Logistics and Maersk Logistics in the Czech Republic. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

SAT’s customer portfolio includes important airlines with whom the company has signed long-term agreements with guaranteed work volumes on B737, A320 Family and ATR aircraft. In line with the company’s growth and the ever-increasing demand for its high-quality services, a fifth base maintenance production line launched its operations in Hangar F last year and new facility for line maintenance was opened at Václav Havel Airport Prague in 2018. Alongside base and line maintenance, the company focuses also on aircraft landing gear maintenance and component maintenance.

New Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors as at 3 September 2018:
Mgr. Pavel Haleš – Chairman
Ing. Igor Zahradníček – Vice-Chairman
Ivan Pikl – Member

Praha, 8. 6. 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, has won five new line maintenance customers, including American Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Air Cairo and Go2Sky, all of which operate their flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague. CSAT mechanics will also provide line maintenance services for the Russian’s Pobeda aircraft servicing the airline’s route to Moscow from Airport Karlovy Vary.

„I am glad that airlines which decided to offer flights to Prague have chosen Czech Airlines Technics to service their aircraft. It proves that air carriers value the quality and experience of our employees, supported by fast and expert reactions in cases where aircraft defects must be repaired quickly to ensure a speedy return to operations. We have recently expanded our customer portfolio and we also provide on-call line maintenance at Airport Karlovy Vary, located within reasonable travel distance," said Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Czech Airlines Technics.

American Airlines, the largest air carrier in the world, has also decided to start using the services of Czech Airlines Technics. The airline has operated regular scheduled flights from Prague to Philadelphia on a daily basis since 5 May 2018 and CSAT’s Line Maintenance consists of checking Boeing 767-300 aircraft.„Prague is an exciting new addition to American’s global network,” " said Oliver Barnes, Senior Manager, Contract Line Maintenance UK, Ireland, Europe & Middle East for American Airlines. „It is essential that we have strong partners such as Czech Airlines Technics in place to ensure American’s success in new markets and we look forward to working closely with them going forwards."

Other customers with whom Czech Airlines Technics has recently entered into line maintenance agreements are, for example, Cyprus Airways, which launched regular scheduled flights from Prague to Larnaca in Cyprus this June using Airbus A319s, Air Cairo, operating its routes to more destinations in Egypt with Airbus A320 and Go2Sky, which has leased Czech Airlines one of its Boeing 737-400 for the whole summer season.

Moreover, the company has recently received two new certificates allowing it to confirm aircraft post- line maintenance operational readiness. The first certificate was awarded to CSAT by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority regarding Egypt Air aircraft. Until now, permits were always issued only ad hoc. The second certificate was issued by Mongolian authorities for MIAT Mongolian Airlines. CSAT will perform A-checks for its aircraft this summer, i.e. the highest level of line maintenance checks.

Line maintenance of aircraft is performed either on a regular basis (e.g. daily or weekly) or ad hoc. It includes a thorough aircraft check, the refilling of all fluids, the completion of minor repairs, the checking of individual aircraft parts and an evaluation of whether or not an aircraft is fully functional and ready for another flight.
 

Prague, 3. 5. 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, and the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies (MIAS School of Business) of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) have signed a Memorandum of Co-operation in the field of Lean management and other projects. The institutions are to share important information vital for both the company's development and the education process. Thanks to the partnership, students will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge.

„Czech Airlines Technics has supported all activities connecting business practice with the education process for a long time. We understand that working with students is one of the keys to the company’s development and growth. Therefore, we have confirmed the important co-operation with the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies (MIAS) in the area of Lean Management, which will help us to make our internal processes improved and more efficient,"stated Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Czech Airlines Technics.

The joint projects will focus on particular aviation maintenance processes, e.g., the layout and organisation of aircraft stand space, the increase of aircraft maintenance capacity in the existing space and the review of storage facilities and supporting administration processes. The main goal is to map and analyse the current situation and suggest solutions to help better use resources and eliminate negative activities, while the work of the CSAT’s team and MIAS students results in increased efficiency and quality.

„The Innovation Project Management programme focuses primarily on three aspects, namely thorough theoretical instructions provided to its students, their very good command of language and, foremost, regular contact with business practice, all immensely important for their future careers. The choice of priorities has proven to be effective and our graduates have been able to find relevant jobs after finishing their studies without problems. Therefore, I really welcome the involvement of students of the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies of the Czech Technical University in Prague in real projects under the Students Business Projects programme run in co-operation with Czech Airlines Technics. It is a great example of co-operation of a public university with the business sector,“ Lenka Švecová, Director of the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies of the Czech Technical University in Prague, said on the occasion of the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum.

The signing of the Memorandum follows a co-operation pursued since 2017, which has already included 14 students. They can use the knowledge gained during their studies in real-life situations under the supervision of a CSAT expert who is there to mentor and share important information with them as part of an innovative way of teaching the subject directly in the CSAT’s hangar.

Based on the Memorandum signed, students will also draft seminar, bachelor's and master's theses regarding Lean Management topics related to Czech Airlines Technics processes.

The Memorandum, entered into for a three-year period with the option of an extension for the following period, was signed on behalf of CSAT by Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Ivan Pikl, Member of the Board of Directors and, on behalf of the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies of the Czech Technical University in Prague, by Lenka Švecová, Director of the Institute.

