14 November 2025
Philippines-based Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) company Dornier Technology has secured FAA certification for heavy maintenance work on the Airbus A320 family aircraft, covering both A320neos and A320ceos.
The certification brings a new milestone for the 17-year-old company, which currently holds certifications from regulators in the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea.
“This allows us to bid for more
work not just from the local carriers, but also in the Southeast Asian
region in particular, because were close enough that it still makes
sense for them to bring over.” Dornier’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Gitsis said.
According to Gitsis, airframe maintenance makes up about 65% of the company’s work, with line maintenance making up the remaining 35%.
Heavy maintenance checks are done at its main MRO facility at Clark airport in Pampanga while it also operates line maintenance capabilities at airports in Cebu, Davao and Manila.
Line maintenance refers to the routine maintenance tasks performed on aircraft between flights. It typically occurs at the line station, which is an operational location where aircraft arrive and depart. Line maintenance activities are aimed at promptly resolving minor issues, conducting inspections, and ensuring that the aircraft is safe and airworthy for its next flight.
These tasks include visual inspections, fluid replenishment, tire changes, minor repairs, and troubleshooting.
Line maintenance is “an important stream of revenue” for Dornier, but “the core of our business” is in base maintenance, and will be an area of long-term growth, says Gitsis.
With FAA certification the company is looking to expand into end-of-lease checks and is “talking to” several lessors, and “planning some work in the near future”.
MROs taking on end-of-lease checks are required to have FAA and/or EASA certification should they be return to service in the future.
