Europrop International GmbH (EPI), is pleased to announce the signature of the Propeller Gear Box Maintenance and Repair Operation services (MRO) contract with Avio Aero company.
Avio Aero is the exclusive supplier of the Propeller Gear Box (PGB) maintenance of the TP400-D6.
During the last 20 years EPI and Avio Aero have been cultivating strong and trustworthy relationships for the development, manufacturing and maintenance of the Propeller Gear Box for the TP400-D6 engine, powering the A400M Aircraft. This signature will bring the longstanding and close cooperation between EPI and Avio Aero on the TP400-D6 Engine to the next phase.
The contract itself covers enhancing performance for MRO’ services, ensuring operability of the Propeller Gear Box, a substantial part of the TP400-D6 Engines, and promoting advanced and global maintenance services for our Customers and our Operators.
Riccardo Procacci, Director of Avio Aero, and Mme Catherine Poincheval, Executive President of Europrop International (GmbH).
Europrop International and Avio Aero are now fully focuses on ensuring the best possible service, in order to meet all Armed Forces’ needs.
Europrop International (EPI) is pleased to announce the signature of the Engines Support Step 2 (so called ESS2) contract with the OCCAR-EA (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) Director Joachim Sucker and Mme Catherine Poincheval, Executive President of Europrop International (GmbH). We at EPI, along with our Parent Companies (ITP SAU, MTU Aero Engines AG, Rolls-Royce plc, Safran Aircraft Engines SAS), are deeply honored by the trust placed in us by OCCAR and the Nations.
This historic agreement represents a monumental leap forward for both the industry and the participating Nations.
This achievement marks a major milestone in the TP400 era since it enables industry to secure its investments to the benefit of the TP400 while it addresses OCCAR and Nations desire to implement new services and focus on the operating cost of ownership.
Negotiating the terms of this contract proved to be a challenging and intricate process, extending over several years. Six Nations, namely Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Türkiye and United Kingdom, and 4 Parent companies have officially endorsed the contract and reached a consensus on its terms.
Through this contract, EPI and its Parent companies have made commitments to OCCAR and the Nations to enhance the performance of ML3 services. Over the next five years, they aim to enhance operational availability, increase transparency in reporting, and reduce costs through repair development.
The newly structured ESS2 encompasses legacy services from the previous Support contract and also a range of new value-added services such as strategic fleet management. Furthermore, a Cost of Ownership reduction roadmap have been established for enhancing engine affordability.
Additionally, the incorporation of National Services at tactical level for some participating Nations complements the range of supporting services provided in this challenging contract.
For all these services, the new contract incorporates new virtuous mechanisms for performance incentivation, new contract management mechanism, as well as set the basis for the program long term strategy.
The entire EPI team, along with its Parent Companies, are now fully focused on ensuring the successful implementation and impact of the contract, to fulfil the commitments made to OCCAR and the participating Nations.
Europrop International (EPI), is pleased to announce the signing of the PHASE II contract with Global Turbine Asia (GTA). GTA is EPI’s Authorised Maintenance Organization to access and service the TP400-D6 engine of the Royal Malaysian Airforce (RMAF) fleet.
This three-year agreement continues to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) solutions and enables GTA to continue providing aftermarket-services-access to the RMAF TP400-D6 turbine engines, installed on A400M aircraft. At the same time it marks another milestone in the relation between EPI and GTA and underlines EPIs ambition to continuously improve the support to existing and new customers in the Asian market.
The contract, solidifies Europrop International’s position as a trusted partner in the aviation industry, offering unparalleled maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, Global Turbine Asia (GTA) will leverage its expertise to ensure the optimal performance and reliability of the TP400-D6 engines, enhancing the operational readiness of A400M fleets worldwide.
The TP400-D6 engine, developed by Europrop International, is known for its advanced technology, fuel efficiency, and robust design and favourable cost of ownership, making it the propulsion system of choice for the A400M military transport aircraft.
With its proven track record in demanding operational environments, the TP400-D6 engine delivers exceptional power and endurance, enabling mission success in various strategic and tactical roles.
This collaboration between Europrop International and Global Turbine Asia (GTA) underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in delivering world-class support solutions for complex aerospace systems.
By combining Europrop International’s engineering prowess with Global Turbine Asia’s specialized services, customers can expect unparalleled levels of support, ensuring maximum availability and reliability of their aircraft fleets.
“We are delighted to partner with Global Turbine Asia to provide comprehensive support services for the TP400-D6 engines,” stated Catherine, Poincheval – CEO of Europrop International. “This contract represents a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering superior MRO solutions to our customers, ensuring the continued success of the A400M program.”
Europrop International remains dedicated to advancing the performance and capabilities of military aircraft worldwide, driving innovation and excellence in the aerospace industry. Through strategic collaborations and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction, Europrop International continues to set the standard for propulsion systems excellence!
