Two MRO providers are expanding their engine capabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this year.
StandardAero has established a CFM56-7B Service Center at its Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) facilities. It is laying the groundwork for new equipment and capabilities at the 220,000 ft.2 facility to support the engine platform.
StandardAero has installed the first of four dedicated gantries at the facility to support the CFM56-7B, which it says will allow it to begin offering a range of services this year, including: borescope inspections, boroblend repairs, engine module changes, quick engine change and line replaceable unit removal and installation, as well as other ‘quick turn’ shop visits. It plans to add other service capabilities soon, including repairs for engine fans, top cases, bottom cases, hot sections and low-pressure turbines.
Later this year StandardAero also plans to introduce CFM56-7B test capabilities at the facility’s six-cell engine test center. It plans to have test capabilities set up in early summer, after which it will add CFM56-5B test capability.
“The introduction of our new DFW-based service center and test capabilities will allow operators to undertake quick turn engine events at a convenient location close to one of the world’s busiest airports, thereby enabling them to rapidly get their aircraft back into service,” says Lewis Prebble, president of airlines and fleets at StandardAero.
The MRO provider already offers CFM56-7B services from its facility in Winnipeg, Canada. It says its DFW-based technicians are cross-training with their counterparts in Canada to prepare for the new capabilities.
Meanwhile, MTU Maintenance Dallas is relocating to a significantly larger facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Its old facility in Grapevine, Texas—approximately 20 mi. from the airport—was only around 41,000 ft.2, whereas the new facility will be nearly 430,000 ft.2, which it says is 400% larger.
According to MTU Maintenance Dallas, the move will accommodate growing workforce and enable engine testing on-site. It plans to begin operating an engine test cell facility capable of supporting engines with up to 100,000 lb. of thrust by the fourth quarter of this year. According to a spokesperson for MTU, the facility features an existing test cell that it is renovating by adding Safran test equipment.
“The expanded operations, with the addition of engine testing capability, will allow MTU Maintenance Dallas to offer our customers comprehensive, one-stop maintenance solutions at one of the largest on-site service and level one maintenance facilities in North America,” says Nezam Moghadassian, general manager at MTU Maintenance Dallas.
According to MTU, the added capacity and test capability will give it flexibility to add more engine types to its maintenance portfolio in the near future. It currently supports CFM56, CF34, CF6, GE90, PW2000 and V25000 engine platforms.
While MTU is not sharing specific estimates for how many new staff it plans to hire, it is actively recruiting for roles including airframe and powerplant technicians, test cell support technicians and other support roles.
The move is scheduled for the second quarter of this year. MTU says there will not be an operational impact during the relocation period.
Stay tuned to Aviation Week for more news from Aero-Engines Americas in Dallas Feb. 8-9.
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