Romaero

Romaero, formerly Intreprinderea de Reparatii Material Aeronautic or IRMA (Enterprise for the Repair of Aeronautical Material), is a Romanian aerospace company, headquartered in Bucharest. In recent years, it has largely concentrated on aircraft repairs as well as component manufacturing for overseas companies.

The company was founded by Royal Decree in 1920 under the name ASAM. It was rebranded as IRMA during 1944. In 1978, the company again changed its name to IAvB - Întreprinderea de Avioane București (Bucharest Enterprise Aircraft). Finally, it was rebranded as Romaero S.A. in 1991.[1][2] Perhaps its largest manufacturing programme that the company has been involved in was mass production of the British-designed Britten-Norman Islander; over 500 airframes were reportedly completed in Romania. Another major independent undertaking of the firm was the Rombac 1-11 airliner, a license-produced model of the BAC One-Eleven produced in Romania; however, sales never reached expectations and the programme was abandoned during the late 1990s.

History

Early years

Since the company's early years, particularly under the guise of IRMA, it has specialised in the overhaul of various types of aircraft. Specifically, it was involved in the repair and services of numerous Soviet aircraft, including the Li-2, IL-14, IL-18, Antonov An-2, An-24, An-26 and An-30. The company also produced a number of indigenously-developed aircraft, which were categorised as either light aircraft or agricultural aircraft: IAR-818, IAR-821, and IAR-822.

During 1968, IRMA secured an arrangement to manufacture the British Britten-Norman Islander, a popular twin-engined multipurpose aircraft. According to the company, IRMA was responsible for producing in excess of 500 Islanders, roughly half of those ever produced.[3] While production of the type came to a close during the late 1990s it was reported that negotiations for Romaero to resume production of the Islander had reached an advanced stage by 2002.[4] However, Britten-Norman subsequently decided to bring manufacturing inhouse.[5]

ROMBAC One-Eleven
Main article: BAC One-Eleven
Romavia Rombac 1-11
A Ryanair Rombac One-Eleven seen at Stuttgart Airport (1992)

On 9 June 1979, Romanian president Nicolae Ceauşescu signed an agreement with the British Aerospace for the licensed production of the BAC One-Eleven in Romania. This was to involve the delivery of three complete One-Elevens (two 500-series aircraft and one 475 series) plus the construction of at least 22 in Bucharest, with reducing British content. It also involved Romanian production of Spey engines and certification of the aircraft to British standards by the Civil Aviation Authority. A market for up to 80 Romanian-built airliners was projected, largely in China and other developing economies, as well as Eastern Europe. The aircraft was re-designated Rombac 1-11.[6][7]

The first Rombac One-Eleven, (YR-BRA cn 401) a series 561RC, was rolled out at Romaero's Băneasa factory on 27 August 1982 and first flew on 18 September 1982. Production continued until 1989 at a much slower pace than had been previously foreseen. Nine aircraft were delivered, while the tenth and eleventh airliners on the production line being abandoned when they were 85% and 70% complete respectively.[6][8] The first Rombac was delivered to TAROM on 29 December 1982.[9] The Romanian carrier took delivery of all but two of the airliners produced, the remaining two going to Romavia, the last of which (YR-BRI cn 409) was delivered on 1 January 1993. Romania's economy and international position deteriorated to the point where supplies for One-Eleven manufacturing slowed to a trickle, with hard currency restrictions delaying overseas component deliveries;[6][8] the market foreseen had largely lacked interest, though some Rombac airliners were leased to European operators. The One-Eleven's noise level and fuel economy failed to keep pace with US and West European competition.

Following the fall of the Ceauşescu regime, plans were made to restart production using the Rolls-Royce Tay. British aircraft leasing company Associated Aerospace agreed a $1 billion deal to purchase 50 Tay-powered One-Elevens fitted with a new electronic glass cockpit for onward leasing to Western customers; however, the liquidation of Associated Aerospace in April 1991 ended this deal. Efforts to sell the One-Eleven continued through the 1990s.[6][10][11][12] In 1993, with US operator Kiwi International Air Lines placing a firm order for 11 Tay-engined aircraft with options for an additional five, but this plan fell through.[13] In April 1997, Romaero announced was abandoning efforts to launch its envisioned revamp of the One-Eleven, which it referred to as the Airstar 2500.[14]