CSAT also signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of the Czech Technical University in Prague in December 2017. The company has worked with the university on a number of projects and has regularly attended conferences and various events for its students. CSAT also pursues exclusive partnership with the Secondary School of Civil Aviation in Prague and works closely with many specialised secondary schools in the aviation segment.

Prague, 10 April 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, has become the first independent organisation in Europe to successfully pass the certification process and receive the approval of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to perform Line Maintenance services for Chinese airlines. Its employees can now verify aircraft post-maintenance airworthiness without having to request the presence of the official airline technician.

“The fact that we have been able to obtain the certificate for the entire Line Maintenance segment is a great achievement for the company. Thanks to the new certificate, we will have additional possibilities in the segment, increase the volume of guaranteed work for our employees and, most importantly, increase our competitiveness and the company’s prestige as we are the first independent organisation in Europe to have received the certificate,” said Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Czech Airlines Technics.

At this point, the certificate covers the Line Maintenance of Airbus A330, Boeing 767 and 777 operated by China Eastern Airlines in general. This type of maintenance of aircraft is performed either on a regular basis (e.g. daily or weekly) or ad hoc. It includes a thorough aircraft check, the refilling of all fluids, the completion of minor repairs, the checking of individual aircraft parts and an evaluation of whether or not an aircraft is fully functional and flight ready.

“We are now working on extending the certification to cover all Chinese airlines operating their flights to and from Václav Havel Airport Prague. However, the process is both administratively complex and time consuming,” Haleš pointed out.

The certification process before the Chinese office took over a year and a half. During the time, it was necessary to draft and present the required legal documents pursuant to the Chinese legal system which were then subjected to a thorough approval process. All aircraft maintenance procedures were also reviewed by auditors in Prague.

“Technical standards observed by most airlines and countries are rather similar. However, Chinese legislation and administration related to aircraft maintenance vary significantly. To receive the certificate, all procedures and processes implemented by the company, including aircraft maintenance quality and related administrative processes which are now transferred from the airline to Czech Airlines Technics, were reviewed,” Haleš noted.

Intensive employee training, primarily within the area of Quality Management, was among the basic certification conditions. The requirement to train company supervisors and managers alongside technicians was the major difference from the already implemented processes of the Quality Management system set-up by the company.

Prague, 10 January 2018

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, has decided to voluntarily implement a Safety Management System (SMS). The existing legislation governing aircraft maintenance providers in Europe does not deem the SMS features implementation mandatory. CSAT management has decided to support the voluntary implementation to increase the level of operational safety in the company and to comply with the growing requirements of its customers on safety. Subsequently, operational conditions and the company’s position on the market will also increase. SMS features have gradually been incorporated in the company operations since 2016.

A Safety Management System is a set of processes for operational safety management which has been introduced across the company in turns. The main SMS goal is to continue improving the operational safety and set processes in a way to help prevent extraordinary events both during aircraft maintenance and in aviation in general.

„Czech Airlines Technics management can fully appreciate the importance of operational safety. The implementation of the Safety Management System will become yet another advantage we have over our competitors on the market. Our Safety Department has our maximum support upon implementation of new and improvements of the existing safety processes," Pavel Hales, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said.

In 2016 and 2017, formal preparatory steps for SMS implementation at CSAT took place. First SMS features were implemented in both existing and new company processes to ensure that the major part of the work was finished by the end of 2017. CSAT employees, namely all technicians, team leaders and company management, were trained in turns in SMS principles and related responsibilities.

„It is an extensive and demanding process to implement a Safety Management System in a large organization, which can take up to several years. The advantage of a voluntary implementation has been a positive and pro-active approach across the company. We want it to work. Therefore, we use all efforts and resources to ensure that SMS is used on a daily basis as a tool for improving the level of safety and promoting the corporate culture of safety. Our main goal is to see positive results as early as at the end of 2018,“ Katarina Szentkeresztiova, Czech Airlines Technics Safety Manager, commented.

Despite the fact that it was a voluntary implementation of Safety Management System, effective 1 January 2018, all SMS processes are mandatory, and compliance thereto will be regularly checked.

„Towards the end of last year, Prague Airport safety auditors performed the first SMS audit at CSAT. The audit conclusions have confirmed that the implementation process has significantly advanced and that the SMS processes have been set with due care, in a responsible and professional manner thanks to the high-quality work of our employees involved in the set-up process,“ Ms Szentkeresztiova added.

As of this year, the CSAT Safety Management System will be subject to yearly internal audits in line with the ICAO requirements to ensure all set processes are constantly improved.

Prague, 12. December 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, and the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) signed a Memorandum of Co-operation in the field of aviation. The organizations are to work together on projects, share professional knowledge and promote the interconnection between the academic field and practice. Students will get the opportunity to join a long-term vocational training programme run directly on CSAT’s premises. They will experience real operations and get the chance to draft their graduation thesis during the internship.

„I am glad that, thanks to the agreement with the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of CTU, we will widen our co-operation framework and have the opportunity to work together on a number of projects in the field of aviation. As we want to attract students who could primarily become our assets in the field of engineering of aircraft maintenance and operations, starting the co-operation with one of the best universities in the country was a logical step,“ Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, stated.

