MRO News in Brief 08 October 2026

Ontic opens new MRO facility: Aerospace OEM Ontic has officially opened its new dedicated Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire – a purpose-built site set to transform how the company supports airlines and operators worldwide. The 72,000sq ft facility forms part of Ontic’s $30 million global investment in MRO capacity and capability, spanning both sides of the Atlantic alongside the company’s new Miramar, Florida site. Tewkesbury brings together around 200 MRO specialists – engineers, technicians, customer service, supply chain and logistics experts – into a single hub equipped with dedicated IT systems, pneumatic and hydraulic infrastructure, an avionics workshop with an ISO7 clean room, non-destructive testing capability, a machine shop and a dark room, with additional space built in for future growth. In December 2025, Tewkesbury passed a series of critical audits, achieving BSI AS9100 certification along with Part 145 approvals from both the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) – FAA was also awarded under the CAA oversight. The team is working towards CAAC approvals and expect to be established early Q4. Product lines are now transferring to the Tewkesbury facility, with the site continuing to build toward full operational capability. Brian Sartain, Chief Operating Officer of Ontic, said: “The opening of our Tewkesbury MRO facility marks a step-change in how we support our customers. By consolidating all our UK aftermarket expertise in one dedicated site, we are investing in the people, capability and infrastructure to consistently deliver a faster, more responsive and more transparent service. Alongside our new Miramar facility in the US, this is a significant milestone in our commitment to keeping established fleets flying safely for decades to come.” SR Technics Spain SAU implements Bridgestone’s easytrack solution: SR Technics announced the successful implementation of Bridgestone Corporation’s easytrack solution, becoming the first MRO organisation worldwide to adopt the technology. The milestone marks the successful completion of a two-year collaborative project and further strengthens the long-standing partnership between SR Technics Spain SAU and Bridgestone Corporation dating back to 1999. Tailored to SR Technics Spain SAU’s operational requirements, the easytrack solution has transformed a traditionally manual process into a faster, more reliable, and fully traceable workflow. Initially implemented at SR Technics Spain SAU’s Mallorca base and subsequently expanded to Madrid, the easytrack solution is now fully integrated across stores and wheel shop operations at both locations. Technology supports key operational functions, including logistics, planning, and inventory management, creating a more efficient, reliable, fully traceable, and seamless workflow. The implementation has delivered substantial operational benefits, including a 45% reduction in processing time, improved planning capabilities, increased efficiency, enhanced data accuracy, and a significant decrease in manual administrative tasks. First Class Air partners with Vertical Aerospace: First Class Air has invested in and partnered with Vertical Aerospace, a Bristow, Oklahoma-based aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider specializing in complex aircraft structural repair, engineering and fabricated part manufacturing. The acquisition expands First Class Air’s technical capabilities and capacity while providing customers with additional resources for the repair and support of complex aircraft structures and components. Vertical Aerospace will continue operating from its 226,000-square-foot facility in Bristow under the leadership of Founder and General Manager, Tray Siegfried. Vertical Aerospace provides MRO, engineering and fabricated part manufacturing services supporting commercial, cargo and military aircraft. Vertical Aerospace specializes in nacelles and thrust reversers, flight control surfaces, composite and metallic structural repair, cowlings, ducts, exhaust components, engineering and repair development, fabrication, NDT and specialized processing. Vertical Aerospace’s quality system is AS9100 Rev. D certified, and the company holds FAA and EASA repair station certifications. The acquisition also adds significant in-house repair process capabilities to First Class Air. Vertical Aerospace’s Bristow operation includes an autoclave and clean room, phosphoric acid anodize and cleaning capabilities, NDT, heat treat, welding, laser tracking, engineering and design systems, and other specialized equipment supporting advanced repair and manufacturing applications. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]