We are delighted to share the exciting news that, once again, EPI has been honored as one of the “Top Employers in the SME Sector” for the year 2024. This prestigious recognition, bestowed by Yourfirm, our valued channel and job advert service provider, underscores our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace environment.
A Resounding Achievement:
For the second consecutive year, EPI has secured a spot among the elite 1,000 “Top Employers in Medium-Sized Enterprises 2024.” Yourfirm diligently assessed over 10,000 employers, evaluating access and reading behavior of job seekers from January 1st, 2023, to December 31st, 2023, and we are honored to be recognized for our outstanding workplace culture.
The Impact on Our Brand and Team:
Research indicates that awards significantly influence the decisions of job applicants, with approximately 76% consciously or unconsciously factoring them into their choice of employer. This accolade not only elevates our employer brand but also positively impacts our ability to attract top-tier talent.
Leveraging the Recognition:
As a proud recipient of this esteemed award, we encourage each member of the EPI family to leverage the “Top Employers in Medium-Sized Enterprises 2024” seal and the accompanying certificate. This recognition is a powerful tool for showcasing our commitment to excellence and differentiating ourselves in the competitive talent landscape.
Acknowledgments:
We extend our sincere gratitude to every member of the EPI team for their dedication and hard work, which have been instrumental in achieving this recognition.
Let’s continue to celebrate our success and strive for even greater heights together!
Catherine Poincheval has been appointed President of Europrop International GmbH (EPI), effective April 1st, 2023.
As the head of this European consortium formed by ITP, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Safran Aircraft Engines, Catherine Poincheval will be responsible for the TP400, the turboprop engine powering the Airbus A400M military transport.
Catherine Poincheval began her career in 1986 at Safran Aircraft Engines (Liquide Propulsion Rocket Engines). After spending two years in the United States in 2001 she joined CNES the French Space Agency as Project Manager.
In 2004, Catherine became a member of the Future Launchers Programs team in Airbus Defense & Space, and she took over the A5ME (Ariane-5 Mid-life Evolution) Development Programme in 2009 and was appointed Vice President.
In 2015, Catherine enrolled in the ArianaGroup project – a company born from the joint ambition of Airbus and Safran, in order to highlight the leading European space industry on the international scene. She was named Chief Procurement Officer in 2016 before being designated Head of Costing Team in 2021.
Catherine Poincheval, holds degrees from the INPG Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (1986) engineering school.
What has been RAF’s A400M experience of dealing with this unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic crisis?
Squadron Leader Jon Pullen, UK Team Atlas
It is true to say that few forecasters foresaw the devastation to home and working lives that we have all faced over the past three months as we have come to learn to live in our new COVID-19 reality. And while this was just as true for the UK as for our European neighbours when our Prime Minister announced we were all to ‘Stay at Home’ from 23 March, we did have the benefit of having seen for the previous two weeks how Spain and Italy in particular, had led the European reaction to the crisis.
This gave us a short period to look at our Business Continuity Planning and to focus on the A400M’s core role while protecting our Team.
The UK Team ATLAS response was swift, clear, well communicated and focused on two key areas:
Firstly, the personal safety and health of personnel and their families. Like most of our colleagues from other Nations, this relied on personnel working from home if possible, splitting key personnel into separate locations, adapting shift patterns to avoid personnel meeting, and the adaption of the work place to minimise infections.
And secondly, maintaining Defence capability. From a Defence Tasking perspective, the intent was to protect critical sorties by working closely together with our Tasking Authority to ensure that when the aircraft was called upon it would be available. At the heart of this effort was our National Standby Aircraft that has been on three-hour Standby for the duration of the crisis. Notable tasking included:
– Medical Evacuations undertaken from the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Northern Ireland as well as the British Overseas Territory of Turks & Caicos Islands
– Delivery of essential equipment to build a Medical oxygen generation plant in the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
– Delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the remote Islands of Ascension and St Helena.
– Collection of more than 175,000 items of PPE to the UK.
This was as well as maintaining the aircrafts routine core tasking, altogether well summarised by one of our Senior Commander’s, Air Marshall Andrew Turner:
How would you describe the support provided by EPI & PCs to support RAF operations during this crisis period?
The results of this communal effort have been exceptional with 100% of all tasking being achieved. The TP400 has played it’s role in this success, especially through the modifications to the Propeller Gear Box and Combustion Chamber where we are starting to see timely improvements in Engine Availability. Additionally, the Engines impressive Power and efficiency have enabled tasking to the furthest Southern reaches of the South Atlantic as well as operating from remote Airfields such as the Ascension Islands, where due to the Aircraft’s key Tactical mission Capabilities, the ATLAS is the only platform that can currently land on the damaged Ascension Island Runway.