The organisations will join forces when working on specialised aviation-related matters, e.g. on the evaluation of operational reliability and safety in the field of aircraft maintenance safety, alongside other issues. The co-operation will be pursued predominantly with the Air Transport Department of the Faculty of Transportations Sciences of CTU.

„The act of signing the Memorandum is in line with the long-term goal of interconnecting the academic field with aviation practice. The excellent existing co-operation will thus enjoy an official auspice and a structure for solving partial relations will be formed. A synergic interconnection of both parties’ excellence is being created,“ Prof. Miroslav Svítek, Dean of the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of CTU, said during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum.

Concurrently, Czech Airlines Technics will provide the university with decommissioned or damaged aircraft parts to be used by students during lectures to learn, for example, how to identify particular defects.

Prior to signing the Memorandum, CSAT had already attended this year’s first annual Prague Aviation Week organised by the Faculty from 4 to 8 December 2017. An informal event called School Detainees, where students can meet and greet CSAT employees and learn specific information regarding the company and job opportunities therein as well as to talk about personal experiences and the motivation of the presenters, was a part of the week-long programme.

The Memorandum, entered into for a two-year period with the option of extension for the following period, was signed on behalf of CSAT by Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Ivan Pikl, Member of the Board of Directors and, on behalf of the Faculty of Transportation Sciences of CTU, by Prof. Miroslav Svítek, Dean of the Faculty.

Prague, 29 November 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft repair and maintenance services, has become the first entity in the Czech Republic certified by the Civil Aviation Authority to provide line maintenance for the new Airbus A320 NEO and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Only a few private companies in Europe are authorised and have staff trained to work on the aircraft which will gradually start their operations this year.

The certification process took about a year, out of which about half was dedicated to the training of staff. The Boeing 737 MAX training took place directly at the Boeing facilities in Seattle, USA, while the Airbus A320 NEOs training was performed with approved European training organisations.

„I am pleased that we are the first company in the Czech Republic and one of the first MRO organisations in Europe to receive the certificate. CSAT can thus provide line maintenance to all its regular customers who already operate the new aircraft and offer its services to other air carriers as they add the new aircraft to their fleet," uIvan Pikl, Member of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said, adding: "We will also strive to get base maintenance certified for the MAX and NEO aircraft to be able to provide our customers using these types of aircraft with complex maintenance services.“

Every organisation authorised to provide aircraft maintenance must have trained staff (qualified mechanics and avionics technicians for particular aircraft types), precisely-outlined ground equipment, tools and space as well as access to the required technical documentation based on which the maintenance is performed. Having complied with all the above requirements, CSAT filed an application with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic requesting its certification be extended to cover the line maintenance of the new types of aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority performed an audit of the company and awarded the certificate to CSAT on the spot.

The new certificate covers Boeing 737 MAXs and Airbus A319/320/321 NEOs with the new CFM (Snecma-General Electric) motors. As a result of construction adjustments, the aircraft have better aerodynamic performance of the body and wings and weigh less.

Line maintenance of aircraft is performed either on a regular basis (e.g. daily or monthly) or ad hoc. It includes a thorough aircraft check, the refilling of all fluids, the completion of minor repairs, the checking of individual aircraft parts and an evaluation of whether or not an aircraft is fully functional and ready for flight.
 

Prague, 1 November 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft maintenance and repair services, launches a fifth base maintenance line for Boeing 737, A320 Family and ATR aircraft this autumn. Thanks to additional capacity increases in the aircraft base maintenance area, the workload capacity will grow by 25%. The planned launch of operations of the fifth base maintenance line is connected with the hiring process of about 80 employees.

„"Today, aircraft base maintenance already accounts for over 50% of CSAT's revenue. Based on current estimates, interest in this type of maintenance work will continue to grow in the future. Investment in the fifth base maintenance line follows the overall company strategy focused on capacity optimization and flexible reactions to market requirements. In the case of CSAT, the company strategy is built on the development of base maintenance and the offer of complex high-quality services,“ Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole Czech Airlines Technics shareholder, said.

Sufficient investment, including in a hangar stand and material supplies for the existing technical facilities of Hangar F located on Václav Havel Airport Prague premises, was required to enable the launch of operations of the fifth base maintenance line.

„We have entered into several exclusive long-term agreements with guaranteed work volumes in the field of aircraft base maintenance. The existing capacity is fully booked for years, so the decision to increase the capacity is a logical step to ensure the company's ability to grow further. Existing customers keep gradually increasing the number of aircraft in their fleets so we have been growing with them,“ Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, added.

The process of hiring about 80 new employees, which started at the beginning of the year and which will include the training and introduction of new employees to the process, is closely connected with the need to ensure adequate staffing of the fifth base maintenance line. Long-term, the exclusive co-operation with the Secondary School of Civil Aviation in Prague/Ruzyně will help recruit new employees. The goal of the co-operation and scholarship programme, in its second year of running, is to guarantee students jobs immediately after graduation in a renowned company with a long tradition of providing high-quality services in aircraft repair and maintenance.

Since 2014, this will be the second capacity increase in the area of aircraft base maintenance. Due to the full use of the existing capacity, the company launched operations of a fourth base maintenance production line in 2015.

