Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS)

Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage, known as APAS, stores, maintains and returns commercial aircraft to service. Its facility is at Alice Springs Airport in the Northern Territory of Australia. The company has operated since 2014 and says it has stored, maintained and returned more than 250 commercial aircraft to service.

APAS describes its site as the largest dedicated commercial aircraft storage facility in the Asia-Pacific region. Alice Springs has a dry, low-humidity desert climate. The company says this suits corrosion prevention and long-term aircraft preservation. The airport has a 2.44 km runway and operates 24 hours a day with no curfew. The hardstand can hold up to 300 narrow and wide-body aircraft, with room to expand beyond 500.

Aircraft storage is the core service. Storage programs include induction to storage, periodic checks at 7, 14, 30, 60, 90, 180 and 365 day intervals, and return to service. Maintenance during storage covers defect rectification, landing gear retraction testing, component changes, engine removal and installation, and high-power engine testing.

Aircraft maintenance is carried out by Aerotech Aviation Pty Ltd, the group maintenance entity. Aerotech holds Part 145 approvals from CASA in Australia, EASA in the European Union and the FAA in the United States. It also holds approvals from CAA NZ, 2-REG in Guernsey, CAACI in the Cayman Islands, CAAP in the Philippines and DGCA in Indonesia. The scope covers maintenance up to and including A-Check.

APAS also offers part-out and end of life services. Part-out programs let owners recover value from an aircraft through selective or complete part-out. Each component is inspected, catalogued and tracked in the company software platform. End of life work covers airframe teardown and disposal, with metals cut and baled and recyclable materials sent to certified recycling partners.

The company also leases OEM engine transport stands for PW1100 (GTF) and V2500 engines. Stands are available from Australia or the USA, with flexible lease terms for maintenance events and longer fleet needs.

The approvals cover aircraft types including the Airbus A320 family, A330, A350 and A380, the Boeing 737, 747, 777 and 787, the Bombardier Dash 8 and the ATR 42 and 72. Customers include Qantas Group, Singapore Airlines Group, Cathay Pacific Group, Jetstar, AerCap, Avolon and Aviation Capital Group.

Services

• Aircraft storage
• Aircraft maintenance during storage
• Return to service
• Part-out
• End of life processing
• Engine stand leasing