Post-Cold War

During the 1990s, the company, recently rebranded as Romaero, became heavily engaged in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector, performing such work for numerous European operators across a large number of commercial aircraft.[15] It also formed agreements with various international manufacturers as a subcontractor, undertaking subassembly and manufacturing work for companies such as Bombardier Aviation for the CL-415 flying boat as well as Boeing's 737 and 757 airliners. Romaero continued its long-term relationship with the Britten-Norman company as well.[15][16]

During early 1999, it was announced that the company was to be acquired by Britten-Norman from the Romanian government in exchange for $80.5 million.[15] At the time, Britten-Norman also announced plans to invest substantial sums in the firm's manufacturing facilities at Baneasa Airport, including in its design and MRO capabilities.[15][17] However, the acquisition was later abandoned following a dispute over the deal's cost. During 2000, Romaero became the first aerospace company in Romania to receive JAR-145 approval from the Joint Aviation Authorities, enhancing its standing as a provider of MRO services.[18]

Throughout the 2000s, Romaero continued to seek out participation in Western European aircraft manufacturing programs. In 2003, a deal with BAE Systems was announced for Romaero to build cargo conversion kits for the British Aerospace ATP short-haul airliner; the first example was completed during the following year.[19][20] During 2006, a long-term agreement was signed with Saab AB and the firm concerning the manufacture of subassemblies and components; Saab referred to the deal as a strategic alliance.[21] That same year, it was announced that Romaero would be performing manufacturing work on the ATR 42 and ATR 72 regional aircraft in favour of prior arrangements based in Naples; the transfer was viewed as only the first step towards work on further projects undertaken by Alenia Aeronautica, such as the Alenia C-27J Spartan.[22]

In 2003, Romaero became the American Lockheed Martin aircraft factory service center for C-130 Hercules aircraft repairs.

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See also

References

Citations
  1. Romanian Aviation Industry
  2. Un deceniu de la inaugurarea sediului Autorităţii Aeronautice Civile Române (in Romanian)
  3. "Romaero". Romaero. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. Kingsley-Jones, Max (29 October 2002). "First Romaero Islander primed for delivery as B-N negotiates orders". Flight International.
  5. Morrison, Murdo (28 May 2010). "Britten-Norman brings production back to the UK". Flight International.
  6. Chorlton Aeroplane November 2012, pp. 80–81.
  7. Taylor 1982, p. 173.
  8. Pilling Air International October 1992, p. 213.
  9. Pilling Air International October 1992, p. 214.
  10. Pilling Air International October 1992, pp. 213–214.
  11. Beech, Eric. "Rombac Tay 1-11s offered for lease". Flight International, Vol. 137, No. 4209, 28 March–3 April 1990, pp. 4–5.
  12. "Commercial Aircraft of the World: Rombac". Flight International, Vol. 140 No. 4283, 4–10 September 1991, pp. 70–71.
  13. Daly, Kieron. "Kiwi banks on Romanian cash". Flight International, Vol 143, No. 4369, 12–18 May 1993. p. 11.
  14. "Romaero admits defeat on One-Eleven launch". Flight International. 2 April 1997.
  15. "UK's Britten-Norman snaps up Romaero". Flight International. 3 February 1999.
  16. "Romania's Romaero attracts Canadian manufacturers". Flight International. 12 June 1996.
  17. "Britten-Norman enjoys new Romanian rhapsody". Flight International. 14 June 1999.
  18. "Romaero in JAA step to enhanced credibility". Flight International. 6 June 2000.
  19. "Romaero to build ATP cargo kits with BAE programme". Flight International. 18 June 2003.
  20. "Romaero rolls out ATP freighter". Flight International. 19 July 2004.
  21. "Saab signs manufacturing deal with Romania's Romaero". Flight International. 5 May 2006.
  22. "Farnborough: ATR manufacturing work to be transferred to Romania". Flight International. 25 July 2006.

Bibliography
  • Chorlton, Martyn. "Database: British Aircraft Corporation One-Eleven". Aeroplane, Vol. 40 No. 11, November 2012. pp. 67–82. ISSN 0143-7240.
  • Pilling, Mark. "Whatever happened to the Romanian One-Eleven?". Air International, Vol. 43 No. 4, October 1992. pp. 212–214. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
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