Aircraft base maintenance includes regular service checks ordered by the manufacturer, more complex repairs, modifications of aircraft systems and constructions, replacements of engines and landing gear sets as well as modifications to cabin interiors.

Prague, 20 October 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft maintenance services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GA Telesis (GAT), a US-based key player within the aviation and aerospace industries, at the MRO Europe in London. Based on the agreement, the two companies are to form an integrated supply chain partnership and offer customers a complex service for ATR turboprop aircraft. The service will also cover the support of rotating aircraft parts including repairs, spare parts inventory and logistics.

„We are pleased that the co-operation with GA Telesis will help us strengthen our position of a service provider to customers operating ATR turboprop aircraft. The partnership will also help us to promote Czech Airlines Technics’ services globally,“ Zdeněk Soukal, Vice-Chairman of CSAT Board of Directors said, adding: „We will continue to increase the capacity of our department specialised in component repairs of rotating aircraft parts and to expand our aircraft repair and maintenance business.“

The new joint product will be provided based on a “Power by Hour” program, charging air carriers a fee according to flight hours. Under the program, CSAT workers will be in charge of performing repairs of rotating aircraft parts, such as propeller blades, for GAT clients using either its own capacity or via external partners. The partner company will be in charge of the spare parts inventory, logistics and storage. The companies will join efforts in terms of business support and search for new customers.

„We are extremely proud to partner with a global MRO such as Czech Airlines Technics to expand our regional airframe support footprint,“Jason Reed, President of the Component Solutions Group at GA Telesis, said, adding: „CSAT was able to provide significant value and complimentary support to our growing aftermarket iGEAR support services program. Our announcement continues to add to GA Telesis’s commitment to Intelligently Defining Aviation™.“

CSAT was able to provide significant value and complimentary support to our growing aftermarket iGEAR support services program. Our announcement continues to add to GA Telesis’s commitment to Intelligently Defining Aviation™.

The partnership has been entered into for a five-year period with the option of extension thereafter. Final terms and conditions of co-operation will be specified by the end of the year.

Prague, 2nd August 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, has entered into a Base Maintenance Agreement with Transavia. The Agreement was entered into for five years, until September 2022. CSAT will thus become the exclusive provider of Boeing 737NG aircraft maintenance.

Czech Airlines Technics has provided Transavia with its services before. CSAT employees serviced the first Transavia aircraft in 2003. „"At the moment, a four-year contract, valid until August 2017, is about to expire. The current contract is not exclusive. Despite that, CSAT was awarded 100% of all scheduled aircraft maintenance jobs during the last two seasons, i.e. 2015/2016 and 2016/2017,"“ řekl Pavel Haleš, předseda představenstva Czech Airlines Technics. „"Compared to the original contract, the new contract establishes CSAT as an exclusive and preferred aircraft maintenance provider for the Transavia Airlines fleet with guaranteed work volumes. We expect to provide base maintenance for about 18 aircraft per season. The exact numbers will be specified at a later date. The season starts in September or October,"“ dodal Haleš.

CSAT specialists will provide base maintenance for Transavia's entire fleet. The base maintenance agreement governs both the complex performance of all planned revisions and occasional irregular tasks, such as fixing defects and repairing damage to aircraft bodies.

Together with Czech Airlines, Germania, Neos and Travel Service and others, Transavia is key CSAT base maintenance customer. In 2016 alone, CSAT workers performed over 100 base maintenance jobs for all its customers combined.

Prague, 27 July 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, has entered into four new Landing Gear Maintenance Agreements. CSAT has provided landing gear maintenance services for 17 years. Based on the new agreements, CSAT workers will service Boeing 737NG (New Generation) landing gear sets for Germania, a German carrier, Primera Air Nordic SIA, a Latvian carrier, and Air Madagascar as well as Boeing 737-400 classic generation landing gear sets for Atran, a Russian cargo carrier.

„I am pleased that we were able to enter into new agreements, securing general landing gear repair work for Czech Airlines Technics, with four important customers at once. Victory in all tenders proves that, long-term, our workers have provided quality work which emphasises adherence to high safety standards and deadlines as well as a flexible approach to customers,“ Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, said.

The first, two-year exclusive agreement with Germania, a German air carrier, guarantees CSAT maintenance jobs of landing gear sets and lease of spare Boeing 737NG landing gear sets as well as performance of 10 complex general landing gear set repairs. CSAT will also install spare landing gear sets on aircraft to be used for the duration of the general repairs. Alongside landing gear set maintenance, the agreement guarantees co-ordination of dates with base maintenance, provided by CSAT. CSAT’s advantage is the ability to provide several services at once, thus significantly lowering the maintenance costs for all its clients, including Germania.

„Last year, we made huge investments in spare landing gear sets. As a result, we can offer our clients, alongside repair and maintenance of their landing gear sets, the option of leasing our spare sets. Their aircraft can thus return to regular operation during the general repair performance“ Haleš added.

Based on the second new agreement, CSAT will be performing landing gear maintenance and leasing spare Boeing 737NG landing gear sets for Primera Air Nordic SIA, a Latvian air carrier, until 2022. Pursuant to the third agreement, CSAT workers will perform a landing gear general repair and lease the same type of spare landing gear set to Air Madagascar. To perform the repair, the landing gear set was removed from the aircraft and air transported from Cairo via Germany to Prague.


