FL Technics wins FAA approval for Punta Cana MRO base

FL Technics has cleared a key U.S. regulatory hurdle to start maintenance operations at its new Punta Cana facility in the Dominican Republic. The FAA Part 145 certificate opens the site to airline and leasing-company customers, with JetBlue named as the first client. Why it matters: - The FAA certificate lets FL Technics begin U.S.-approved maintenance, repair and overhaul work in the Dominican Republic. - The approval expands FL Technics’ reach across the Americas and gives the Punta Cana site access to airline and leasing-company customers. - The site is positioned to become a larger maintenance hub as demand grows. What happened: - FL Technics received FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certificate approval for its new facility in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. - The FAA approval followed a multi-phase review of maintenance procedures, tooling and equipment, personnel competencies, and housing and facilities. - Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO of FL Technics Group, said the certificate marks the official start of operations and enables the company to serve airlines and leasing companies. - JetBlue is the first client for the facility. - FL Technics Dominican Republic CEO Mejico Angeles Lithgow said the company aims to build out the local team and eventually hand over full operating responsibility to community-based professionals. The details: - The Punta Cana site covers 20,000 square meters. - The facility is set up for base maintenance on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families. - FL Technics also received approval this month from the Dominican Republic’s civil aviation authority, IDAC. - The company says the Dominican Republic project is a joint investment with Grupo Puntacana. - The site currently has five bays and is planned to expand to as many as 20 bays. - FL Technics says the expanded capacity is meant to meet growing demand. - FL Technics is certified under EASA Part-145, Part-CAMO, Part-147, Part-21 and FAA-145. - FL Technics provides base and line maintenance, spare parts and component support, engine, APU and landing gear management, full aircraft engineering, technical training and aerospace logistics solutions. - FL Technics operates globally across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas and the Middle East. Between the lines: - The FAA approval gives the Punta Cana operation credibility with U.S.-linked airline customers and leasing companies. - The local hiring plan suggests FL Technics wants the Dominican Republic site to become a long-term regional base, not just a satellite facility. - The combination of FAA and IDAC approvals reduces regulatory risk for future expansion. - The move fits a broader strategy to build maintenance capacity closer to operators serving U.S. and regional routes in the Americas. What’s next: - FL Technics plans to keep developing the local workforce in Punta Cana. - The company expects the facility to grow from five bays to as many as 20 bays. - FL Technics says it is making a long-term investment in the Dominican Republic and aims to become a central maintenance provider for airlines operating throughout the Americas. - The company will continue scaling partnerships after securing JetBlue as its first client. The bottom line: - FL Technics now has the regulatory green light to turn its Punta Cana site into a major MRO hub for the region.