MTU Maintenance on course for further success

Over the past few years, MTU Aero Engines has remained committed to its network expansion plans and progressed with facility expansions, program and capability introductions as well as pursuing numerous operational, digitalization and efficiency improvement initiatives. Despite the COVID-19 crisis, MTU Maintenance is therefore prepared for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) ramp-up expected in 2022/23.

Domestic and regional air traffic in particular is showing signs of recovery, resulting in narrow-body engines tending to be reactivated first. MTU Maintenance is well-positioned to support these engines, as it now has capabilities for CFM56 and V2500 engines at three facilities worldwide. Furthermore, airlines have turned to younger engine types as they have moved their fleets out of storage. Here too, MTU Maintenance is ready to support. Three MTU facilities have capabilities for full engine disassembly, assembly and test for the successful PW1100G-JM engine. The LEAP family was also introduced in 2019 to MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and the team in the Pearl Delta region of China has been working hard to increase capabilities, in particular for its on-site team with for instance borescope inspections.

Furthermore, cargo operations even experienced a real boom throughout the crisis and MTU Maintenance has seen great demand for services on engines such as PW2000 and CF6-80C2. MTU Maintenance should return to pre-Covid levels by 2022/23 earlier than the market – thanks to its product mix and ability to offer alternatives, such as used serviceable material (USM).

This year in particular, MTU Maintenance had a number of milestones to celebrate around its sites. Groundbreakings, portfolio additions, facility expansions – to name just a few.

MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg

A 30-year success story

There were several reasons to celebrate at Ludwigsfelde in 2021: MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg has reached the grand old age of 30—and it has looked after over 400 customers in the past five years alone. It possesses the most varied product portfolio of the entire MTU Maintenance network. And it added a new engine type to its portfolio this year, with the arrival of the first CFM56-7B in July.

EME Aero

New GTF family member on board

In August, the first PW1500G engine was commissioned at the EME Aero shop. Its launch marks an important milestone in the short history of the joint venture between MTU and Lufthansa Technik. EME Aero is ideally prepared to welcome the new GTF family member. An assembly system designed especially for the location enables it to overhaul every engine type in the GTF family.

MTU Maintenance Canada

New home

With the move from Richmond to Boundary Bay in Delta, British Columbia, and the successful restructuring of a former helicopter maintenance company that went along with it, from now on MTU Maintenance Canada will have around 60 percent more space available. Over the past two years, MTU Maintenance Canada has added the successful V2500 and CF6-80C2 engine types to its portfolio.

Airfoil Services Sdn. Bhd.

Site expansion

In April 2021, Airfoil Services Sdn. Bhd., a joint venture between MTU Aero Engines and Lufthansa Technik completed its 5,200 square meter expansion, taking its yearly repair capacity from 650,000 to 900,000 parts. The facility near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is specialized in airfoil repairs for low-pressure turbines and high-pressure compressors, in particular for CF34, CF6, CFM56 and V2500 engines.

MTU Maintenance do Brasil

FAA approval to deliver more thrust

As of last year, MTU’s Brazilian location, which in the past had specialized in the maintenance of industrial gas turbines, is now also looking after aircraft engines—for CF34, CF6, CFM56, GE90 and V2500 types, do Brasil has already received ANAC and EASA certification and has carried out initial on-site activities on engines. FAA approval is due to follow at the end of this year.