OGMA

OGMA was founded as part of the reorganization of the Portuguese Army's Aeronautic Service in June 29, 1918, under the name Parque de Material Aeronáutico (Aeronautics Material Depot), with the responsibility of storing, repairing, manufacturing, and providing aeronautical material, as well as providing training to military aeronautics specialists and technicians.[2] Ten years later the Depot was renamed Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico (General Workshops of Aeronautical Material). In 1994, the company acquired the designation of OGMA - Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal SA, which continues today.[3]

OGMA began the construction of Caudron G-3 aircraft in 1922; followed by the manufacture, under English license, of Vickers Valparaiso aircraft in 1933;[4] Avro 626; de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft[5] in 1938 and the construction of 66 DHC-1 Chipmunks in 1952.[6]

Three years later, OGMA sign the first contract with the US Navy. In 1959, it signed another contract with the US Air Force. In the 1970s the company receives the maintenance of C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion and Pumas.[7]

In 1972, OGMA starts its manufacture contract with Eurocopter. In 1993, OGMA becomes a Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Center for T-56, AE 2100 e AE 3007A engines and, five years later, acquires the certification of Authorized Maintenance Center for ERJ 145 Embraer aircraft.[8]

In 2001, through "Mid Life Update" – MLU, "Falcon Up" and "Falcon Star" Programmes, the company starts the Programme for the Repairing and Modification of 40 F-16 Portuguese Air Force aircraft.[9]

In 2004, the privatization of OGMA was approved, between 35% of the capital of the organization held by the Portuguese Government and 65% by Airholding (Embraer and EADS).[1]

On July 10, 2006, OGMA inaugurated the Executive Jets Center, created to improve the maintenance services of the Embraer Legacy 600 and future business jets developed by Embraer.[10]

Also, since 2013, OGMA is involved in the KC-390's development program, with the central fuselage manufacturing, fairing for the landing gear in metallic alloys, composite materials and elevons.[11]

The involvement of OGMA in the KC-390 program started during the planning and design of the aircraft, in direct partnership with Embraer. [12]

OGMA participated in the initial phase of the product (joint definition phase) and was responsible for the development and management of a chain of competitive and flexible supply, mainly based on Portuguese companies. The KC-390 was developed for a wide range of missions: personnel transport, airdrop of cargo and troops, refueling, medical evacuation and fire fighting. It is the most versatile aircraft in its category associated with the full life cycle of lower market.[13]

In 2016 OGMA achieved a sales volume of 195.4 million Euros and a profit of 10.1 million Euros. On April 10, 2017, Marco Tulio Pellegrini, former Vice President of Embraer's Executive Aviation, is named OGMA’s new Chairman and CEO.[14] On December 9, 2019, the company announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Alexandre Solis, who was the industrial director of Embraer's unit in Botucatu, Brazil.[15]

Currently, OGMA is one of the main references in Aircraft Maintenance, Aerostructures Manufacture and Aeronautical Engineering, having played a major role in the foundation of aeronautical industry in Portugal.[16]

OGMA celebrated 100 years on June 29, 2018. It’s one of the oldest aeronautical companies in the world with a long and prestigious tradition. It has several governments, air forces and aviation companies as clients.[17] The centennial celebration was led by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who distinguished, with the Medal of the Order of Merit, and for the first time in history, a factory worker, as a tribute to all former and current company employees.[18] On the same day was inaugurated OGMA’s Historic Center, a revitalization project of the hangar built in 1925.[19]

Global view of OGMA's facilities

OGMA - Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, S.A. is situated in Alverca, in the Alverca Aeronautical Park, approximately 15 km north east of Lisbon International Airport, close to A1 and A9 highways, adjacent to Alverca's railway station.[20] Facilities can be accessed by highway, railway, river pier and airway ICAO Runway Code - LPAR N 38º 52 '59.80' 'W 009º 01' 48.35 ; N 38 ° 53 '22.20 "W 009 ° 01' 54.80".[21]

With a total area of 440,000 sqm, of which 150,000 correspond to covered facilities, OGMA's vast area is provided with a 3,000m runway and control tower around the clock operations.[22] OGMA dedicates 11 hangars for civil and military aircraft maintenance, an engine repair and testing workshop, a component workshop, two large manufacturing areas and multiple support workshops.[20]

In 2017 it was built an hangar dedicated to aircraft painting, with two cabins equipped with state-of-the-art technology, prepared for custom painting, chemical and mechanical pickling and surface treatments for military, commercial and executive aircraft.[23]

MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services for Defense Aviation, Civil Aviation, Engines & Components, accounted, in 2017, for about 70% of OGMA's total business volume.

In military aviation the maintenance of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion and F-16 Fighting Falcon, Embraer Embraer R-99 and Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, Airbus EADS CASA C-295 and Leonardo S.p.A. AgustaWestland EH101 aircraft stand out.

In civil aviation, maintenance services apply to Embraer manufacturer aircraft: Embraer ERJ Family commercial aircraft, Embraer E-Jet family, and Embraer Legacy 600/650 and Embraer Lineage 1000 executive aircraft.

At OGMA, maintenance is made in engines that are manufactured by Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce AE 2100, Rolls-Royce AE 3007, Allison T56 and recently the Rolls-Royce T406 model that equips the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft.

Landing gear, brakes, propellers, valves, actuators, electrical and avionics components, among others, are repaired at component workshop.

"OGMA Executive Jets Center" is a fully equipped hangar with modern aircraft support workshops.[24]

As a supplier of integrated services to OEMs, OGMA produces assemblies and subassemblies of aircraft structures, covering a broad spectrum of products, such as metallic and composit structures, avionics, structures with harness integration and machine and sheet metal parts.[25]

OGMA is, simultaneously, an important supplier of integrated solutions for first tier suppliers, like Embraer, Dassault Group, Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin, Pilatus Aircraft, Leonardo S.p.A. and Airbus Helicopters.[26]

Current programs include Pilatus, Dassault, Lockheed Martin, Embraer, Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and NH Industries.

KC-390 project is an aspect worth mentioning. In a partnership with Embraer, the company invested around 35 million euros and created 180 jobs for the development and manufacture of central fuselage, right and left sponsons, as well as its in-depth rudders.[27]

OGMA is an Authorized Maintenance Center for 3 manufacturers: Lockheed Martin Hercules Service Center, Embraer Owned Service Center (EOSC) and Rolls-Royce Authorized Maintenance Center (AMC).[26]

It also has the following certifications: Military (PMAR-145, RML V-6A (SWEDEN) / FRA 145 (FRANCE) / OMAD (ARGENTINA), Civil (EASA PART 145, FAA PART 145, EASA PART M: CAMO, CAAR-145 (CHINA), EASA PART 147: EMBRAER EXTENSION), Design (EASA PART 21J DOA), Production (EASA PART 21G POA, QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ISO 9001, EM / AS 9100, EM / AS 9110, AQAP 2110), Environment Management System (ISO 14001) and OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IOHSAS 18001).[26]

OGMA is one of the most relevant Portuguese company in the aeronautical sector, due to its action on a growing number of international markets, with approximately 70 Clients from 40 countries, from all continents.[28]