But to achieve all of this takes Teamwork and whilst the front-line focus has rightly been on the RAF Brize Norton ‘Team Atlas’, without our other supporting contractors, especially the UK’s Engines Community, this outstanding performance would not have been possible. Both Rolls-Royce and the EuroProp International Teams have risen to the challenge: whether it was through the proactive engagement to identify and expedite critical engine spares at the start of the Crisis, the deployment at short notice of a Rolls-Royce Boroscope Team to retrieve material from inside an Engine or the swift response from the EPI Tech Services Team to provide a Tech Variance to enable the Engine to remain on Wing. The fact that this service has continued to be delivered despite EPI & Rolls-Royce facing the same constraints as the rest of the community and all as part of routine Business Communication is pleasing and reflects well on how far the UK Engine Community has come over the past 12 months.
Our challenge now is to reflect on the changes we have made over the past 3 months, to understand how we adapted together as a Community to respond to the crisis, how our methods of communication have improved and critically, to continue with the new ways of operating when our reasons for change fade from us. Finally, I am looking forward to when I can once again meet up with my Friends and colleagues from across the community, to perhaps make fun of their WEBEX Camera backdrops (so many Bookshelves), and of course to share a glass of Rioja… though perhaps at a reasonable social distance.
For the second time, Europrop International brought together the TP400 Community on the 5th and 6th of November in Munich. The event welcomed around 100 participants across customers, partners and suppliers.
The event was an excellent opportunity for the Nations to share their experience, problems, best practices, as well as expectations, on TP400 operations with EPI, other customers and partners. EPI presented topics related to product, service and maintenance improvements.
“This event is a unique opportunity to have a global feedback on TP400 operations, as customer satisfaction is a top priority for our company”, said Hervé Bouaziz, Europrop International’s President.
All our customers were represented at the Conference: France, Germany, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey, Belgium and United Kingdom.
“For us, the TP400 User Conference is fundamental to get the chance to gather our TP400 Community and to listen to our customers’ expectation, which allow us to deliver a better service”, said Daniel Adrados, Europrop International Services and Support Director.
EPI has the great honour to continue providing the RMAF with technical and logistic support, parts availability and MRO services for their TP400 engines fleet.
Indeed, during the 2019 LIMA Exhibition, Christophe Bruneau, President of Europrop International, signed an agreement to extend for the fourth year the services contract for the TP400-powered Airbus A400M of the Malaysian Air Force. The signing ceremony was witnessed by YB Tuan Haji Mohamad bin Sabu (Minister of Defence of Malaysia), YBhg Dato’ Halimi bin Abd Manaf (Secretary General, Ministry of Defence), YB Tuan Loke Siek Fook (Deputy Ministry of Defence) and General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (Chief of Defence Forces).
“We are very pleased to extend our partnership with the RMAF, which has one the highest level of engines and aircraft availability.” said Christophe Bruneau.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force began operating the Airbus A400M in March 2015 and currently operates four aircraft.
Picture : YBhg Dato’ Halimi bin Abd Manaf, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, and Christophe Bruneau, President of Europrop International
The 15th edition of LIMA Exhibition starts today and will last until the 30th of March 2019, in Langkawi (Malaysia). This exhibition is the largest show of its kind within the Asia Pacific Region.
Today, at the beginning of LIMA’s Exhibition, the President of Europrop International, Christophe Bruneau, and the Chairperson of Global Turbine Asia, Dato’ Nonee Radzi signed the Approved Maintenance Organisation contract. This contract makes both parties maintenance partners in Malaysia for the TP400 engine.
This contract was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berhormat Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Secretary of State to the Minister of the Armed Forces, Geneviève Darrieussecq, the Senior executive vice president of international and public affairs of Safran SA, Stéphane Abrial and the CEO of Global Turbine Asia, Valérie Patuel.
Participation of local industries and companies in the TP400 engine support for every Export Customer, is at the heart of Europrop’s aftermarket policy.
On October 23-24, EPI organized its first TP400 User Conference in Madrid. During two days, the event was gathering 70 participants from across customer and partner TP400’s community.
Designed to share Nations’ feedback, the User Conference was the opportunity for customers, partners and EPI to meet and share feedback, solutions and best practices on dedicated engine topics.
“We are excited to be introducing the first TP400 User Conference and to welcome our customers and partners to a uniquely valuable experience,” said Christophe Bruneau, Europrop International’s President.
Coming from France, Germany, Malaysia, Spain and United Kingdom, EPI end-users and partners shared their experience during workshops sessions. To end the day, Europrop International welcomed William Dean Chief Pilot Defence from Rolls Royce as a guest speaker.
The User Conference ended by a visit in the ITP Aero ML2 Shop so that attendees could see the TP400 engine maintenance facilities.
“The TP400 User Conference was aimed to provide insights to our customers. It was an honor to gather all the TP400 community and have the valuable opportunity to understand their expectation and provide better service” said Daniel Adrados.
