Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

<a name="OLE_LINK1" id="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2" id="OLE_LINK2">While the U.S. and Europe remain the largest markets for business aviation, since 2008 the growth of business aircraft fleets in Africa, Latin America and Asia has been intense. “Malaysia, which has been experiencing a strong growth in demand for business travel for several years now, is trying to attract new MRO-related investments and the conditions for that seem to be more than favorable,” said </a>Kestutis Volungevicius, head of FL Technics. 
According to Volungevicius, Malaysia is currently the fourth largest buyer of business jets in the Asia-Pacific region. During the last 13 years the business aircraft fleet in Malaysia has grown by almost 80 percent and now accounts for almost 4 percent of all business aircraft in the region. 
“The popularity of private jets has been steadily rising in Malaysia, since its expanding trade has increased the demand for point-to-point travel. Business jets are no longer perceived as a luxury, but more as a business tool, so the rapid growth of the business jet fleet in the region is not surprising. However, as the new trends in civil aviation create new business opportunities for MROs, it’s very interesting to observe how the newcomers are starting to compete with some of the trusted providers in the region.
“Considering the Malaysian aviation industry in terms of its current stage of development, it offers lower rental, construction and operating costs. There’s also still enough room for expansion, so the fact that it is favored by many new international players should raise no eyebrows. Moreover, lower labor rates will definitely contribute to raising the competitiveness of local services,” he said. FL Technics is a provider of technical training for the aviation industry.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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