The fourth new contractual customer is a Russian cargo carrier Atran, a part of the Volga-Dnepr Group. The first Boeing 737-400 of the Classic Generation landing gear general repair and lease of a spare landing gear set for the customer were performed last year based on an agreement with Air Bridge Cargo.


Czech Airlines Technics is able to perform landing gear set maintenance on three production lines simultaneously with a yearly capacity of 27 Boeing B737 landing gear general repairs.

Prague, 18 July 2017

Effective 3 July 2017, Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, has a new Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. Zdeněk Soukal (42) will manage the areas of finance, development, procurement and logistics at the company.

CSAT’s client portfolio includes important air carriers with whom the company has signed long-term agreements with guaranteed job volumes on B737, A320 Family and ATR aircraft. As a result of the company’s overall growth and a growing demand for CSAT’s high quality services, the launch of operations of a fifth base maintenance production line is planned. Thus, the areas of finance, development, procurement and logistics will now be managed by the new Vice-Chairman of Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, Mr. Zdeněk Soukal, who has years of experience in development within aviation industry.

„In my new role, I want to focus on the company’s growth, customer satisfaction and profit. I am glad that I will be able to participate in the further development of a company with an over 80-year-long tradition of aircraft repair and maintenance,” Zdeněk Soukal, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, stated, adding: “I am most attracted by the MRO environment, the opportunity to continue working in the dynamic sector of aviation industry and the tradition of repairs performed in the unique Hangar F located on the Václav Havel Airport Prague premises.“

For nine years, Zdeněk Soukal worked in the management of GE Aviation where he headed the Finance department during the acquisition of the Walter company in 2008. Then, he became the company Managing Director and CFO and from 2014, he was the Commercial Director and Managing Director with the responsibility for the development of commerce, engine sales and customer care. He is a graduate of the University of Economics, Prague, specialising in Commercial Law. He also studied Finance at Colorado State University, USA. He has been an ACCA (Associated Chartered Certified Accountant) since 2004. Mr. Soukal also worked as a financial analyst and manager with growing responsibilities at companies such as Procter & Gamble, Reader’s Digest, Pfizer and GE Real Estate.

New Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors:
Mgr. Pavel Haleš – Chairman
Ing. Zdeněk Soukal – Vice-Chairman
Ivan Pikl – Member

Prague, 19 June 2017

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, plans to significantly increase the number of its employees this year, by approximately 80. The increase in employee numbers is directly connected with the launch of operations of the fifth in-line base maintenance production line. CSAT wishes to fill the vacancies with the exclusive co-operation of the Secondary School of Civil Aviation in Prague.

„Czech Airlines Technics is a perspective company providing aircraft maintenance services. The company has over 90 years of experience in the field and is known for its high-quality work. CSAT already employs over 760 workers but, due to the future development plans of the company, it needs to increase their number. The scholarship programme tailored to the needs of students of the Secondary School of Civil Aviation in Prague, located close to the Hangar F, should help achieve the goal.“

“The lack of a qualified workforce troubles us greatly. We would like to expand, but the situation on the labour market is not exactly favourable. Therefore, we were forced to look for alternative solutions. First, we want to use the potential of Czech secondary school graduates to the maximum by turning them into future team members using our own resources,” Pavel Haleš, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Technics Board of Directors, describes the idea behind the scholarship programme launch, adding: “The school appeal has grown thanks to the fact that graduates have guaranteed jobs. The co-operation is thus mutually beneficial.”

The scholarship programme has been designed for perspective 3rd and 4th year students of the Secondary School of Civil Aviation, with specialisations in Aviation Mechanics and Electrical Engineering Mechanics. There are about 40 to 50 students of the specialisations combined in each year. “It would be ideal if about 20 scholarship programme participants were recruited from each year,” says Pavel Haleš. The operation of the 5th base maintenance production line will create about 80 new jobs.

Czech Airlines Technics will carefully select the scholarship programme participants. “We want to use the fact that we will be able to watch the potential job candidates in our company during their studies and thus review their reliability, diligence and skills - criteria in which every potential Czech Airlines Technics employee must excel,” Pavel Haleš explains.

Alongside training, students offered a place in the scholarship programme will also get an incentive scholarship. “However, the main benefit provided is a guaranteed job immediately after finishing studies. A job in a renowned company with a long-lasting tradition of providing quality MRO services. In return, we will require the students to follow their study duties, graduate in term and stay in our company for the time agreed in their job contract,” Pavel Haleš specifies the key programme criteria.

Prague, 25 May 2017
Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, has won a several-round tender and entered into a nine-year agreement based on which it will provide landing gear maintenance, component maintenance and lease of spare landing gear sets for Boeing B737NG to the Air France Group, namely to Transavia Airlines and Transavia France.

“Victory in such a demanding tender proves that, long-term, CSAT has provided quality work which emphasises adherence to high safety standards and deadlines as well as a flexible approach to customers,” Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole shareholder of CSAT, said, adding: “During the nine-year term of the agreement, CSAT will perform the complete overhaul of at least 96 Boeing B737-700 and B737-800 landing gear sets.”

