Dedienne Aerospace started in 1946 and has developed into an international business supplying ground support equipment through contracts with major OEMs like Airbus and Boeing. A key contract with Airbus in 2003 to supply equipment for the A380 line prompted the company to modernize its operations and design multi-functional equipment to serve multiple aircraft types. Dedienne is now building a global network of production, repair, and customer support centers to better serve customers worldwide.

1. Ground support equipment
From the
ground up
Ground support equipment may not be the most exciting area of aviation, but it
has allowed Dedienne Aerospace to develop a thriving international business that
counts Airbus among its clients
J
ean Claude Volot formed Dedienne followed in 1989 by work from boeing and CFM flaps and engine positioning. This required
Aerospace in Toulouse in 1946; since International (CFMI), it remained a fairly modest considerable research and development, not just
then it has been manufacturing concern, says Cédric barbe, CEO. This changed because of the size of the tooling, but also
production line and maintenance tooling, as in 2003, when it won a contract from Airbus to because it had to handle new technology like
well as a range of ground servicing equipment develop tooling for the A380 Final Assembly Line, composite components.
– such as tank filling pumps for APus and IDGs; including tripod jacks and various tooling for The jacking system for such a large aircraft
towbars for 80% of aircraft types as well as removal and installation equipment for also required special techniques so the company
helicopters; trolleys, stands and racks, and tripod landing gear doors, ram air turbines, developed a computer control system called
and axle jacks for a range of applications.
While the company was successful in
All new products are designed to be flexible – this jack can be used for the A320
obtaining an Airbus licence in 1983, and the 737 (photo: Dedienne Aerospace)
56 MRO Management www.mromanagement.com − March 2011

2. Ground support equipment
FEIC (Flux d’Echanges d’Information Continue), In the following year, Dedienne acquired the
which ensures through constant feedback that engine stand business of Sabena technics. This
the aircraft is being lifted at the same rate by prompted a closer look at the design and
each jack and remains horizontal. initiated the development of a range of improved
The A380 contract was also an opportunity to workshop equipment. Licences have already
reassess how the company was operating and been granted by Pratt & Whitney and CFMI
where it should be going, says barbe. The decision (Snecma). Design-to-cost produced savings of
was made to move from a ‘craftsman’ approach, 18% and the design was adapted so that one
where each product was unique and assembled workshop engine stand could handle both the
by skilled personnel, to a more industrial enterprise. CFM56 and IAE V2500. Collapsible support arms
One of the first steps was the replacement of 15 were also introduced, which lie flat for transport,
CNC machines, and these are now upgraded every allowing 16 to be stacked in an ISO 40ft container.
three years in a rolling programme. The results have seen sales soar from €7 million
In 2007, it was also decided that future in 2007 to €15 million this year, with a forecast
products should be designed-to-cost and multi- of €30 million by 2015.
functional. This was recognition that many large The latest project is to develop a range of
EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering has its test
airlines and MROs have to look after a range of engine transport stands, up to and including rig for jacks and may become a repair partner
aircraft types, and having equipment unique the GP7200 for the A380. barbe says the main (photo: EgyptAir)
to each type was a significant cost burden, challenge is not the size of the engine and
especially with the need for regular inspection, getting it to fit through the doors of freighters,
calibration, repair/overhaul, recertification and but ensuring the integrity of the stand. This will open in August 2011. This will have 4,000m² of
load testing. In addition, ease of use was also place even greater emphasis on CATIA and NX workshops and 1,000m² of office space, plus a
integrated into the design – an Airbus A320 and finite element analysis at the design stage. test facility. A new 1,000m² facility with manufac-
system can now be installed in two hours. The As tooling is not a core activity for many turing and repair facilities and testing up to 150
first step was jacks that were suitable for A320 MRO facilities, Dedienne had developed Total tons recently opened in Zhuhai in China, close
Family and boeing 737 aircraft, taking into Care Agreements with Air France Industries, to the MTu Maintenance engine repair facility
account the higher ground clearance of the Egyptair, HAECO and STAECO among others, and to Hong Kong. Customer support will be
Airbus types. This reduced costs by 20% but also taking total responsibility for all aspects of based in south-east Asia. Although North and
made the equipment more reliable and easier supply and overhaul. South America have been covered for 10 years,
to transport and install. the company has recently moved to a new facility
At the same time, a tools inventory for most Network in Miami, while a customer support centre is
aircraft started to be built up, to be held ready The company is now building a global network planned for the São Paulo region in brazil. Other
for immediate shipment to meet AOG or other of production centres, customer support centres, customer support centres are foreseen in the
urgent requirements. He points out that lifting and repair centres. barbe says the idea is to divide Middle East and India (Mumbai or Delhi). All
jacks may be required for aircraft recovery after the world into three zones, each of which will facilities will be linked through a Sage SAFE X3
an incident as well as for routine maintenance, have a production plant and a repair facility. In enterprise resources planning system. Amir
so the ability to provide a fast response is critical. addition, there will be a number of customer Mekhaeil, Sales Manager, Middle East & India
This stock has now reached more than 3,500 support centres. says the support teams will be flexible and
items worth over €4 million ($5.5 million) and is In Toulouse, where the company is multicultural, in order to develop a strong
distributed between the company’s three bases headquartered, construction has just started on relationship with customers.
in France, the uS and China. a new €5 million factory that is scheduled to As some of the equipment is heavy, having a
repair and overhaul facility within a reasonable
distance helps the customers to reduce their
A new development is engine transport costs. It also means that duplicate
transport stands. This CATIA
design image shows a stand that
equipment has to be purchased to avoid delays
can be used for the CFM56 and to aircraft in the hangar if something is away.
V2500 (photo: Dedienne Aerospace) Equally, a fast turnaround time is important, as
even a small, cheap tool could cause an AOG if
it is not serviceable when it is needed. This has
been the case with Egyptair Maintenance &
Engineering (see MRO Management, Winter 2007),
which has become a major customer with the
purchase of a testing column and is close to
becoming a test, repair and overhaul partner in
the Middle East and Africa, says Mekhaeil.
58 MRO Management www.mromanagement.com − March 2011