Daher has appointed Switzerland's MecanAir as an authorised service centre for the Kodiak and TBM turboprop-powered aircraft. Based at Ecuvillens airport near Fribourg, MecanAir is an EASA Part 145 certified maintenance and repair station. It has been operating as an authorised Kodiak service centre, and the expansion of its responsibilities to include the TBM underscores Daher's integration of these two aircraft in the company's single-engine turboprop product line.

MecanAir is specialised in the maintenance and repair of aircraft weighing under 12,500 lbs, as well as the overhaul of turboprop engines and accessories. In addition to its Ecuvillens location, the company has maintenance workshops at the Swiss airports of Yverdon-les-Bains and Grenchen.

Under the expanded agreement with Daher's aircraft division, MecanAir is now capable of handling all scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance services for Kodiak and TBM aircraft, and airworthiness-related control/management under its authorisation as a CAMO.

“This is another important step in enhancing our global network after Daher's acquisition of Kodiak in 2019,” explains Nicolas Chabbert, senior VP of Daher's aircraft division and CEO of Kodiak Aircraft. “With MecanAir's dual Kodiak and TBM authorisation today, to be followed by other service centres in the future, customers will benefit from more comprehensive coverage and the increased synergy of our network worldwide.”

Raphaël Maître, VP of customer support for Daher's aircraft division, adds: “As a key member of services for the Kodiak aircraft family for 10 years, MecanAir distinguished itself as an extremely capable support partner. Our Kodiak care team, led by Dave Schuck, has been very pleased with MecanAir's responsiveness at its own facilities, as well as the response to off-site maintenance calls. The next step was extending MecanAir's capability to the TBM.”

MecanAir founding CEO Michel Devaud is a well-known professional who developed a range of auto racing engines in the Can-Am and F5000 series for teams that included McLaren and Lola during the 1970s. As an active private pilot, Devaud has built his own aircraft, and he set up an aviation engine overhaul operation to work on airplane engines. In 1976, he created MecanAir as an aircraft maintenance and engine overhaul facility specialised in light aircraft, as well as for iconic aircraft such as the Tiger Moth, Bucker, Spitfire, AT-6 and Wildcat.