Page 50 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FEATURE ENGINE MRO

MRO operators in the region
are likely to go through a period
of consolidation as airline
operators increasingly look for
“one-stop” shops to meet their
maintenance needs
and comprehensive related services (both them, delivering a base workload on these JAEC and the Pratt & Whitney Christchurch
on newer and older engines) in an effort programmes for the MRO operator. “MTU Engine Center in the Asia/Pacific region,
to further reduce costs while maximizing Aero Engines, as a risk and revenue sharing Lufthansa Technik and MTU in Europe, and
asset values. “The main reason for this being partner (RRSP) for next generation engines, Pratt & Whitney Columbus Engine Center in
the increased involvement of the OEMs in for example on the PW1100G-JM, can support the United States. This network will be rapidly
the aftermarket. This, and the advanced entry into the OEM network, access to repair scaled up as overhaul volumes increase to
technology used in these engines will lead licenses, as well as potentially introduce include airlines and other MRO shops.
to limited access to shop visits and could shop visit volume from the OEM (through Pratt & Whitney’s most comprehensive
ultimately lead to a market consolidation. the OEM network).” The benefit here to an aftermarket presence in a single location
We believe that the future market will be MRO provider here, is that this will happen outside the U.S. is based in Singapore where
mainly made up of large players and small in an early phase and enable collection of it has been present for 33 years. Singapore
companies that offer niche products,” says experience and knowledge to be collected today has five Pratt & Whitney MRO
Frank Bodenhage, President and CEO of ahead of competitors businesses and more than 2,000 employees,
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai. providing comprehensive support to large
Another looming challenge for MRO The OEM MRO Solution engine operators in the region. This year,
firms is that future widebody types will be Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower Geared Pratt & Whitney officially opened its first
available will have only one engine supplier. Turbofan (GTF) engine family has more than manufacturing facility in Singapore, further
There is no change in today’s single-aisle 8,200 orders, including options with more augmenting its MRO footprint in the region.
aircraft models: The A320neo family comes than 80 customers across 30 countries. In the The 180,000 square-foot (16,000 square-
with two engine choices, and the 737MAX is Asia-Pacific region, Pratt & Whitney has nearly meter) facility produces hybrid metallic
exclusively powered by the LEAP-1B, as the 2,000 GTF engine orders and commitments fan blades and high pressure turbine disks
737NG is today by the CFM56-7. However, to date, with more than 20 customers. GTF for Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower Geared
according to Bodenhage, “The key issue engine operators could save up to U.S. $1 Turbofan (GTF) engine family. More than
for MROs is on how to access the license million per aircraft per year, while maintaining 1,200 Pratt & Whitney engines are in service
to overhaul these new engine types. And overall maintenance requirements consistent in China and in excess of 100 GTF engines
as most orders for next generation aircraft with today’s narrow body engines. The have been ordered by Chinese airlines. For
and engines come with a long-term service engine has 2,000 fewer aerofoils, six fewer large engine fleets that are in service today,
agreement, accessing the workload itself is stages and lower engine core temperatures, Pratt & Whitney currently provides MRO
another major issue.” Established third-party results in a maintenance friendly engine. The support with a wide network that is already
MRO providers are looking at partnerships fan drive gear system is designed to run for well established in the Asia Pacific region. It
with a large airline, which has already placed infinite life with no life limited parts. There is has four engine centers (in Turkey, Singapore,
significant orders and the MRO company’s now a growing GTF MRO network in place to Shanghai and Christchurch), four-part repair
existing relationship with the engine OEM support customers, which industry’s leading shops, and more than 3,000 employees
to negotiate overhaul licenses with the MRO firms. Current network members include providing comprehensive support.
50 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA