Muhiddin's taste for the big AMAC

Swiss-based AMAC Aerospace is bolstering its presence in the MENA region. Vincent Chappard talked to group executive chairman and CEO, Kadri Muhiddin, to find out more.

Founded in 2007 to serve the VIP/VVIP demand, AMAC Aerospace is today a private ‘group of companies’ that span the width of Europe and have a presence in Turkey and Lebanon.

It operates a network of seven hangars for mid-size, narrow and wide-body jets, dedicated to maintenance, modifications activities and completion works.

The group showcased its products and services for the first time at the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) Show Morocco last year.

“Africa is a growing market. It is not mature yet as compared to Europe or the Middle-East. The Middle East has reached a level where you can speak comfortably about private aircraft,” said Muhiddin. “So, like aircraft manufacturers, MRO or completion centres, we want to show that business aviation is not a secret.”

AMAC Aerospace has a strong presence in the MENA region to support clients specialising in MRO activities and for completion or refurbishment.

“We have seen this market develop across the board with mid-size jets, narrow-bodies and wide-bodies,” he added.

According to AMAC, enlarging and/or replacing fleet platforms, requires expertise in MRO as well as in-depth understanding and know-how. Interiors are typically capped at a 10-year life-cycle and, therefore, the wear and tear on the interior also needs to be followed up regularly.

“We can efficiently and quickly take decisions where our competitors might take longer,” said Muhiddin. “We understand the client’s requirements based on the aircraft itself or the mission types the aircraft will need to complete.”

AMAC is the official authorised service facility (ASF) for Bombardier in Europe. Since 2018, the company has completed nearly 70 maintenance inputs at its headquarters in Switzerland. It offers an array of services, from new SATCOM installations and specific maintenance to trouble shooting and aircraft-on-ground (AOG) services.

AMAC is also the exclusive sales distributor of the Pilatus PC-12 NG in the Middle East. “This aircraft offers an incomparably versatile combination of capacity, amenity, speed, range and performance,” said Muhiddin.

The Swiss company has two maintenance facilities in Turkey; it is also the official maintenance centre for the PC-12 NG and Dassault 900 and 2000 jets.

Its Istanbul plant is located within an area of the Atatürk International Airport that facilitates VIP incoming and outgoing movements.


AMAC has also set up an additional hangar for MRO services at Milas-Bodrum Airport. It is the first to date to use a mixed business model.

“MRO operations in Istanbul are meant to promote Dassault maintenance opportunities and base and line maintenance for airliners in Bodrum during winter and business aviation-related services during summer,” explained Muhiddin.

AMAC signed two new contracts with Airbus in November and will welcome an A319 this year. With a developed supplemental type certification (STC), the company will install a Ka band system on the aircraft.

This month, a Boeing B737 is scheduled to arrive for a C3-check. AMAC will carry out a landing gear overhaul, an automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADSB)-out installation, a future air navigation system (FANS) installation and a partial cabin refurbishment.

The company is also looking forward to working on the cabin refurbishment on a Bombardier Global 5000.