Thailand Aims to Launch Domestic Aircraft Propeller Repair Hub
Thailand's deputy transport minister said the country is training aircraft mechanic specialists in the United States to establish a domestic McCauley propeller repair facility. The initiative, backed by the Civil Aviation Training Institute and a private partner, aims to cut reliance on foreign maintenance services and boost the local aviation industry's capabilities.
Deputy Transport Minister Pattramong Prattrasaphi announced that the ministry is pushing forward with plans to develop skilled personnel and raise the country's aircraft maintenance capacity. Through support for the Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI), staff are being trained to international standards in aircraft propeller repair at FlightSafety International in Wichita, Kansas. The training covers McCauley Piston Aluminum Propeller Overhaul and McCauley Turbine Aluminum Propeller Overhaul courses, with two officials—Dr. Kongsak Chomchum, Director of the Aircraft Technician Division, and Phakdee Mesee, Head of the Non‑Destructive Testing Department—participating from September 14‑25, 2069. The goal is to build a domestic McCauley propeller repair centre, which will lessen dependence on overseas maintenance services, strengthen Thailand's aviation sector, and enhance its competitiveness globally. The project also involves cooperation with Blue Ocean Integration Co., Ltd., which provides personnel, equipment, and tools while CATI prepares the knowledge base needed to launch the repair unit.
