EME Aero, the engine services joint venture between Lufthansa Technik
AG and MTU Aero Engines AG, has recently completed the first regular
maintenance visits of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM Geared Turbo Fan
(GTF[TM]) engines. Since January, when the first engine arrived in
line with Pratt & Whitney's low pressure turbine (LPT) retrofit
program, a total of 21 engines were successfully delivered back to
different customers. Moreover, EME Aero has now become an official
member in the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network.
After completing the LPT retrofit program, whose 15 engines were used
to smoothly start up operations in the facility, EME Aero has now
already completed another six regular customer engine shop visits.
"Despite all the obstacles and additional challenges due to the Covid
19 situation, we are still right on track with our ramp up," said
Derrick Siebert, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of
Business at EME Aero. "The entire team is proud of reaching another
important milestone by completing the first series of shop visits of
GTF engines. This proves that EME Aero has now achieved full
operational readiness."
EME Aero is one of the world's most advanced and largest shops for
the latest generation of commercial aircraft engines. With only 18
months from construction to Entry into Service, it was questionable
if the very challenging ramp up program could be met. Yet, in
December 2019 the state-of-the-art engine shop, including a fully
operational test cell, was ready to start operations as an MRO
facility.
"The roughly 400 employees, who have been trained at the company's
own training center and at the locations of the two joint venture
partners in Germany, finally are now ready to carry out full repairs
on the PW1100G-JM," said Robert Maślach, Chief Operating Officer
and Managing Director of Operations at EME Aero. "We are optimistic
about our future. The strong team spirit from the project and ramp-up
has shaped us and is carrying us through these challenging times to
be ready for upcoming steep ramp up."
The next step for EME Aero is the implementation of a high tech flow
line planned for the end of this year and readiness for the induction
of PW1500G engines in the middle of 2021.
"Pratt & Whitney would like to congratulate the EME Aero for
completing their first Pratt & Whitney GTF engine overhaul," said Joe
Sylvestro, Vice President Aftermarket Operations at Pratt & Whitney.
"As the GTF fleet continues to grow, the GTF MRO network is ready to
provide world-class maintenance services to our customers across the
globe."