OGMA
| Company type | Sociedade Anónima |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Aircraft maintenance and production |
| Predecessor | Parque de Material Aeronáutico |
| Founded | June 29, 1918 in Portugal |
| Headquarters | Alverca , Portugal |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Alexandre Solis (CEO) |
| Products | Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; aircraft components manufacturing |
| Owner | Embraer (65%), Portuguese government (35%) |
OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal S.A. is a Portugal-based aerospace firm focused on aircraft maintenance and production. The company’s majority shares, totaling 65%, are owned by Embraer, while the Portuguese government retains the remaining 35%.
History
Established on June 29, 1918, under the name Parque de Material Aeronáutico, OGMA originally handled storage, repair, manufacturing, and training activities for military aviation. It was renamed Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico in 1928 and adopted its present designation in 1994.
In its initial years, OGMA produced the Caudron G.3 (1922) and later manufactured licensed models such as the Vickers Valparaiso (1933), Avro 626, de Havilland Tiger Moth (1938), and 66 units of the De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (1952). The company secured contracts with the United States Navy in 1955 and the US Air Force in 1959. Starting in 1972, OGMA began manufacturing components for the Eurocopter Group, and throughout the 1970s provided maintenance services for aircraft including the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Lockheed P-3 Orion, and Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma.
By 1993, OGMA had become an Authorized Maintenance Center for Rolls-Royce engines such as the T56, AE 2100, and AE 3007A; this expanded in 1998 to cover Embraer’s ERJ 145 aircraft. Since 1994, it has manufactured critical structural elements for the Pilatus PC-12, including fuselage sections, wings, doors, flaps, ailerons, rudder assemblies, and wiring harnesses. In 2001, OGMA undertook repairs and upgrades on 40 Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighters.
Following privatization in 2004, ownership was split between Embraer and EMPORDEF. In 2006, OGMA inaugurated the Executive Jets Center to improve maintenance capabilities for Embraer’s business jets such as the Legacy 600. From 2013 onwards, OGMA has been involved in Embraer’s KC-390 program by producing central fuselage components, fairings, metallic alloys, composite parts, and elevons. It also manages supply chain development primarily through Portuguese suppliers.
In 2016, OGMA reported revenues of €195.4 million alongside profits of €10.1 million. By 2017, approximately 70% of its income was derived from aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations. As of 2013, OGMA maintained a client base of about 40 customers spanning roughly 70 countries. Alexandre Solis assumed the role of CEO in 2019.
In 2020, the Portuguese aviation safety authority criticized OGMA following an investigation into deficient maintenance practices linked to serious flight control malfunctions on Air Astana Flight 1388 in 2018. The inquiry highlighted shortcomings in quality assurance and oversight processes.
OGMA produces essential components for the Embraer C-390 Millennium program including central fuselage sections, sponsons, landing gear assemblies, rear wing elevators, and rudder parts. Additionally, it assembles standard NATO equipment utilized by the Portuguese Air Force’s C-390 fleet.
Facilities
OGMA operates out of its headquarters in Alverca, located within the Alverca Aeronautical Park approximately northeast of Lisbon International Airport. The facility spans , featuring covered areas totaling . The site includes a runway equipped with a control tower. Its infrastructure comprises eleven hangars dedicated to civil and military aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, and testing activities.