OGMA

OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A. is a Portuguese aerospace company based at the Alverca Aeronautical Park, about 15 kilometres northeast of Lisbon International Airport. Its activities combine aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, aircraft and aerostructure manufacturing, engineering, modification, and support for military and civil aviation programs. The company serves both government and commercial customers and has reported serving approximately 40 clients from 70 countries. The organization originated in the reorganization of the Portuguese Army’s Aeronautic Service. Established on 29 June 1918 as Parque de Material Aeronáutico, it was initially responsible for storing, repairing, manufacturing, and supplying aeronautical material, as well as training military aeronautics personnel. In 1928 it adopted the name Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico, from which the OGMA acronym derives. The company became OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A. in 1994. OGMA developed early manufacturing capabilities through licensed and domestic production. It began building Caudron G-3 aircraft in 1922, followed by Vickers Valparaiso aircraft in 1933 and Avro 626 and de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft in 1938. In 1952 it constructed 66 DHC-1 Chipmunks. Its international customer base expanded through contracts with the United States Navy in 1955 and the United States Air Force in 1959. During the 1970s, the company entered a manufacturing agreement with Eurocopter and performed maintenance on aircraft including the C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion, and SA 300 Puma. Maintenance, repair and overhaul became a central part of the business. OGMA became a Rolls-Royce authorized maintenance center in 1993 for the T56, AE 2100, and AE 3007A engines, and in 1998 it gained authorization to support Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. Since 1994, it has also manufactured a broad range of major structural components for the Pilatus PC-12, including fuselages, wings, doors, flight-control surfaces, and wiring harnesses. In 2001, it received a contract to repair and modify 40 F-16 aircraft operated by the Portuguese Air Force. The company was privatized in 2004, with ownership divided between Embraer and the Portuguese state’s industrial holding structure. OGMA later strengthened its relationship with Embraer by opening an Executive Jets Center in 2006 to support Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft and other business jets. Since 2013, it has been involved in the Embraer C-390 Millennium program, producing and assembling multiple structural and systems-related components and supporting the integration of NATO-standard equipment for Portuguese Air Force aircraft. Its work on the C-390 has included center-fuselage elements, fairings, metallic and composite structures, elevons, sponson assemblies, landing-gear components, rear-wing elevators, and rudder parts. OGMA’s principal site covers approximately 440,000 square metres, including around 150,000 square metres of covered facilities. It includes a 3,000-metre runway, a control tower, and 11 hangars used for civil and military maintenance, manufacturing, and testing. The company’s business has historically been strongly weighted toward maintenance, repair and overhaul; such services represented approximately 70% of total business volume in 2017. OGMA therefore occupies a position between an aerospace MRO provider, an aerostructures manufacturer, and a defense-industrial partner within Portugal’s aviation sector.

OGMA traces its origins to the Portuguese Army’s Aeronautic Service. On 29 June 1918, the organization was created as Parque de Material Aeronáutico during a reorganization intended to centralize the storage, repair, manufacture, and distribution of aviation equipment. It also trained personnel for military aviation. In 1928, the institution was renamed Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico, a name that established the acronym OGMA. The corporate name OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A. was adopted in 1994. The organization’s early industrial role included both aircraft support and licensed production. OGMA manufactured Caudron G-3 aircraft beginning in 1922. It later produced Vickers Valparaiso aircraft under English license in 1933, followed by Avro 626 and de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft in 1938. In 1952, it built 66 DHC-1 Chipmunks. These programs gave the company experience in aircraft assembly, licensed manufacturing, component production, and military aviation support. OGMA began building a wider international customer base in the postwar period. It signed its first contract with the United States Navy in 1955 and a further contract with the United States Air Force in 1959. In 1972, it entered a manufacturing contract with Eurocopter. During the 1970s, its maintenance workload included Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Lockheed P-3 Orion, and SA 300 Puma aircraft. This combination of manufacturing and sustainment work became characteristic of the company’s later business model. In 1993, OGMA was designated a Rolls-Royce authorized maintenance center for T56, AE 2100, and AE 3007A engines. The following year, it was incorporated under its current corporate name. OGMA also expanded its civil-aircraft component activities. Since 1994, it has manufactured most of the major structural components for the Pilatus PC-12, including fuselage and wing structures, cargo and passenger doors, flaps, ailerons, rudders, and wiring harnesses. In 1998, the company became an authorized maintenance center for Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. Military support remained important. In 2001, OGMA was contracted to repair and modify 40 F-16 aircraft operated by the Portuguese Air Force. The company was privatized in 2004, when ownership was distributed between Embraer and the Portuguese state industrial holding structure. In 2006, OGMA inaugurated an Executive Jets Center intended to improve maintenance services for the Embraer Legacy 600 and later Embraer business jets. A major later development was OGMA’s role in the Embraer C-390 Millennium program. From 2013, it participated in development and industrialization work and became responsible for a substantial package of structures and assemblies. Its work has included center-fuselage structures, fairings, metallic and composite components, elevons, sponson assemblies, landing gears, rear-wing elevators, and rudder parts. OGMA also supports assembly of NATO-standard equipment for C-390 aircraft operated by the Portuguese Air Force and was involved in developing and managing a supply chain that primarily uses Portuguese companies. The company’s industrial site is located in Alverca, approximately 15 kilometres northeast of Lisbon International Airport. The facilities cover about 440,000 square metres, with roughly 150,000 square metres under cover. The site includes 11 hangars, a 3,000-metre runway, and a control tower for maintenance, manufacturing, and testing activities. MRO has historically been the dominant business area, accounting for about 70% of total business volume in 2017. OGMA reported 2016 sales volume of €195.4 million and profit of €10.1 million. Those figures are historical and should not be treated as current financial performance. In 2018, an aircraft operated by Air Astana experienced severe flight-control problems after maintenance work associated with OGMA. A subsequent investigation published by Portugal’s aviation accident-prevention and investigation authority identified deficiencies in quality assurance, oversight, and management as contributing factors. The episode became a significant quality and governance issue associated with the company, although the available reference material does not establish a broader corporate outcome beyond the criticism described in the investigation.

