Aircraft Propeller Service Opens First Asian MRO Facility In Shah Alam

SHAH ALAM, June 24 (Bernama) -- Aircraft Propeller Service (APS), a global leader in aircraft propeller maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), today opened its new facility Shah Alam, Selangor, marking its first MRO centre in Asia.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari welcomed the APS’s entry, saying it brings greater specialisation to the maintenance of aircraft propellers used in turboprop aircraft such as those manufactured by ATR, Embraer, and even Airbus.

“This development further strengthens our aerospace ecosystem as nearly 67 per cent of Malaysia’s total MRO activities are already based in Selangor. I am confident that with APS now part of our MRO industry, we are on track to achieve our target of capturing 70 per cent of national MRO activities by 2030,” he said during his speech at the official opening of the APS MRO facility here.

Amirudin said APS’s decision to select Selangor as its third operating base after Brazil and the United States (US) underscores the growing confidence in the state’s strategic geographic location, skilled workforce, transparent regulatory environment, and position as the gateway to ASEAN. 

APS is currently the only MRO company in Asia and the Americas licensed to perform original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-proprietary 568F propeller repairs under an agreement with Collins Aerospace, the propeller manufacturer. 

With facilities in Malaysia, the US and Brazil, APS is strategically positioned to support key turboprop fleets across multiple regions. As a Collins Aerospace-licensed repair facility, the company has access to technical publications and uses OEM approved materials and processes. 

Speaking at the event, APS chief executive officer Daniel Colbert said the new facility represents a strategic investment in workforce development and technical excellence, and also bringing the company closer to its regional customers. 

“The region’s strategic location was one of the main reasons in selecting Selangor for our third expansion. In addition to excellent infrastructure and skilled workforce, the ease of doing business and transparency working with Invest Selangor, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and local authorities makes the process smooth,” he said, adding the company has hired 100 per cent local employees.

The new 30,096 square-foot facility involving an investment of than US$1 million (US$1-RM4.27) features a temperature and humidity-controlled factory floor and a three-story administrative office. It will offer full in-house MRO capabilities for ATR 42/72 and Airbus C295 propellers, with plans to introduce further MRO capabilities over time.

The Selangor facility is APS’s first in Asia and complements its existing operations in the US and Brazil. It has already been certified by both the US Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, with certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and other authorities expected to follow.

-- BERNAMA