APOC Component Repair Shop (APOC-CRS) has been awarded European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval for Airbus and Boeing narrowbody NiCd battery MRO.

The component repair shop is located between Schiphol and Rotterdam airports, and is part of the APOC Aviation group of companies.

As an approved repair facility for SAFT NiCd Batteries, APOC-CRS said it had the potential to quickly expand to other battery types including widebodies like the A330, and particularly Embraer batteries for regional aircraft operators servicing larger airport hubs in Europe.

The process to achieve Part 145 certification took 18 months, from the creation of the Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE) to investment in tooling, equipment, and MRO software.

The recruitment and training of repair technicians has been crucial to APOC-CRS’ ambitious ramp-up, according to workshop manager Danny Goergen. “We occupy modern facilities with ample room for expansion, storage, and ancillary services such as training,” he said. “We have consciously built a replicable blueprint from scratch that we can ultimately emulate in other markets, such as the US.”

Max Lutje Wooldrik, accountable manager for APOC-CRS and CEO of APOC Aviation, commented: “With years of experience sourcing, auditing, and managing repair shop relationships we wanted to explore and set up a separate MRO capability that engineered out the issues we face on a daily basis regarding quality and timely repairs.

“We will have the capability to implement incisive solutions for supply-chain issues and provide critical and essential component piece parts underpinned by dynamic and up-to-date repair kits that are constantly updated with the data we collect via smart and automated measuring systems. This not only ensures quality and speed of battery repair and overhaul, but also fair and transparent pricing for customers.”

APOC-CRS will now work towards obtaining FAA approval in the coming months and thereafter the CAAC approval.

“We have a clear plan and the ability to shape what we do to meet customer needs,” said Goergen.  “Already we are being asked to look at specialist battery repair programmes for airlines and to take up shop overflow work from leading MROs. We foresaw this demand when we built the business case for setting up APOC-CRS as a separate business just over two years ago.

“We would like to acknowledge the excellent help and support of the Civil Aviation Authority Netherlands (CAA-NL) in securing our EASA Part 145 approval. As we embark on our steady journey to build the reputation for our new component repair shop we have a global footprint in our sights.”