Czech Airlines Technics has years of experience with Boeing 737 landing gear maintenance, having provided the service for 17 years, during which it has performed 360 overhaul to entire landing gear sets. Moreover, 11 years ago, as the second MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) organisation in the world, it performed a Boeing B737NG landing gear overhaul.

CSAT now has a total of four spare Boeing B737 landing gear sets: three Boeing B737NG (New Generation) sets and one Boeing B737CG (Classic Generation) set. Alongside high quality work, CSAT can take pride in one of the shortest turnaround general repair times as it takes CSAT workers 28 calendar days to complete the repair. “Purchasing our own, fourth in line, spare landing gear set is the first major CSAT’s investment to be made this year, spending money on the development of its landing gear maintenance sector. Currently, B737NG landing gear general repair demand is on the rise,” Václav Řehoř said, adding: “CSAT uses three production lines for performing landing gear maintenance with an average yearly capacity of 30 Boeing B737 landing gear overhaul. The company thus provides its clients with continuous landing gear repairs.”   

CSAT provides its clients with complex services including transport of both landing gear sets and spare landing gear sets to be used on the aircraft to and from general repairs, i.e. the installation on and removal from the aircraft unless performed directly at the CSAT’s workshop.

Transavia France is a new CSAT client. CSAT will lend the carrier spare landing gear sets to ensure the uninterrupted operations of its aircraft for the time of the performance of all 19 planned landing gear general repairs.

CSAT also provides another of its Dutch clients, Transavia Airlines, with base maintenance services. The new landing gear maintenance agreement includes, alongside the maintenance and lease of spare landing gear sets and components, removal and installation of landing gear sets from/to aircraft. As CSAT provides the service using its own resources, the required aircraft downtime is significantly shortened. In addition, next to the overall decrease in costs due to the time saved, decreased transport costs are also a significant factor. Based on the agreement, CSAT will perform 32 general landing gear repairs for Transavia Airlines.      

Prague, 4 October 2016

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft maintenance services, has extended its existing service agreement with Germania for five more years. CSAT thus now provides the carrier’s entire fleet with base maintenance.

“Czech Airlines Technics has provided Germania with base maintenance services since 2012. The parties have now extended their agreement for five more years with the option of automatic renewals by two-year periods. Compared to the original contract, the new agreement changes a number of conditions, primarily, it establishes CSAT as an exclusive maintenance provider for the Germania fleet,” Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole shareholder of CSAT, said.

CSAT specialists will provide base maintenance for the carrier’s entire fleet, namely 25 aircraft comprising Boeing 737-700, Airbus A319 and Airbus A321. The agreement governs both the complex performance of all planned revisions and occasional irregular tasks, such as fixing defects and repairing damage to aircraft bodies.

“Germania is one of the 13 clients which currently use CSAT’s base maintenance services. Together with Czech Airlines, Transavia Airlines and Finnair, it is a key CSAT customer. This year, CSAT will perform 6 base maintenance revisions for Germania, while in 2017, the number will at least double,” Václav Řehoř added. 

Prague, 19 September 2016

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group, which provides aircraft maintenance services, has entered into a new six-year Agreement with another Czech carrier, Travel Service. CSAT thus now provides the carrier with landing gear general repairs, lease of spare landing gear sets, exchanges of landing gear sets and repairs of selected aircraft components for the Travel Service fleet.

“Czech Airlines Technics has successfully worked with Travel Service in the area of landing gear maintenance for six years. The new agreement guarantees work for the CSAT landing gear production line for the next six years in the form of the performance of 19 Boeing 737NG (New Generation) landing gear general repairs*, the lease of spare landing gear sets for the time of duration of the general repairs, exchanges of landing gear sets and repairs of selected components for the entire Travel Service fleet,” Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole shareholder of Czech Airlines Technics, said. 

Czech Airlines Technics has been performing landing gear maintenance for 16 years. During that time, it has completed more than 320 general repairs of entire landing gear sets. Ten years ago, as only the second MRO (Maintenance Repair Organisation) in the world, it performed the B737NG landing gear set general repair. CSAT also has three of their own spare landing gear sets for B737s, two of which are of the new generation (B737NG) and the third is of the classic generation (B737CG). The company also has one of the shortest general repair turn-around times. CSAT workers can perform a general repair in 28 calendar days. 

“Czech Airlines Technics employees have been performing landing gear general repairs and maintenance and landing gear exchanges for Travel Service since 2011, leasing spare landing gear sets from sub-contractors. During that time, 13 complete landing gear general repairs have been performed. Now, CSAT owns its own landing gear spare sets which enables better catering to its customers’ needs and better use of its capacity,” Řehoř explained. 

Alongside landing gear maintenance, Czech Airlines Technics has also provided the carrier with base maintenance since 2006, with over 70 base maintenance jobs completed during that time. CSAT further provides the carrier with structural aircraft repairs, component maintenance, composite repairs and the lease of material and tools. 

*  During the time of effect of the agreement, general repair mandatory limits as set by the manufacturer apply. General repairs are performed on a regular basis - every 10 years, based on the directive of the manufacturer (Boeing).