• 2017

  MRO remains the dominant business area

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul represented approximately 70% of OGMA’s total business volume.

• 2013

  Participation in Embraer C-390 program

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA became involved in development, component production, assembly, and supply-chain work for the Embraer C-390 Millennium.

• 2006

  Executive Jets Center inaugurated

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA opened an Executive Jets Center to support Embraer Legacy 600 maintenance and future business-jet services.

• 2004

  Privatization

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA was privatized, with ownership divided between Embraer and the Portuguese state industrial holding structure.

• 2001

  Portuguese Air Force F-16 support contract

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA received a contract to repair and modify 40 Portuguese Air Force F-16 aircraft.

• 1994

  Adoption of current corporate name

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  The company was renamed OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A.

• 1993

  Rolls-Royce authorized maintenance center status

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA became an authorized maintenance center for Rolls-Royce T56, AE 2100, and AE 3007A engines.

• 1959

  United States Air Force contract

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  The company signed a contract with the United States Air Force.

• 1955

  First United States Navy contract

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA signed its first contract with the United States Navy.

• 1952

  Construction of DHC-1 Chipmunks

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA constructed 66 DHC-1 Chipmunk aircraft.

• 1928

  Renamed Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted the name that later supplied the OGMA acronym.

• 1922

  Beginning of Caudron G-3 production

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  OGMA began manufacturing Caudron G-3 aircraft, marking an early step in its aircraft-production activities.

• 1918

  Creation as Parque de Material Aeronáutico

  [1]OGMAen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established on 29 June 1918 during the reorganization of the Portuguese Army’s Aeronautic Service.

A Portuguese aerospace and defense-industrial partner combining large-scale aircraft MRO, aerostructure manufacturing, military aircraft modification, and participation in international OEM programs.

• Aerospace services

  Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul

  OGMA provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification, and support services for civil and military aircraft. Its historical work has included C-130 Hercules, P-3 Orion, SA 300 Puma, F-16, Embraer ERJ 145, and Embraer Legacy aircraft. MRO has been the company’s largest business area, representing about 70% of total business volume in 2017.

• Military aircraft manufacturing · 2013

  Embraer C-390 Millennium structures and assemblies

  As an industrial partner in the Embraer C-390 Millennium program, OGMA manufactures and assembles a range of aircraft structures and systems-related components. Its responsibilities have included center-fuselage elements, fairings, metallic and composite parts, elevons, sponsons, landing gears, rear-wing elevators, and rudder components, as well as integration of selected NATO-standard equipment.

• Aerostructures · 1994

  Pilatus PC-12 structural components

  Since 1994, OGMA has manufactured most of the major structural components for the Pilatus PC-12. The reported scope includes fuselage and wing structures, cargo and passenger doors, flaps, ailerons, rudders, and wiring harnesses, demonstrating the company’s role as a component manufacturer rather than only a final-aircraft maintenance provider.

• Engine maintenance · 1993

  Rolls-Royce engine maintenance

  OGMA became a Rolls-Royce authorized maintenance center in 1993 for the T56, AE 2100, and AE 3007A engine families. The authorization expanded its role in propulsion-system support for military and regional aviation applications.

• Military aircraft support · 2001

  F-16 repair and modification

  OGMA supported the Portuguese Air Force through a 2001 contract covering repair and modification of 40 F-16 aircraft. The program illustrates the company’s defense sustainment role and its ability to perform work on frontline military platforms.

• 2020

  Air Astana Flight 1388 maintenance investigation

  Following severe flight-control problems on Air Astana Flight 1388 in 2018, Portugal’s Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents in Civil Aviation and Rail criticized maintenance work associated with OGMA. The investigation identified insufficient quality assurance, oversight, and management as contributing factors to the aircraft’s technical problems.

  Source

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• 2013

  Industrial participation in the C-390 MillenniumStrategy

  Background

  Embraer’s C-390 program required an international industrial network for development, manufacturing, assembly, and supply-chain support.

  Action taken

  OGMA accepted responsibility for a substantial set of C-390 structures and assemblies and for developing and managing parts of the Portuguese supply chain.

  Aftermath

  The program increased OGMA’s role as an aerostructures and defense-aerospace partner and involved Portuguese industrial suppliers.

  Source

• 2006

  Creation of the Executive Jets CenterStrategy

  Background

  OGMA sought to expand and improve maintenance support for Embraer’s business-jet activities.

  Action taken

  The company inaugurated an Executive Jets Center focused initially on the Embraer Legacy 600 and intended to support future Embraer business jets.

  Aftermath

  The facility broadened OGMA’s service offering beyond military aircraft and conventional commercial aviation maintenance.

  Source

• 2004

  Privatization and strategic ownership changeStrategy

  Background

  OGMA had historically operated as a Portuguese state-linked aviation-industrial organization. The company was restructured and privatized in 2004.

  Action taken

  Ownership was divided between Embraer and the Portuguese state industrial holding structure; the current reported shareholding is 65% Embraer and 35% Portuguese government.

  Aftermath

  The ownership change strengthened OGMA’s connection with Embraer civil, executive, and defense aerospace programs.

  Source

1. 1OGMAen.wikipedia.org