APS To Begin Kuala Lumpur Blade Servicing In 2025, Eyes India Facility

SINGAPORE—Aircraft Propeller Service (APS) is looking to commence propeller blade servicing at its Kuala Lumpur facility as early as the first quarter of 2025, as soon as it receives certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the FAA.

The 30,000-ft.² building will initially have the capability to service the Collins Aerospace 568F blades used on ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops. Over the first eight months of 2025, it will induct more capabilities for six other propeller components.

Currently 10 Malaysian technicians are undergoing training at APS headquarters in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and another 10 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

APS CEO Dan Colbert tells Aviation Week here at MRO Asia-Pacific in Singapore that he envisions the Kuala Lumpur office as its hub in the Asia-Pacific. He has an eye on a possible satellite facility in India, which a growing market for turboprops.

“India is a huge new market, and probably makes sense very quickly to have a satellite facility where we can do the basic repairs and inspections, but for the overhauls and major work, the center of excellence would be in Kuala Lumpur,” Colbert says.

Colbert says like its turbofan counterparts, the turboprop community is also facing similar supply chain issues.

“The advantage APS has is that we're so close to the OEM as a licensee that we have a very special relationship, and we also have long-term agreements in place as an MRO provider to ATR and Airbus Defense. We're top of the list after the OEM, and APS is next,” he adds.

The push to India coincides with the Indian Air Force's large order for 66 C295 military transport aircraft. APS has a 10-year agreement with Airbus Defense to serve its customers, which covers the CN235 and C295 turboprop-powered transports.