Ontic has introduced CargoCare, a new range of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services designed to help cargo operators maintain aircraft availability while keeping maintenance expenses under control. The programme’s first offering targets Boeing 747 leading edge flap drive units, a component that operators have reported can be difficult to source and return to service quickly when an unexpected removal occurs.
The new service is built around an exchange-and-overhaul model intended to reduce the time aircraft spend waiting for critical components. When an operator removes a leading edge flap drive unit and sends it to Ontic, the company dispatches a serviceable replacement from its exchange pool. Depending on the arrangement, exchange times can start at just 48 hours.
The removed unit is then overhauled at Ontic’s MRO facility in Tewkesbury, UK, before being returned to the exchange pool. This process establishes a continuous rotation of serviceable units, allowing participating customers to access replacements without having to wait for their own components to complete the overhaul process.
Flexible inventory options and predictable maintenance costs
CargoCare gives customers the choice of a dedicated exchange pool reserved for their needs or a shared pool serving multiple operators. These arrangements are designed to provide access to replacement components while helping airlines avoid carrying unnecessary spare inventory.
The programme also includes flat-rate overhaul pricing to improve cost predictability, an extended warranty and flexible commercial terms. Customers can additionally draw on responsive support from Ontic’s hubs across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Dave Mayne, MRO Director for Europe and Asia at Ontic, said the service addresses the operational challenges cargo operators face when aircraft are grounded while awaiting components to return from overhaul.
“Cargo operators can’t afford to have aircraft sitting on the ground waiting for a part to come back from overhaul. CargoCare takes that uncertainty away. Operators get a serviceable unit quickly, at a cost they can plan around, and a package built on how their fleet operates,” Mayne said.
He added that the programme demonstrates how Ontic’s dedicated MRO capabilities can extend beyond conventional repair work to deliver long-term value throughout an aircraft’s operational life.
More CargoCare services planned
The Boeing 747 leading edge flap drive unit programme is the first of several services planned under the CargoCare brand. Ontic intends to expand the exchange-and-overhaul model to additional aircraft platforms and components as it continues to develop and invest in its MRO portfolio.
The launch establishes CargoCare as a new service offering focused on supporting cargo fleet availability, shortening component replacement timelines and giving operators greater control over maintenance planning and costs.
