GENEVA, Switzerland – May 12, 2009 – In June 2007, StandardAero began to build a new test cell at the Maryville, TN, facility for testing the new PW600 turbofan engine. StandardAero was granted approval as the sole external Designated Overhaul Facility by Pratt & Whitney Canada in 2007, and the facility construction was completed in the summer of 2008. After several weeks of correlation trials in the fall, PWC granted StandardAero correlation certificates for the new test cell in December 2008.
This new 10,000 square-foot facility is adjacent to the existing AE3007 test cell, provides approximately 6,500 square feet of cell engine preparation area, and includes a 4,000-square-foot mezzanine. Although the original purpose of this test cell was to test PW600 engines (900 - 1,460 lbs thrust), the cell was sized to allow for potential future testing capabilities of engines producing up to a 15,000 lb thrust.
The new test cell is truly a state-of-the-art engine testing facility. It includes such features as a special aerodynamic design to minimize airflow turbulence, as well as the most advanced integrated data acquisition and facility controls system of any test cell in StandardAero.
While every new StandardAero test cell must go through such an exercise, never before had a StandardAero facility had to achieve such a tight tolerance – within 2 lbs of thrust. The approach involved excellent collaboration with the test cell authorities at PWC in Mississauga, ON. The result was approval of the final test cell configuration and correlation of the new test cell to PWC standards.
StandardAero holds European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval for Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600-series turbine-engine maintenance at its Tilburg facility in the Netherlands. The authorization covers field-level maintenance, on-wing hot section inspections (HSI), as well as HSI capabilities in the facility.
“As the leading turbine-engine maintenance repair and overhaul company, StandardAero has taken a leadership position in establishing superb maintenance facilities, top-notch employees and second-to-none customer service,” said StandardAero President and CEO, Rob Mionis. “Expanding our maintenance capabilities into the light-jet category expands our depth and breadth of expertise throughout the turbine-engine market.”
StandardAero was granted approval as the sole external PW600 Designated Overhaul Facility by PWC in 2007.
