Piaggio Aerospace signs a 35 million euro contract for engine maintenance
A few days after the announcement of the sale of a P.180 aircraft to a
US customer, Piaggio Aerospace, specifically its Engine Division, signs
a new contract - worth about 35 million euros, including 3.5 million for
optional services - with the Italian Ministry of Defence for maintenance
of the Rolls-Royce GEM MK1004 engines, mounted on the AW129
"Mangusta" helicopters operated by the Italian Army.
The contract has been negotiated with the Directorate of Aeronautical
Armaments and Airworthiness, part of the Ministry of Defence, and it will last
nine years. In further details, it commits Piaggio Aerospace to carry out
repair, inspection and maintenance activities of engines in the operational
areas, as well as to implement technical analysis and investigations on the
propulsion system. Piaggio Aerospace will also guarantee the relevant logistic
support.
"With this new contract, Piaggio Aerospace strengthens the support
activity for the engine sector of the Armed Forces, implementing the project to
make the company one of the national centres for the maintenance of
institutional fleets’ engines", commented Vincenzo Nicastro, Extraordinary
Commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace. "In addition, the company's order
book is becoming significantly more valuable. In the coming weeks",
continued Nicastro, "I am confident we will be able to identify the most
suitable buyer that will make the most of the company’s potential and - after
the necessary authorizations - manage the relaunch process in its own right
".
Piaggio Aerospace is a Rolls-Royce licensee for the GEM MK1004 engine and
has contributed to the drafting of the logistical and maintenance plans
necessary to meet the operational needs of the Italian Army.