March 1, 2010 – Aerostructures Middle East Services (AMES) formally inaugurated its new facility in Dubai today, bringing highly competitive jet engine nacelle repair capabilities to airline operators throughout the Middle East region.

Located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, this 2,200-square-meter installation provides repair and overhaul services that benefit from the expertise of AMES’ two parent companies: Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance, and Aircelle of the Safran Group.

AMES was created to support the Middle East’s jetliner fleets of Airbus A320s, A330s, A340s and A380s; Boeing 747s, 767s and 777s, along with McDonnell Douglas MD-11s and Embraer 170/175s. More than 390 of these aircraft currently are in the active inventories of the area’s airlines, with some 200 additional jetliners on order.

The primary focus for AMES is the repair of fan thrust reversers, with the additional capability to handle other nacelle components such as air inlets, cowl doors and nozzles. Its central location in the United Arab Emirates between Dubai and Abu Dhabi enables the company to efficiently serve a region that covers Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as neighboring countries.

“AMES provides a unique commercial and industrial offer that is backed by Air France Industries as a top provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services, along with Aircelle’s capabilities as a leading original equipment manufacturer of small, medium and large engine nacelles,” said AMES General Manager Antoine Succar.

“Our services are tailored to meet all of the market’s expectations, with solutions that range from repair and overhaul to logistics, spares and on-site support at customer locations,” explained François Vitti, the Manager of Operations and Customer Support at AMES. “Our business plan is supported by the full resources of our two parent companies.”

The AMES operation in Dubai is being certified to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 airworthiness standards, and it already has initiated industrial activity with the repair of Rolls-Royce Trent 700 thrust reverser doors for a large Middle East airline’s Airbus A330 fleet. Preparations also are underway for this month’s introduction of repair and overhaul services on CFM International CFM56 engines.

AMES’ industrial installation at Dubai has 16 work stations (eight for large engines used on jetliners that include the A330, A380, and 777; and another eight for smaller engines that power such aircraft as the A320 and A340), along with a clean room for composite repairs, a milling shop and a paint booth. The 11,000-square-meter site on which the facility is located allows for growth as the company’s business and capabilities expand in the future.

About Ames (Website: http://www.ames-fzco.ae)
A joint venture set up by AFI KLM E&M and Aircelle Safran Group, AMES is an essential player in the market for engine nacelle overhaul and maintenance.
Located in Dubai, at the operational core of key Middle East airlines, AMES offers the combined know-how of a leading MRO and OEM, delivering highly-effective, rapid-response aircraft maintenance solutions.

About Aircelle (Website: www.aircelle.com)
Aircelle is one of the leading players in the worldwide nacelle market for aircraft engines. A member of the Safran group, it employs approximately 3,000 persons at seven sites in France, the United Kingdom and Morocco. Aircelle is the only nacelle manufacturer present on all the market segments, from regional jets and corporate aircraft to the largest airliners.

About AFI KLM E&M (Website: www.afiklmem.com)
Following the merger between Air France and KLM, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance joined forces to become the world-leading multi-product MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) provider. With a joint workforce of over 14,000, AFI KLM E&M offers comprehensive technical support capabilities for airline operators ranging from engineering and aerostructures work to the management, repair and supply of aircraft parts and components, backed by a powerful logistics network. Together they support more than 1,230 aircraft operated by over 150 major international airlines.

For more information:

Connect to : www.ames-fzco.ae or contact :

AFI KLM E&M
External Communications Director
Nicole Goineau
Phone : +33 (0)1 49348721
e-mail : nigoineau@airfrance.fr

AIRCELLE
Communication
Frédérique Thomas
Phone: +33 (0)1 30 07 90 14
e-mail : frederique.thomas@aircelle.com