Page 17 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015 Online Magazine
P. 17
FEATURE FUTURE MRO
In December last, GE sent a GEnx- providing access to all parts of the engine.
1B engine used by an unnamed airline The mechanics and technicians were
to the Amsterdam facility – part of the trained as part of a continuous learning
manufacturer’s MRO partner network – program, also focusing on the continuous
for a combustion chamber replacement. improvement mindset.
After that powerplant was returned to GE “Our approach is 100 per cent
in early January, a second GEnx-1B, used innovation centric,” says de Jong. “Our
by a different operator, was inducted into objective is above all the safety and
the shop, says Air France Industries KLM performance of our own fleet and those
Engineering & Maintenance. of our clients. That means continuously
Following GEnx certification, the improving our processes and resources
Amsterdam Engine Shop, where the latest so that we can guarantee reliable repairs
addition to General Electric’s family of with ever more optimised TATs.”
powerplants is handled, recently obtained That performance also involves
dual EASA / FAA certification for complete developing the on-wing repairs that AFI
overhauls of the GEnx-1B engine. AFI KLM E&M will also use on its fleet of 787s
KLM E&M developed a second GEnx slot next to offering them to its clients.
in Amsterdam, allowing it to work on two Air France-KLM and GE Evergreen
engines simultaneously, before a first Engines Services join a network that
shop visit some time in 2016. includes GE Aviation overhaul facilities in
“This is the outcome of in-house Prestwick, Scotland and Petropolis, Brazil.
expertise acquired during the ten Quick Other GEnx MRO partners include
Turn overhauls that we have overseen on Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT),
behalf of GE since December 2014,” says which received FAA and UAE General Civil
a delighted Yolanda de Jong, in charge Aviation Authority approval for quick turn
of the GEnx program. “We have gained operations late last year and ultimately
ABOVE: On the strength of its extensive expertise because the findings will be an overhaul facility for both the
GEnx know-how, AFI KLM E&M encountered on these engines were GEnx-1B and -2B; Lufthansa Technik,
is involved in a permanent
exchange with the engine- very diverse. AFI KLM E&M is currently which has a GBSA for maintenance, repair
maker to improve the product the only MRO network, apart from the and overhaul of the GEnx-2B powering
engine maker, to offer long term GEnx-1B the Boeing 747-8; and Air India, which has
TOP RIGhT: The GEnx engine solutions in the market.” a GBSA for GEnx-1Bs.
network of overhaul facilities
is expanding as production The facility now houses a 13x4x4m “These new agreements underscore
accelerates pit equipped with a motorised platform our commitment to an MRO network that
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS 17
