September-October 2022 - 30

MRO FOCUS
Like many others in the industry,
Heston MRO is challenged with
finding skilled labor. Tackling
the problem head-on, they are
increasing their in-house training
programs while also devoting
resources to recruitment efforts
both at home and abroad.
HESTON MRO
into a more robust engines solution for airlines, leasing
companies and OEMs, Zirlyte explained.
When all these parallel initiatives mature, she
said Heston MRO will be a full-range one-stop shop
independent MRO provider in Australasia with the
wide scope of MRO services, differentiated through
technology and efficiency.
Zirlyte describes business today as challenging
but interesting, with many business opportunities
that would never have appeared during good and
smooth times.
" Each crisis and industry shock is providing
opportunities - we are keen to explore each and
every one of them, " she said.
Heston MRO entered the COVID-19 pandemic
with a business structure fully focused on international
air traffic entering Australia. With Australian
international and interstate borders closed, they
didn't have much space to derive any meaningful
revenue from the incumbent business. Those years,
2020 and 2021, were the most trying years in the
company's 30-year history.
" Heston MRO team decided to pivot dramatically
and focus on grounded aircraft around Australia
and within our region, offering short-term and longterm
aircraft parking and storage solutions, engine
removal and installation, borescope inspections,
etc. while servicing the growing cargo operation
within the network of our stations, " Zirlyte said.
At the same time, Heston expanded their B737NG
engineer pool and made investments in tooling to
focus on domestic customer Regional Express in
their initiative to operate B737s on Australian East
Coast trunk routes.
" It is a challenge given the size of market and the
competition in Australia, in the region and globally, "
30 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Zirlyte said of the current climate of the aviation
industry. " The sudden upswing of the aviation
industry in the post-COVID era has seen a rapid
increase in the flights and movement around the
country. These challenges are further compounded
by the shortage of skilled labor as all the companies
gear up their activities. "
Heston MRO is, like many others, is struggling
with staffing issues.
" The supply of trained and skilled staff has been
uppermost in our minds. Increasing the capability
of our in-house P147 and also P145 technical training
school is one way of upskilling those whom we
already have while we engage in manpower resources
search locally and abroad and also attracting
young, inexperienced people, projecting individual
career plans and building competencies skill set as
our long-term strategy, " said Zirlyte.
The tight labor market and aging baby boomer
workforce is causing a rethink of the benefits of
an apprenticeship and training of staff from the
ground up, Zirlyte added. Too few people are infused
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
September-October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September-October 2022
