Meet the Team: Sven Schmitz

Meet the team! Sven Schmitz is a ground engineer in Düsseldorf – and he has been part of our global team since summer 2019. During this year working at Direct Maintenance, he already had the experience to fulfil his childhood dream and work on A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

Read the interview with Sven and get to know him better!

How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your job? What is now different than before the pandemic? 

Our job changed fast and I never expected such a change. At the beginning of the outbreak, I was in Dubai for an A380 level 3 type course. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish it and have missed the practical part. In the last week, my colleagues and I sat on packed suitcases in order to be able to react to any changes: we rebooked our flights at short notice and I came to Düsseldorf on one of the last flights from Dubai. 

During the peak of the lockdowns, there was also little work as customers at Düsseldorf no longer were flying, with the exception of a few cases (freighters). And then since mid-July, I’ve been back half a day for two to three days. The work has changed since then: masking is mandatory at the airport and on the planes. We also pay more attention to hygiene and cleanliness in our office and on the planes more than normal. I also haven’t seen many of my colleagues yet, but I also stay optimistic and believe we’ll all come out of it stronger than ever!

For you personally, which recent work experience has been the most exciting or the most challenging and why?

There have already been some exciting and challenging work experience. We had an A380 AOG with an engine problem, a B787 with a lightning strike… All of this work is extremely interesting and challenging as these are planes that you don’t see every day and, above all, don’t work on them. 

However, the bird strike on a B787 has been the most exciting for me lately. We only had a turnaround time of about 1:30 hour. Thanks to excellent teamwork, we even managed to push the plane safely out 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

What are the main qualifications needed in your line of work? What are the main tasks and responsibilities in your position?

In general, I think that a quick mind, manual skills, and of course a good understanding of the maths! In addition, teamwork, flexibility and the ability to make decisions are much needed in our line of work!

As I am currently working as a ground engineer in Düsseldorf, my main job is the maintenance and repair of aircraft. As B1.1, aviation security is in my hands as I am the person authorized to release the aircraft. It is a very interesting job and I am lucky to be doing it!

What do you like most about working in aviation / for Direct Maintenance? 

Working in aviation is no ordinary job, it’s something special for me. Every day is different and it never gets boring. The challenge is to make the best every day by always continuing education and not standing on the spot – and I am up for this challenge! 

The special thing about Direct Maintenance for me is the team and solidarity. You are not a number, you know each other; you have insights into departments and jobs that you don’t have in every company.

How do you evaluate your experience working at Direct Maintenance? What are your best memories from your time working here?

I felt very comfortable from the start. I was accepted directly into the team and was able to get involved. I learned a lot and also got the opportunity to continue my education. The best memory was when we took over a customer with an A380. For me, it was a childhood dream to work on the world’s largest passenger aircraft and this dream has now come true!

Direct Maintenance supports Finnair flight bringing medical supplies

Last week Direct Maintenance welcomed a Finnair A350 aircraft at our Dublin station. This special flight brought medical supplies from China, through Helsinki. We are committed to contributing to the community in relation to the COVID-19 situation. Our staff in Dublin airport supported this special flight and made sure the aircraft could safely return home.

Thank you Team Dublin for your dedication!

Direct Maintenance welcomes back Pakistan International Airlines in Amsterdam

In times where we are more apart and there are only a few aircraft flying every day, we are more than happy to share another good news.

Last Wednesday Direct Maintenance supported a Pakistan International Airlines flight bringing Dutch citizens back from Pakistan. We have been working together with PIA since 2010 when they had regular flights to and from Amsterdam. We were happy to assist their beautiful Boeing 777 aircraft on their short stop to Amsterdam, give them a warm welcome and wave them off to a safe return home flight.

Direct Maintenance welcomes back their old friend Malaysia Airlines

Last Monday, Direct Maintenances welcomed back an old airline friend. Back in 2006, Malaysia Airlines was the first customer of Direct Maintenance in Amsterdam. Over the years we enjoyed supporting their fleet and greeting their crew in Amsterdam. It was a great pleasure to welcome the first flight since 2015 and experience the bond we continue to have with each other. Especially in these times, seeing back an old friend is a warm and positive experience. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with Malaysia Airlines for many years to come!

Direct Maintenance supports Kuwait Airways with rescue flight

Last weekend Direct Maintenance had an opportunity to assist Kuwait Airways in Dublin Airport station. Two Airbus A330 flights came to Ireland to retrieve students. Direct Maintenance was approached for ad hoc support and our engineers were happy to be able to support the A330s. In these strange times, we are here and ready to support where we can. Both aircraft and the students headed safely back to their home country!

Direct Maintenance donates facemasks to Dutch Medical Group

Last week both Direct Maintenance and Magnetic MRO have received the generous donation of face masks from Hangxin. However, since most of the Direct Maintenance staff due to the outbreak are non-active, the team had the liberty to pass masks on to the ambulance services, called the Dutch Medical group.

Happy to share a THANK YOU letter they have received:

“Dear Direct Maintenance team, 

We would like to warmly thank you for the amazing, generous gesture that we have received from you in the form of a large amount of facemasks.

It is amazing to receive this in this way and it is for us a healthcare organisation of great importance that this kind of donations happens. Our organisation, just like many other organisations and companies, go through anxious times. For us, the worry about the health of our caregivers comes on top of that. No matter how many extra measures we take, our people are day and night working with patients and our healthcare professionals are exposed to higher risk if they do not have access to protective gear. Facemasks are very important. The shortage is, therefore, all the more painful.

