In the heart of Central Europe, where precision engineering meets unwavering dedication, Job Air Technic a.s. stands as a beacon of excellence in aircraft maintenance. Founded in 1993 and part of the Czechoslovak Group since 2016, Job Air Technic has evolved from a modest maintenance hub into one of the region’s largest and most sophisticated maintenance centers.
A major turning point came in 2006 with the construction of a state-of-the-art maintenance hangar, among the largest in the area, and the establishment of new, modern shops just four years ago. These facilities, equipped with advanced technology, have significantly enhanced their competitiveness. As an EASA/FAA Part 145 approved maintenance organization and an EASA Part 147 approved training organization, Job Air Technic specializes in maintaining a wide range of aircraft, including the Boeing 737 (various series including MAX), Airbus A320 (including NEO), and Airbus A330. Their comprehensive services cover base maintenance, major structural repairs, avionic upgrades, and more. Their avionic shop, particularly noted for its battery maintenance capabilities, serves a variety of aircraft, including those from Airbus and Boeing.
A significant milestone was reached in November 2022 when Job Air Technic took on the maintenance and repair of the Czech Air Force’s A319CJ aircraft. These aircraft, essential for government officials, athletes, evacuations, and military transport, are under a service contract with the Czech Ministry of Defense valid until 2029. This contract covers comprehensive operation and service support, including maintenance, airworthiness management, spare parts management, technical assistance, and training for crew and technical personnel.
Leading the charge is Leoš David, the commercial director, whose over 25 years of experience in both civil and military aviation have been crucial in expanding Job Air Technic’s customer base and establishing its reputation as a reliable partner in aircraft maintenance. In this interview, David shares insights into the company’s strategies and innovations that have positioned them at the forefront of the aircraft maintenance industry. He discusses their approach to maintaining government aircraft, their steadfast commitment to safety and reliability, and how they continuously adapt to meet evolving customer demands.
What specific steps are you planning to take to ensure maximum reliability and safety in the maintenance of government aircraft?
As an EASA Part 145 approved maintenance organization, we prioritize maximum reliability and safety through a dedicated project team comprising highly experienced professionals, including a production planner, their deputy, a logistician and their deputy, and a project manager. Our team includes some of the most skilled technicians in the industry, all licensed and type-rated on Airbus A320 aircraft (including A319). These experts ensure that government aircraft always have a reserved spot in the hangar, allowing us to respond quickly and efficiently to their service needs. Our procedures are meticulously standardized and regularly audited to meet the highest safety standards. Despite having the government aircraft contract for just two years, our extensive experience and the expertise of our team in aircraft maintenance enable us to minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Aircraft maintenance is a realm of precise rules and procedures, executed by professionals who excel in their field, not through improvisation. Our strong partnerships, such as the one with Airbus, further affirm our capabilities and adherence to exemplary standards.
Does this service serve as a reference when dealing with other customers?
Yes, maintaining government aircraft is an excellent reference for us. We often use it to demonstrate our ability to provide exceptional services and maintain the highest levels of safety and reliability. This reference helps us when negotiating with other customers and building trust in our capabilities. It shows our commitment to excellence and the trust placed in us by high-profile clients.
How do you ensure that government aircraft always have an immediate spot in the hangar for unplanned service requests, and what impact does this have on capacity for other customers?
As mentioned earlier, we have a dedicated project team that handles planning and logistics, and we always have a reserved spot in the hangar for government aircraft. We have eight service bays, with up to five allocated for heavy maintenance at any given time, and three reserved for contingencies. This approach ensures that we can quickly respond to unplanned service requests without compromising capacity for other customers.
Maintenance of government aircraft requires specific procedures and high safety standards. What special training and certifications must your technicians undergo to work on these aircraft, and how do these requirements affect regular operational practices?