 Prague, 24. 08. 2016

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group, which provides aircraft maintenance services, has entered into four exclusive Agreements with Czech Airlines. CSAT thus now provides the carrier with complex aircraft maintenance, i.e. with both base and line maintenance as well as components maintenance and engineering. All contracts have been entered into for a limited period of time, until June 2019.

“Czech Airlines has entrusted its aircraft to the hands of Czech Airlines Technics workers since its establishment, i.e. since 1923. Having finished the restructuring process, CSAT now offers air carriers very competitive prices. By entering into the agreement, Czech Airlines has joined other air carriers, such as GERMANIA, won over by the CSAT offer. Several parameters of the new contracts signed with Czech Airlines vary from the existing contracts in significant ways. The new contracts guarantee CSAT minimum work volumes ordered by Czech Airlines at individual product levels, define the volume and extent of the co-operation between the parties and take into account the risk of price increases in time,” Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole shareholder of CSAT, said adding: “Pursuant to the new contracts, CSAT will provide complex aircraft maintenance for the entire Czech Airlines fleet, comprising 17 aircraft, exclusively. According to the current plans, CSAT will thus perform 15 to 20 repairs in an average a year as part of its base maintenance services.”

The Base Maintenance Agreement governs the complex performance of all planned revisions within the Czech Airlines fleet, including occasional irregular tasks, such as fixing defects and repairing damage to aircraft bodies.

The Line Maintenance Agreement includes the performance of regular checks, daily and weekly controls up to the A-Check level (the last check within line maintenance, performed based on the hours flown), fixing defects and performing additional activities connected with the aircraft technique maintenance at the Prague hub and at selected airports abroad as per Czech Airlines requests.

The Components Maintenance Agreement (maintenance of aircraft rotating parts) defines the conditions of ensuring aircraft components availability, providing their repairs and connected logistics. CSAT thus guarantees the availability of necessary components within stipulated deadlines for the entire Czech Airlines fleet, both in Prague and within the carrier’s entire network.

The Engineering Agreement covers the administration of maintenance programmes and their continued updating, follow-ups and proposals for processing new operational bulletins and directives to maintain airworthiness as well as preparation of modifications. The contract further covers planned revisions, including data archiving and certification of rotating aircraft components, reliability evaluations and drafting documentation for balancing and loading aircraft.

Praha, 10. 8. 2016

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group providing aircraft maintenance services, entered into an Agreement with a fourth Chinese air carrier, Sichuan Airlines. CSAT will provide line maintenance for aircraft servicing the new direct scheduled connection between Prague and Chengdu which launches its operations on 12 August 2016. CSAT has already provided line maintenance to Sichuan Airlines charter flights during the first half of the year.

Sichuan Airlines is launching a regular direct scheduled service between Prague and Chengdu on 12 August 2016. CSAT will provide the Sichuan Airlines fleet with line maintenance of Airbus A330 which will service Prague frequenting the new route on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Service Agreement has been entered into for an unlimited period of time.

“CSAT provides maintenance to four Chinese air carriers, namely China Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. Based on the current scheduled operations, CSAT expects to provide over 500 line maintenance jobs a year to all four Chinese carriers combined,” said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, which is the sole shareholder of CSAT, adding: “CSAT is thus enhancing its status gained thanks also to its long-term quality work with the emphasis on pursuing high safety standards and adherence to deadlines.”

CSAT will provide Sichuan Airlines with both regular line maintenance and repairs of any defects that may occur. The regular line maintenance will include, among other jobs, inspections according to the carrier’s instructions and assistance to the crew and ground personnel with their duties on apron areas. In regards to ad-hoc maintenance, such as defect repairs which must be fixed prior to a scheduled take-off, CSAT will provide the air carrier with repairs of defects detected by the crew in flight or during ground control.

Prague, 21. 6. 2016

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group, which provides aircraft maintenance services, entered into an Agreement with another Chinese air carrier, China Eastern Airlines. CSAT will thus provide line maintenance for aircraft servicing the new Prague – Shanghai route. Since September 2015, CSAT has been providing line maintenance for Hainan Airlines and its plan is to start providing the same service for Sichuan Airlines this year. 

China Eastern Airlines is launching a new regular direct scheduled service between Prague and Shanghai on 23 June 2016. From this date, CSAT will provide China Eastern Airlines with line maintenance of its Airbus A330 and, eventually, Boeing B767 and B777, arriving in Prague on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The Service Agreement was entered into for an unlimited period of time.

“China Eastern Airlines is the third Chinese air carrier with whom CSAT has a Line Maintenance Agreement. The co-operation with another Chinese airline proves that CSAT provides quality work with an emphasis on pursuing high safety standards, flexible pro-client approach and adherence to deadlines,” said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, which is the sole shareholder of CSAT, adding: “China Eastern Airlines is the thirteenth non-European air carrier and one of the 58 contractual partners which CSAT provides with line maintenance of scheduled and non-scheduled flights.”

CSAT will provide China Eastern Airlines with both regular line maintenance and repairs of any defects that may occur. The regular line maintenance will include, among other jobs, inspections according to the carrier’s instructions and assistance to the crew and ground personnel with their duties on apron areas. In regards to ad-hoc maintenance, such as defect which must be fixed prior to a scheduled take-off, CSAT will provide the air carrier with repairs of defects detected by the crew in flight or during ground control.
 
