Aviation People on the Move 29 October 2026

MAAS Aviation appoints Edwin Poldermans as new head of MRO: MAAS Aviation has named Edwin Poldermans as head of MRO, while Mark Gidman, Group Chief Operating Officer, prepares to step away from the business after 36 years of loyal service. Poldermans brings more than 30 years of aviation and aerospace experience to MAAS, having held senior roles at Fokker Techniek, GKN Fokker and the Netherlands Aerospace Group. Danny Hakker, MAAS CEO, comments, “With deep expertise in MRO operations, safety, quality and business growth, Edwin combines a hands-on, people-focused approach with strong commercial and operational leadership. His ability to build high-performing teams and scalable operations will be a great asset as MAAS continues to grow the MRO side of its aircraft painting business.” “I’m very pleased to be joining MAAS at an important stage in its development,” adds Poldermans. “With a strong operational foundation and talented teams across Europe, we are well positioned to build on our capabilities and respond to the evolving needs of our customers – airlines, OEMs and private jet owner/operators. I look forward to working with the team to drive continued operational excellence, develop our people and deliver the high standards our customers expect as we grow the business.” Rotortrade names Raymond Lubrano as MD of RotorLease: Rotortrade, the global helicopter dealership, has appointed Raymond Lubrano as Managing Director of RotorLease, its dedicated global helicopter leasing and asset finance platform. As Managing Director, Lubrano will oversee the development and management of RotorLease, including capital deployment, aircraft investment, debt financing, transaction structuring, credit and counterparty assessment, asset and portfolio management, and relationships with operators, lenders and financial partners. Prior to this appointment, Lubrano served as Rotortrade Executive Vice President, Head of Region LATAM, based in Mexico, where he led Rotortrade’s commercial development and regional expansion across Latin America, strengthening its market presence, strategic partnerships and customer relationships. Under his leadership, the region achieved several important milestones, including the landmark sale and delivery of the first Airbus H160 in Argentina and the Southern Cone to Helipatagonia in April 2026. This transaction demonstrated Rotortrade’s ability to manage complex international aircraft transactions, coordinating commercial, technical and regulatory requirements across multiple countries and stakeholders. RotorLease is actively developing its portfolio through a growing pipeline of leasing and financing transactions across multiple helicopter platforms and international markets. Vallair appoints Malcolm Chandler as MRO sales director for lessors and airlines: Vallair has appointed Malcolm Chandler as MRO Sales Director – Lessors & Airlines. After gaining valuable international experience in a highly competitive sector, his appointment marks his return to the Company in a senior leadership role, where he will be responsible for the Company’s MRO activities throughout the department and across its two facilities in Châteauroux and Montpellier. He returns to a business that is built for what next awaits the MRO landscape, bringing fresh and broad perspectives, valuable market insight and enhanced industry knowledge. Ready to drive commercial growth, he has identified maximising efficiency and future-proofing as his priorities across his remit of airframes, engines, and aerostructures. He will spearhead new business opportunities and strengthen partner relationships to deliver high-quality and cost-effective MRO services to customers. Chandler said: “It is an exciting time to return to Vallair and I am looking forward to contributing to the next stage of development. The Company has undergone significant transformation, through change, investment, and a renewed leadership team. However, it has maintained its commitment to technical excellence and operational reliability. We are concentrating on building on these fundamentals, consolidating our services and making significant investments to ensure we evolve with the needs of our customers. With our latest A330 NEO maintenance approval, for example, we are expanding our capabilities so that we can offer the highest-quality, most cost-effective solutions for flag carriers, lessors and airlines within our geographical footprint.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]