The ball got rolling in May 2021, when ADE obtained base maintenance approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). With this ‘licence’, the team is able to perform heavier maintenance tasks such as C-checks for airlines registered in Malaysia. It also serves as leverage for approvals from other national aviation bodies. Indeed, the team has approached various regional and international authorities and been granted the green light to conduct maintenance work from the Directorates General of Civil Aviation in Indonesia and India, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. It is also close to getting approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), while several other approvals are still in progress due to travel limitations imposed by the relevant countries. In anticipation of growth of its MRO business, ADE has been expanding its physical work space. When it started out, the team based its operations in AirAsia Berhad’s hangar space in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Within the year, however, it has tripled its capacity by utilising third-party hangar space in Subang where it continues to eye more room for further expansion. At the same time, it has received approval for the KLIA hangar to be extended. Meanwhile, the team is steadily making its expertise known within Capital A’s aviation-related businesses. Among various operational highlights, in July 2021 ADE completed its first cabin-to-cargo conversion of an Airbus A320 aircraft in AirAsia Malaysia’s fleet for use by Teleport. Subsequently, in November, it successfully installed its first GX Aviation inflight broadband solution by Inmarsat in an AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft. Prior to this, the broadband solution was being installed by a third-party MRO. The plan is to become the preferred GX Aviation installation partner for all airlines in Asean, starting with the Airline group of Capital A. In addition to MRO functions, which form part of the Engineering Maintenance Services (EMS) pillar, ADE is building other core businesses in Component & Warehouse Services (CWS), Engineering Support Services (ESS) and Digital & Innovation Services (DIS). ADE also aims to develop a digital business to business (B2B) marketplace where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), MROs and airlines can buy and sell their inventory of aircraft parts. Early discussions are ongoing with key players and the marketplace, which is currently in beta, will undergo its pilot run within the AirAsia group of airlines by early February 2022. The use of state-of-the-art digital technologies is what differentiates ADE from other MRO operators in the region. Combining data from its daily operations with other external data sources, ADE seeks to provide customers with the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions to meet their needs. To support its highly technical, data-driven operations, the team is continuously working to increase its pool of digital talent. In 2022, ADE will continue to build on its capabilities in all business areas while accelerating its digital product development. It will also focus on growing its customer base, which currently comprises Lanmei Airlines, China Airlines and Myanmar Airways in addition to AirAsia. Initially, the team will target airlines in Asean that stand to benefit immensely from ADE’s value price points and strategic networking with the OEMs. In time, and with expanded capacity as well as capabilities, ADE will spread its net farther and wider. All the businesses within ADE have developed their own fiveyear plans. As market conditions improve, and these plans are executed, we can expect to see the dynamic startup fulfil its vision of becoming Asean’s leading MRO. Engineering A s i a D i g i t a l E n g i n e e r i n g ( A D E ) Operational only since September 2020, the year 2021 marked Asia Digital Engineering (ADE)’s first full year in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) scene. Yet what a year it has been. Going by the team’s achievements, nothing – pandemic or otherwise – is going to stop them from pushing ahead with their ambitious plans. Uses state-of-the-art digital technologies making it a regional leader in MRO operations ADE M A N A G E M E N T D I S C U S S I O N A N D A N A L Y S I S A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 1 0 9 5
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