Our technicians are licensed and type-rated on Airbus A320 aircraft (including A319). Maintenance of government aircraft requires our most experienced team members to work on these projects. As I mentioned, all procedures are standardized, ensuring that technicians are well-versed in the requirements and processes. Thanks to their experience and knowledge, we can expedite the entire process and ensure high safety standards in the shortest possible time.
What new technologies and innovations are you planning to implement in avionics and aircraft maintenance to keep JAT at the forefront of the industry?
We plan to introduce a new software called JATIS (Job Air Technic Information System), developed by CS Soft, also part of the Czechoslovak Group. JATIS uses artificial intelligence to optimize technological processes and verify the availability of materials for specific tasks. This advanced system streamlines our processes and ensures that all necessary materials and tools are available in real-time. Our avionics shop is highly modern and equipped to handle various avionics modifications. We have a highly experienced team of avionics technicians who can perform any avionics upgrade, allowing us to be flexible and quickly respond to customer demands. Additionally, our modern shops, only four years old, include metal, composite, interior, and avionics shops, which is already a significant competitive advantage. Moreover, being a fully approved training organization under EASA Part 147 allows us to provide comprehensive training for our employees and third parties.
Media reports have suggested that JAT lacks sufficient capacity and expertise, especially in engine repairs, causing maintenance issues. How do you respond to these criticisms, and how do you collaborate with other companies or partners to address these issues?
Criticisms about our capabilities are unfounded. We have a robust team of over 350 highly trained and certified technicians who ensure all maintenance work meets stringent safety standards. Moreover, we want to offer even more comprehensive support, so we are close to finalizing a framework agreement with Air France for engine repairs. This agreement will allow us to perform engine repairs not only for government aircraft but also for other customers. We can carry out standard engine repairs that fall under aircraft maintenance, but we cannot perform repairs classified under engine maintenance. Our goal is to be ready for any situation and provide comprehensive services to our customers.
How are your customers’ requirements changing, and how are you meeting them?
Our customers increasingly demand quick and flexible technical support. In response, we established the GO Team in 2022, which provides technical support worldwide. The GO Team is a mobile unit capable of quickly responding to emergencies and offering a wide range of technical support. Since April 2023, we also hold CAMO certification, enabling us to ensure continuous airworthiness and manage the technical aspects of aircraft transfer projects on behalf of leasing companies and financiers.
The GO Team at Job Air Technic has already achieved notable successes. For example, their most distant deployment was to Japan, and they have also worked in Cambodia. In India, Job Air Technic contracted a local MRO, which carried out the repair of the government aircraft. Support was provided from Mošnov, as it was the quickest solution. Despite significant bureaucratic challenges, they managed to bring the aircraft back to the Czech Republic in record time. Additionally, they successfully repaired a Russian Aeroflot aircraft that had been left unserviced for two years at Munich Airport following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They had to obtain a procedure from Airbus for such an extensive repair and completed it in a record six weeks in Munich. The aircraft is now in our hangar, and work continues. Our ability to quickly and efficiently resolve such complex issues showcases the creativity, adaptability, and quick decision-making required by our GO Team.
In aircraft maintenance, every step is meticulously planned and standardized, which is crucial for safety and reliability. However, deploying the GO Team requires creativity, adaptability, and quick decision-making. This dynamism is essential when technicians face unexpected situations worldwide and must quickly find solutions. They also evaluate whether to deploy their own GO Team or collaborate with local MROs to expedite the process, as was the case in India—Job Air Technic ensures and guarantees this communication.
Job Air Technic continually adapts to changing customer demands and introduces innovations to remain a leader in aircraft maintenance. Additionally, we have recently expanded our services with an e-shop for verified customers, where they can easily purchase and exchange spare parts or borrow tools. This e-shop is user-friendly and enables quick and efficient ordering.
Our dedication to excellence and innovation continues to drive us forward, ensuring we meet and exceed our customers’ expectations in every project we undertake.
By Katerina Urbanová ACE (Aerospace Central Europe)
