Expansion on the horizon for Janahi and TS&S

Abu Dhabi’s Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S) is counting on market demand to guide its development, and advanced technology to make it a success. Chuck Grieve reports.

Growth is on the cards for the new deputy chief executive officer of Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S), Mansoor Janahi, who joined the Abu Dhabi MRO in November.
As the new head of a team of 300 employees, Janahi is already pursuing opportunities that will expand TS&S Aerospace’s scope of operations and the way it works.
“We recently signed some exciting memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with global companies that promise to transform our future,” he said. Chief among these are MoUs with IBM for the development of smart systems for service optimisation and predictive maintenance, and with Honeywell for capability on three Honeywell auxiliary power units (APUs).
Janahi also drew attention to TS&S’ entry into the Southeast Asian market with a new partnership agreement between TS&S Industrial – the sister business unit to TS&S Aerospace – and Pt Multi Fabrindo Gemilang (Multifab) of Indonesia. He said: “While this is specifically an oil and gas-related project, I look forward to expanding our client base across other industries and countries.”
Janahi said the TS&S business has “expanded significantly” since 2011. He watched its progress from his position as asset manager at Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, another member of the Mubadala Group, which he joined in 2008 after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Before his new appointment, Janahi was vice-president of Mubadala’s aerospace, renewables and ICT platform, where he spearheaded the unit’s business development and asset management activities. Among his responsibilities was leading the Al Ain-based composite materials manufacturing joint venture project with Solvay.
He said: “We aim to expand our product portfolio in line with emerging market demands. Our focus is on implementing advanced technology solutions that optimise service offerings.”
Among plans are the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility for servicing new generation engines, such as the General Electric GEnx and Rolls-Royce Trent XWB, via an agreement with Mubadala and in partnership with current original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners.
The MoU with Honeywell will bring capability on three Honeywell APUs to the Middle East and allow TS&S to focus on different aspects of MRO, including spares pool management, predictive maintenance and associated connectivity, all of which “would bring advanced technologies into our services portfolio”, said Janahi.
Cooperation with Honeywell may present opportunities with other Mubadala aerospace businesses, he said. “We intend to explore aircraft engine and component leasing, as well as next generation air traffic management solutions and the manufacture of advanced materials in the region.”
This means there is potential to leverage synergies with Sanad Aero Solutions, an aviation leasing and financing company, and Strata Manufacturing PJSC, an advanced aero-structures manufacturing company. Such leverage is an integral part of promoting Abu Dhabi’s ambition of becoming a major aviation and aerospace services hub.
“TS&S actively supports the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 in creating a knowledge-based economy in line with the nation’s diversification efforts,” said Janahi.
The company also takes seriously its duty to help bring young Emiratis into the industry. Since 2015, it has been in the vanguard of this effort with a two-year training programme called ‘Fani Wa Aftekher’ – ‘I am a proud technician’ in Arabic – that encourages young Emiratis to explore vocational education in applied aviation technical training.
Working in partnership with Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, TS&S piloted the programme to attract secondary school graduates and encourage them to continue into higher education. Fani Wa Aftekher offers participants accredited vocational training at specialised institutions, as well as on-the-job training at TS&S workshops in Abu Dhabi.
“As of today, we have 25 students enrolled in the programme,” said Janahi. “Our aim is to encourage and develop Emiratis by providing them with training opportunities to gain solid engineering and technical skills en route to becoming qualified aviation technicians.”
Janahi said he was “inspired” by the capability and dedication of the TS&S workforce. “There is no doubt that TS&S is among the leading MRO providers for turbines in the region, and it has given me great pride to join its leadership team.”