[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hoogerheide 20-06-2015 – Today Logistics Centre Woensdrecht (LCW) of the Royal Netherlands Air Force has expanded its network with Dutch companies and research institutes even further. During an Open Day for employees concrete steps were taken in order for the Ministry of Defence together with partners to improve their support on the operational side aiming to lower maintenance costs, increase aircraft availability and position The Netherlands for future F-35 maintenance. These forms of cooperation support the Maintenance Valley initiative and Business Parc Aviolanda to develop aviation related activities on or around Woensdrecht airbase.
On the picture in the back from left to right: Colonel James MacGillavry – Head of Maintenance & Logistics LCW, Lieutenant Colonel Marty van den Bersselaar – Squadron Commander, Edwin Smarius – Programme Manager Airborne Services, Arno van Mourik – CEO Airborne International, Colonel Mario Verbeek – Head of Programme Management LCW. In the front from left to right: Marco Brinkman – Managing Director Airborne Services, Air Commodore Eric Schevenhoven – Commander LCW.
For Airborne Services the way is open for rotor blade maintenance at Woensdrecht airbase. LCW Commander, Commodore Eric Schevenhoven and Airborne Services director, Marco Brinkman today signed an agreement for joint use of the LCW facilities at market prices. A Letter of Intent had already been signed in December 2014 between the Air Force and Airborne Services for a feasibility study for a composite repair centre for Airborne Services’ international clients at Woensdrecht airbase to be taken further with this step.
This initiative coincides with another signing event this week. During the Paris Air Show a Letter of Intent was signed for the establishment of the Dutch Composites Maintenance Centre (DCMC). This centre for research and innovation (consisting of Fokker, National Aerospace Laboratory NLR, Delft Technical University and Airborne Services) is to develop maintenance products, processes and services for composite aircraft parts. The DCMC will be located in the aviation maintenance cluster around Woensdrecht airbase.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]