Delta TechOps marked a significant milestone at the 29th annual MRO Americas event, coinciding with its 25 years of serving third-party customers in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector. The event took place in Atlanta, serving as a platform to discuss trends, technologies, and strategies for the commercial aviation MRO industry.
President of Delta TechOps and Chief of Operations, John Laughter, inaugurated the show. He emphasized the importance of celebrating the centennial year and acknowledged the efforts of Delta TechOps’ workforce. “It’s so important as we’re celebrating this special centennial year, that we remember the people in Delta TechOps and all that they’ve done over this century to fuel this great airline,” expressed Laughter.
Laughter also reflected on Delta’s strategy to offer both legacy and next-generation MRO capabilities. “Our ability to support the legacy fleets is an area where the great knowledge and expertise that you have over 20 and 30 years of working on a platform gives us the ability to really deliver value in the final decades of a platform’s life. But just as critical is investing in the next-gen opportunities. I look forward to our industry all working together to power our next hundred years,” he stated.
A significant aspect of the event was the discussion on Delta’s plans to boost its engineering capabilities. The facility’s annual capacity is set to grow by more than 30 percent, allowing up to 450 engines to be overhauled yearly, strengthening its position within the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network.
Delta TechOps is also collaborating with Airbus to develop predictive maintenance and health-monitoring solutions for airline customers worldwide, unified through the Skywise platform.
At the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Penny Jacob, VP of TechOps Business Development, joined a panel discussion with officials from WheelsUp and Archer Aviation. She highlighted Delta’s focus on innovation and sustainability initiatives, including the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the development of the next generation of aircraft maintenance professionals.
Notable contributions from other Delta TechOps representatives at the event included Alice Belcher’s insights on Delta’s adoption of predictive capabilities, Justin Bevington’s participation in a panel on MRO agility, and Emma Galarza’s presentation on pioneering drone usage for aircraft inspections.