 

Prague, 10. 12. 2015

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group, which provides aircraft maintenance services, entered into an Agreement with Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe. CSAT now provides line maintenance for the carrier’s aircraft based at Václav Havel Airport Prague.

“We have been providing line maintenance for Wizz Air since December 2012. Effective November 2015, the carrier has had an agreement directly with Czech Airlines Technics, proving that CSAT provides quality work with an emphasis on pursuing high safety standards, adherence to deadlines and a flexible approach to clients,” Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, the sole shareholder of CSAT, said adding: “Wizz Air has joined the portfolio of 45 contracted partners of Czech Airlines Technics line maintenance.”

The Agreement with Wizz Air regarding the line maintenance of Airbus 320 Family aircraft was entered into for five years, i.e. until October 2020.

CSAT will provide Wizz Air with both regular line maintenance and repairs of any defects that may occur. The regular line maintenance will include, among other jobs, inspections according to the carrier’s instructions. In regards to ad-hoc maintenance, such as defect repairs which must be fixed prior to a scheduled take-off, CSAT will provide the air carrier with repairs of defects detected by the crew in flight or during ground control.

Prague, 17. 9. 2015

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group which provides aircraft technical maintenance services, has received the AEO Certificate (Authorised Economic Operator), granted by the European Commission to reliable, financially stable economic subjects familiar with customs compliance. CSAT has thus prevented any potential impact of the announced legislative change pursuant to which only reviewed and certified companies will be able to use simplified customs procedures in the future.

CSAT has received the type C of the AEO Certificates (the AEOC) which allows its holder to use simplified customs procedures across the European Union. CSAT is now allowed to use the AEO logo, which it will start using when in contact with its customers and business partners, but, more importantly, to keep enjoying the following customs-related benefits:

• Easier access to customs simplifications
• Fewer physical and document inspections
• Priority control upon risk-analysis-based inspections
• Ability to request that a control is performed at a specific location
• Option to forego security deposits for customs debt

“Czech Airlines Technics, as a certified entity, can now be recognised as a reliable company in terms of competition, which can help facilitate new business partnerships and increase their commercial value,” said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, adding: “This is a clear signal for our customers that Czech Airlines Technics adheres to safety and focuses on high quality standards of its services.”

The AEO Certificate prerequisites  comprise of providing information about the company, adherence to customs requirements, a satisfactory system of business, and potentially, transport record keeping to allow for customs inspections, proof of solvency and compliance with the relevant norms of safety and security.

AEO Certificates are issued for an unlimited period of time. “Consecutively, upon ensuring compliance with the strict safety requirements, Czech Airlines Technics will apply for the AEO-F Certificate – Customs Simplification/Security and Safety,” Václav Řehoř added.

AEO Certificates (Authorised Economic Operator), granted by EU customs authorities, were designed to support the implementation of amended EU customs regulations related to foreign trade security measures. The only competent Czech customs office, authorised to issue, revoke or temporarily suspend AEO Certificates, is the Customs Office for the South-Bohemian Region with its seat in České Budějovice.
AEO Certificates facilitate simplified procedures for both certified operators and customs offices across the European Union. Since the Certificates are only issued to reliable and financially stable economic subjects experienced in customs proceedings, they provide both Czech Customs and other EU Customs with certain guarantees. As a result, the certified entities are held in high regard.    

Currently, there are 3 types of Certificates:

• AEOC – Customs Simplifications AEO Certificate
• AEOS – Security and Safety AEO Certificate
• AEOF – Customs Simplification/Security and Safety Certificate 

Prague, 21. 9. 2015

Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT), a daughter company of the Czech Aeroholding Group, which provides aircraft maintenance services, entered into an Agreement with the Chinese air carrier, Hainan Airlines. CSAT will provide line maintenance for aircraft servicing the new Prague – Beijing route.

Hainan Airlines is launching a new regular direct scheduled service between Prague and Beijing on 23 September 2015. From this date, CSAT will provide Hainan Airlines’ fleet with line maintenance. The Service Agreement regarding maintenance of Boeing 767 and Airbus 330 aircraft was entered into for an unlimited period of time.

“Hainan Airlines is the tenth non-European air carrier with whom we now have a Line Maintenance Agreement,” said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Czech Aeroholding Board of Directors, which is the sole shareholder of CSAT, adding: “The co-operation with the Chinese air carrier proves that Prague has a lot to offer to airlines, including a perspective company providing aircraft repair and maintenance. Czech Airlines Technics takes pride in its 90 years of experience, quality work with an emphasis on pursuing high safety standards and adherence to deadlines. In addition to line maintenance, the company is currently increasing its base maintenance line and is in the process of hiring new employees. The prosperity and growth of the company confirm that aviation business in the Czech Republic is headed in the right direction.”

CSAT will provide Hainan Airlines with both regular line maintenance and repairs of any defects that may occur. The regular line maintenance will include, among other jobs, inspections according to the carrier’s instructions and assistance to the crew and ground personnel with their duties on apron areas. In regards to ad-hoc maintenance, such as defect repairs which must be fixed prior to a scheduled take-off, CSAT will provide the air carrier with technical facilities, tools and special equipment available. CSAT will not only store spare parts and equipment for the carrier, but provide parking spots and hangar stands for its aircraft as well.