Batam Aero Technic (BAT) Develop Shop Facilities for Aircraft Component Care: Innovative Solutions Support National Aviation Industry and Economic Growth

Nov 28, 2024, 12:58 PM by Lion Air Public Relations

The development of various shops at Batam Aero Technic not only improves the operational efficiency of the airline, but also helps strengthen the competitiveness of the MRO industry in Indonesia globally. This is expected to contribute to the creation of local employment, strengthen the regional economy and reduce Indonesia's dependence on overseas MRO facilities.

B A T A M, November 24, 2024- Batam Aero Technic (BAT), maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) of Lion Group, continues to develop strategic development by expanding the shop, which is a special maintenance facility for aircraft components. Shop Facility Innovation: Specific Care for Various Aircraft Components in Batam Aero Technic consists:

• APU Shop, maintenance facilities devoted to maintenance, repair and overhaul Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), which is an important component of the aircraft. APU is a small engine that is usually located on the tail of the aircraft and serves to provide electric power and pressure air while the aircraft is on land, especially when the main engine is being turned off. In addition, the APU also helps to power the main engine when the plane will take off.
• Landing Gear Shop, responsible in repair and maintenance of landing wheel system. This component is vital to aviation safety, and the shop features the latest technology prioritizing that all aspects of landing gear are checked and improved according to international standards.
• Cabin Furnishing Shop (CFS), focus on maintenance, repair and maintenance of the aircraft's interior, including seats, cabin panels, carpets, and various other aspects of the aircraft's interior supporting passenger comfort. This facility ensures that any aircraft in BAT can maintain the standards of cleanliness, comfort and aesthetics that the airline wants.
• Avionics Shop, specializing the maintenance of aircraft electronic systems, such as navigation and communication devices. Avionics equipment is essential for flight safety and efficiency, and this shop ensures that all devices are working optimally with the latest technology.
• Composite Shop, responsible for repair of composite materials used in modern aircraft structures. This material is very lightweight yet strong, and accurate repair is very important to maintain the aircraft's structural.
• Propeller Shop in BAT, it is a special facility handling maintenance, inspection, repair and overhaul turboprop aircraft propeller. This facility is important because aircraft with turboprop engines, such as used by Wings Air, rely on propellers for operation. Propeller maintenance is essential to maintain flight efficiency, performance and safety.
• Propeller Shop in BAT, it is a special facility handling maintenance, inspection, repair and overhaul of several component propeller systems including turboprop aircraft propellers. This facility is important because the aircraft with turboprop engines, such as used by Wings Air, relies on propellers as the driving force of the aircraft. Propeller maintenance is essential to maintain flight efficiency, performance and safety. Currently, the propeller shop is working with MRO propeller in the United States for further development of capability and will file FAA certificates in the near future.
• Emergency Equipment Shop, specialized handling the maintenance, inspection and testing of emergency safety equipment on board. The equipment includes a wide range of critical components used in emergencies to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. Equipment handled at Emergency Equipment Shop include: Life jackets: individual safety equipment that passengers wear during emergencies over water; Oxygen masks: used in the event of a decrease in air pressure in the cabin, this mask automatically descends to provide oxygen for passengers; Emergency slides: used during evacuation of passengers from the aircraft in an emergency state.
• Wheel and Brake Shop, handle maintenance, repair and overhaul on aircraft wheels and brake systems. This component is essential to ensure safety when the aircraft land and take off. This facility handles a variety of tasks, such as: tire inspection: aircraft tires must be checked regularly to ensure no damage or excessive wear that can affect landing safety; overhaul brake system overhaul: aircraft brake system must be checked and repaired periodically to ensure optimal performance.
• Non-Destructive Test (NDT) Shop, provide testing without damaging the structure or components of the aircraft. NDT is an inspection technique used to detect defects or damage to aircraft components, such as cracks, corrosion, or internal damage, without the need to disassemble or damage those components. NDT techniques include: Ultrasonic testing: using sound waves to detect internal defects inside metal or composite materials; Radiographic testing: Using X-rays or gamma to detect damage inside the material; Magnetic particle inspection: this method is used to detect surface defects in ferromagnetic metal components: Holiday detector: detecting empty gaps on a non-conductive protective layer material, such as paint or anti-corrosion layer, which is applied to the metal surface; Vacuum test: detect leaks or damage to structures or connections to components such as fuel tanks, wings, or fuselage parts of the aircraft that must be airtight or liquid.
• Heat Exchanger Shop will be the maintenance and repair of heat exchanger components on aircraft. Heat Exchanger is a device that works to exchange heat between two media (usually air and cooling). This component plays a role in the cabin cooling system as well as the temperature control system on the aircraft.

For example, airlines in Indonesia with Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 often rely on APU to provide electric power when on land, especially in airports that do not have ground power units. The presence of APU Shop in BAT, the airline can perform APU repair directly in Indonesia without the need to send the unit abroad, thereby reducing the time of aircraft ground time or aircraft out of service, referring to the period when the aircraft is not operating due to maintenance, repair, inspection and improving operational efficiency.

Airlines operating on solid routes can rely on CFS at BAT to repair damaged seats or update the aircraft interior quickly and efficiently, so the aircraft is ready to fly in a shorter time.

Why is the development of shops in Batam Aero Technic (BAT) so important?

Benefits of the Flight Industry in Indonesia

The development of this shop facility has a huge impact on the national aviation industry. With the availability of domestic aircraft components maintenance, airlines can minimize aircraft downtime, reduce operational costs and improve flight efficiency. This step reduces dependence on overseas care facilities, strengthening the independence of the Indonesian aviation industry.

As a MRO center in the Southeast Asia region, BAT is expected to attract domestic and international airlines to conduct aircraft maintenance in Indonesia, increasing business flow from abroad and making Indonesia a regional MRO hub.

Improve Operational Efficiency

Development of shop facilities that focus on maintenance of specific components such as machinery, landing gear, avionics, hydraulics and composite materials, BAT can provide faster and efficient maintenance services. Airlines no longer need to send aircraft components abroad to be repaired, which can save repair time and reduce aircraft downtime. This allows the aircraft to return to operation immediately, thereby improving the airline's operational efficiency.

For example, national airlines that require landing gear maintenance can now do so at Landing Gear Shop in BAT without having to send it to treatment facilities in other countries, which could take weeks. This accelerates the repair process so that the aircraft can re-operate service.

Contributions to Local Society and Economy

In addition to the direct benefits for the aviation industry, the development of this shop facility has a positive impact on the community around Batam. With the growing range of facilities available, BAT creates more new jobs for local communities, especially in technical areas that require specialized expertise. BAT also holds training programs to improve labor skills, so it is able to compete at a global level in the aircraft maintenance industry.

As an illustration, Batam community now has more opportunities to work in the ever-growing aviation industry. In addition, the training BAT provides its employees to develop the special skills required in the field of aircraft component maintenance, providing a long-term impact on the development of local workforce.

Economic Impact and National Industrial Support

The development of this MRO facility also contributes to the growth of local and national economies. With BAT continuing to attract investment from abroad and increasing its competitiveness in the global market, Indonesia's aircraft maintenance sector is one of the fast-growing industrial sectors. It supports government programs strengthening the regional economy, especially in the Riau Islands region, which is one of the centers of aviation industry activities.

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