Cleveland, Ohio-headquartered MRO Constant Aviation has received certification from the Brazilian ANAC. The certification grants approval for Constant to provide maintenance and non-destructive testing specialised services to an array of airframe and engine models registered in Brazil.

This certification adds to a growing list of international certifications held by Constant. “Certainly, the proximity of our Florida location to South America opens additional opportunities for us to welcome international clients,” states president and CEO Stephen Maiden. ”Our network of facilities across the United States has experience working with international authorities including TCCA, DGAC and EASA.”

The certification process required onsite audit and inspections with ANAC authorities, a Portuguese language version of specified manuals, along with facility staff that can speak the language and serve as a communication liaison with the customer. The MRO has had a long relationship with Brazilian based Embraer, being named one of the first EMB-135 authorised service centres in the United States in 2001.

Constant Aviation has also successfully delivered its 15th Bombardier Challenger 300 7,500-cycle inspection event. This maintenance inspection is the most comprehensive inspection on the Challenger 300 airframe, requiring extensive dismantling, significant NDT testing, ground service equipment tooling and expert training. According to the company only eighteen such inspections have been completed to date worldwide.

“Our expertise and execution of this inspection is unmatched in the industry,” notes president and CEO Stephen Maiden. “It is a testament to the hard work, dedication and fanatical attention to detail that our teams deliver for our clients each and every day.”

Inspections of this magnitude are rare in the industry. The Bombardier Challenger 300 fleet, first introduced in 2004, is just beginning to reach this inspection milestone, which is often referred to as the ‘mid-life’ inspection. “As the premier provider for this inspection, we have accumulated more than 150,000 man-hours of experience,” adds Maiden. “We have learned and gained efficiencies from the experience. The first delivery required more than 10,000 man-hours. Now with 15 delivered, we are truly efficient with a streamlined and repeatable system in place that optimises all of the intricate processes.”

A total of 457 Challenger 300 aircraft were manufactured, with most still in operation today.