Aviation News Item: 10059

29th Jun 2010

Source: flightglobal.com

With divisions offering business jet management and charter, airline support, consultancy and avionics repair, Bahrain-based aviation services specialist Mena Aerospace has plenty of different careers on offer. "We do everything except own and finance aircraft," says chief operating officer Ralph Eisenschmid.

Mena was established in 2004 and last year branched into private charter with a Bombardier Challenger 300 and Boeing 737-300 freighter on a Bahrain air operator's certificate. It hopes to add more aircraft under management and open a hangar at Bahrain's international airport: it currently operates a support centre on behalf of airlines including Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Bahrain Air.

The company employs about 70 people but Eisenschmid, a Canadian, expects that to rise eventually to about 150 as it acquires more managed aircraft.

Mena relies on expatriates for many of its pilot and senior management positions but "we also want to bring in as much Bahraini talent as possible", says Eisenschmid, from offices overlooking the airport. "We know many expats will leave so we nurture and mentor locals to take their place."

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