Our gratitude is large and I would like to extend our great thanks to the management and all colleagues in Direct Maintenance who made this possible!”
Edzard Enschedé
Director, Dutch Medical group

Direct Maintenance set up Cribmaster tool control system in TXL station

In mid-January, Direct Maintenance finalised the set up of the Cribmaster tool control system at the companies Berlin-TXL station. The set-up was performed with the assistance of Magnetic MRO Facility and Tooling Manager Maksim Kolesnik, as Cribmaster system is already used in the Tallinn hangars. Setting up a unified RFID based system will give the employees an easy way to manage all the tools. This is a step closer to companies digitalization & real-time RFID inventory tracking.

Karsten Kühnell, Stores Supervisor TXL, states: “The guys and I are really enthusiastic and motivated to start working using the Cribmaster system. It will make tool control less time consuming and more convenient.” 

“I am pleased to announce that the next RFID inventory and consumables tracking system is successfully set up. There are already over 40 active employees and more than 600 tools registered to the new system,” said Maksim Kolesnik. 

Direct Maintenance is currently using the latest release of Cribmaster software, which has been developed for maintenance station needs and covers all the following:

  • Total inventory control in real-time
  • Overal daily transaction report
  • Consumables management
  • Calibration expiry monitoring

In just two days Karsten and Maksim, with the help of Anouk Daams, project coordinator, and Patrick Broster from Cribmaster, managed to get acquainted with Cribmaster and assign items tags for tools and equipment. 

Maksim Kolesnik: “The system setup was very well welcomed – big thanks to Anouk and Karsten for the support and hopefully, they gained a lot of knowledge in these two days. Certainly, in future, we will make some follow up actions and come up with new developments which help improve everyday tools and consumables management.”

Direct Maintenance partners up with major flag carrier airline in Dublin

Direct Maintenance is delighted to extend the positive and longstanding cooperation with one of their most loyal customers in Dublin. It is with the continued mutual trust that we build on this partnership.

Frank Daams, Managing Director, comments: “When a current customer decides to extend to another one of our stations, we are always incredibly honoured. We strive every day to deliver the high-quality line maintenance that our customers have come to respect and to keep building on the relationships we have nurtured over the years.”

Direct Maintenance started with a new customer in Entebbe (EBB) station in Africa

As of this week, Direct Maintenance has started with a new customer in Entebbe line station – providing what we do best, line maintenance, on the Boing 777 Freighters.

Mandeep Rana, Head of Sales expresses: “It is great to see that many of our customers are extending their contracts with Direct Maintenance to other stations. This shows the trust we have gained by our performance. We continue to work towards a bright future!”

Direct Maintenance welcomes all line maintenance service support enquiries. Contact us today: sales@directmaintenance.aero.

Direct Maintenance extends Etihad Airways partnership to Dusseldorf (DUS) station

On October 9th 2019, the Dusseldorf team has handled their first Etihad flight. Our engineers welcomed the first B787 today. We will provide Etihad Airways with full maintenance support.

Frank Daams, Managing Director, comments: We are grateful to have had a pleasant and productive partnership with Etihad Airways at our African stations. It is a true honour for us that they have extended their trust in Direct Maintenance in Dusseldorf. We look forward to successful cooperation with Etihad Airways in the future.

Direct Maintenance welcomes all line maintenance service support enquiries. Contact us today: sales@directmaintenance.aero.

Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) Airport station opened by Direct Maintenance

Direct Maintenance is happy to announce that the SXF station is open and approved! Being the line maintenance market leader in Berlin-Tegel Airport, it is an exciting opportunity to also start our operation in Schönefeld. With a wide portfolio of capabilities, among which B737, B767, A320 as well as exterior washes and engine washes, we are ready and happy to assist new and existing customers. Schönefeld is the fourth German Direct Maintenance station.

Dirk Moebius, Maintenance Manager TXL and SXF: “It is an exciting opportunity to take the experience and commitment that we have built at the TXL station to now provide high-quality line maintenance at SXF. The teams at both stations and I are committed to delivering the excellence that our customers have come to expect and work towards a bright future!”

Direct Maintenance opens its third Germany station at Hamburg (HAM) airport

Direct Maintenance is happy to announce that as of now, our HAM station is approved and open. The first aircraft was successfully welcomed by our staff and the newly branded car. With a capability for A380, B777 and B787 we are excited to build this operation and welcome more customers in HAM. Hamburg is the third Germany location where Direct Maintenance has opened a station

Erik Verwijmeren, Director of Operation, adds: “It is wonderful to see that these two stations are now both successfully opened. The teams at both stations and I are enthusiastic to explore the opportunities that will arrive here.”

Direct Maintenance welcomes the first A380 at Dusseldorf (DUS) station

Yesterday, on June 24th 2019, Direct Maintenance welcomed its first A380 flight at the recently opened station at DUS. Since it’s opening in April, the Dusseldorf station has been handling A320s and B767s, however, our DUS capability extends beyond those aircraft types.

Frank Daams, Managing Director, comments: “We, as Direct Maintenance, have had the A380 approval since 2012 and are genuinely pleased to provide line maintenance support to this aircraft at yet another of our stations. The local team is doing an excellent job providing full handlings to all aircraft at DUS, which will also show in the A380 operation.”

Direct Maintenance adds new capability at Dublin (DUB) station

We are celebrating the addition of the A320 IAE PW1100G engine to our EASA Part-145 line maintenance approval. We are happy to add this to our capability list at Dublin!

At Direct Maintenance, we strive to deliver excellence every hour of the day. Customers trust us for our progressive approach and our quick reaction time in achieving Part-145 approval for A320 NEO, B787 and most recently A350.

For any line maintenance related enquiries, please contact our Sales team

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