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FIFO and charter operator Alliance has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with independent aerospace composite business Quickstep to support its Embraer E190 aircraft.
The MOU will see Quickstep provide component support for Alliance’s E190 fleet, which is expected to grow to 63 by 2026 following the purchase of 30 of the Embraer jets in February.
This will include onshore composite, metal and bonded component support; onshore nacelle support with OEM assistance; and on-site technical support at Alliance’s new Rockhampton heavy maintenance facility.
“It’s particularly important for the aviation industry in Australia that we work with suppliers like Quickstep to build onshore skill sets and repair capability to achieve prompt turnaround times on component repairs and maintenance,” said Alliance’s managing director, Scott McMillan.
“Alliance looks forward to working with Quickstep to turn this MOU into tangible infrastructure.”
Mark Burgess, Quickstep CEO and managing director, said Alliance is “a great Australian pioneer” with a large domestic fleet.
“Their fleet expansion program is expected to result in them growing to be the largest operator of the Embraer E190 in the world. Alliance have a strong desire to build domestic MRO capability as evidenced by their investment in Rockhampton,” he said.
“Quickstep is proud to be in a position to offer this Australian supply chain solution as Alliance continue their remarkable growth story.”
Alliance’s 30 new Embraer E190 aircraft were purchased from Dublin-based AerCap Ireland Limited, which had been leasing them to a US-based airline. Deliveries are expected to begin in September.
In April, the ACCC cited the E190 fleet expansion as one of its reasons for blocking Qantas’s proposed takeover of the FIFO carrier.
