Maintenance Deal Awarded To Boeing

Aero-News has learned Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc. dba Pemco Aviation Group, Inc. announced Friday its Birmingham, AL military division, Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc. – Birmingham d/b/a Pemco Aeroplex, Inc., filed a bid protest at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on September 19, 2007.

The protest challenges the actions of the US Air Force in awarding a contract to Boeing Aerospace Operations to provide Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) for KC-135 aircraft.

Pemco believes the award to Boeing violated both applicable law and the rules that the Air Force had established for the competition. Through its bid protest, Pemco is asking that the Air Force terminate the award to Boeing and redirect the award to Pemco.

As ANN reported earlier this month, the contract -- which has a 5-year base term with 5 additional one-year options, was awarded on September 10, 2007, with an effective date of October 1, 2007. Pemco said at the time it would review the Air Force's findings.

“After receiving the government’s debrief and looking at all the available data, we feel strongly that the contract should have been awarded to Pemco," said Ron Aramini, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pemco. "This is a very serious matter and we are going to fight to ensure all evidence is fully and fairly evaluated.”

Alabama Aircraft Industries, Inc., or AAII, formerly known as Pemco Aviation Group, Inc., with executive offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and facilities in Alabama and California, performs maintenance and modification of aircraft for the US Government and foreign and domestic customers.

FMI: www.pemcoaviationgroup.com