Building Africa's Aviation Infrastructure from Within
Mazisi Parkes, Chief Executive Officer of Aerojet Aviation Limited, has shared his vision for establishing Africa's first major independent MRO facility as a catalyst for economic transformation across the continent.
The Economic Case for Local MRO Services
African airlines spend an estimated $200 million annually on overseas maintenance services
Nigerian aviation alone accounts for significant capital flight to foreign MRO providers
Every major check, engine overhaul, and structural repair performed outside Africa represents lost economic value that could be retained within the continent. The Accra MRO Project aims to reverse this trend by providing world-class maintenance services at a strategically located facility accessible to airlines across West and Central Africa.
Key economic benefits include:
- Retention of maintenance spending within the African economy
- Creation of high-skilled, high-wage technical jobs across engineering, logistics, and quality assurance
- Reduction in aircraft downtime and ferry flight costs for regional carriers
- Technology transfer and advanced skills development for Ghana's workforce
- Stimulation of ancillary industries including parts supply, logistics, and hospitality
A Vision for African Talent
"We are not just building hangars — we are building careers, building families, and building a future where African engineers maintain African aircraft to international standards."
— Mazisi Parkes, CEO of Aerojet Aviation
Central to Mr. Parkes' vision is the development of African technical talent. The Aerojet Aviation Training Academy, launched alongside the MRO project, is designed to create a sustainable pipeline of EASA-certified aircraft maintenance engineers who can work anywhere in the world while strengthening their home continent's technical capacity.
Source: Aerojet Aviation CEO Interview, January 2022; LinkedIn posts by Mazisi Parkes.