Premiair Aviation Maintenance

Its success has come by sidestepping many of the skill shortages seen around the world – with a focus on both employing the best staff globally and training up the next generation of Australians. Today, it employs 40 people across its four service locations. “Textron Aviation and Premiair place a high value on nurturing the next generation of aviation talent,” explains Mortimer. “Besides on-the-job training, we ensure our engineering apprentices get time to study for the trade theory components, gain valuable hands-on experience in all essential elements of their apprenticeship, and are supported in their journey to attain their CASA licence. Therefore, we invest in our apprentices by fully funding and enrolling them into a Diploma of Aeroskills (mechanical or avionics) with an outcome of a licence on completion of their four-year apprenticeship.”

That diversity of skills has allowed the MRO to work on almost every aircraft flying in the country. Alongside its core Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker brands, it can service turboprop and jet aircraft from other OEMs alongside some non-type rated piston or turbine aircraft and even certain piston or turbine-engine helicopters. “There is a growing number of customers venturing into the light jet and midsize jet segments, and Australia is now home to two Cessna Citation Latitudes, the best-selling midsize business jet in the world.”

As we speak, most of its business comes from factory-direct aircraft maintenance, structural and components repair, component overhauls, aircraft refurbishments, and pre-purchased inspections. They’ll even kit out aircraft with special mission modifications and fit-outs. “We were recently named an International Authorized Installation and Service Center (AI&SC) in the APAC region for Wipline Floats and Wipaire products,” says Mortimer. “As an AI&SC, we can provide installation and maintenance for Wipline 8750A and 8750S floats, and designated Wipaire modifications for Cessna Caravan models such as Single Point Fueling, extended baggage compartment and famed Aurora Interiors.”

But in a still delicate market, what makes Premiair stand out from its competitors? “Textron Aviation and Premiair service centres are known for their relationships, customer care and satisfaction. Our teams support customers, and customers can expect a consistent level of exceptional factory-direct service and support at all company-owned locations. As the OEM, we can also support in-region customers with their parts needs from a parts distribution centre in Australia – co-located with our Melbourne service centre.”

Premiair’s unique little-and-large relationship with parent company Textron gives customers the dual perks of working with a specialist while having heft behind it. Textron is still the largest general aviation manufacturer globally, and its OEMs account for half of all general aviation flying worldwide. It leads the APAC market with approximately 1,400 aircraft operating in the region and an installed base nearly five times as large as the closest competitor.

The wider business can trace its lineage back more than 90 years to Wichita, Kansas when Clyde Cessna first set up the Cessna Aircraft Company and Walter Beech started the Beech Aircraft Corporation. Textron Aviation, however, was born in just March 2014, following Textron Inc’s acquisition of Beech Holdings, which included Beechcraft and Hawker. Australia continues to be one of the business’s largest markets, with more than 60 new turbine deliveries between 2013 and 2022. Its deliveries also comprised 65 per cent of all general aviation turboprop deliveries in APAC from 2013- 2022.

What, though, of Premiair’s future? “Over the past 20 years, we have, and continue to demonstrate our ongoing dedication to delivering exceptional quality and seamless support to customers in Australia,” says Mortimer. “The team will continue to pursue new certifications, technical capabilities and access to factory-direct service centres to serve our customers best.”

Sponsored by Textron Aviation