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Diversification has been placed at the heart of Alsalam Aircraft Company’s future development strategy, explains the Saudi company’s CEO Mohammed Noor Fallatah.
What is the overall history of Alsalam Aircraft Company?
Alsalam Aircraft Company was established back in 1988, as part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to develop self-sufficiency in the field of civil and military aircraft maintenance, overhaul and modification. We’re a joint venture company and owned 50 percent by Boeing Industrial Technology Group, 25 percent by Saudi Arabian Airlines, 10 percent by Saudi Advanced Industries Company, 10 percent by Gulf Investment Corporation, and five percent by National Industrialisation Company. The partners have remained consistent, although some changes are ahead and a small shareholder will be finalised in the next month or two.
How has the company grown over the past two-and-a-half decades?
Over the years, Alsalam has developed a significant amount of experience in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, working on commercial airplanes from Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed and Gulfstream, in addition to military aircraft. In fact, we’re now considered one of the leading MRO service providers in the Middle East and employ over 3000 people nationwide, who are engaged in both civil and military programmes, with a nationalisation rate of more than 50 percent. We had a record year in 2010 and this year has been even better.
Has Alsalam Aircraft Company diversified its operations at all?
Yes. Although maintenance is our speciality, we are also recognised as a head-of-state and VIP aircraft interior completion centre and also produce a wide range of commercial aircraft parts and components. This new line of business has widened our experience and increased our assets. Finally, we provide maintenance support to the aviation arms of Saudi Arabian military and operate a training centre which is the only one of its kind in the kingdom.
What facilities are operated by Alsalam Aircraft Company?
We currently have three climate-controlled hangars, each of which can accommodate a Boeing 747-400 and has been equipped with suspended docking systems that provide ease of access to any part of an aircraft. In addition, the company has specialist support shops, which cover everything from interior completions to metal forming, heat treatment, welding and composite repairs. Other facilities include a non-destructive testing laboratory and a state-of-the-art autoclave for composite repairs.
What future developments to you have planned for the company?
We are looking at three different sectors to grow the company. Firstly, there is huge potential in VIP refurbishment, especially with a growing number of older private airplanes in the Gulf area which will need refurbishment. Alsalam has been present in that market since 1997, but our focus will be heavily developed in the coming years. Secondly, more and more helicopters are being operated in Saudi Arabia, so that’s another market we are seriously looking into. I am not aware of any company that offers a complete one-stop support for helicopters in the Middle East or the Gulf in particular. And finally, we are looking to focus more on manufacturing processes in terms of military aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
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