Western Aircraft announced that Chris Chavez has accepted the role of avionics sales manager.
Chavez joined Western nearly three years ago as an avionics technician and most recently worked as an avionics tech 3. Prior to joining Western, he served in the United States Marine Corps for five years as both an avionics technician and a quality assurance representative
In his new role, Chavez will be for developing and closing opportunities for avionics upgrades and installations for Western Aircraft’s thriving avionics business.
Boom Supersonic announced milestones across its Overture airliner and Symphony engine programs in July. Boom is reinventing the cockpit with an all-new flight deck, designed around pilots with safety at the forefront. Boom is making rapid progress on its Symphony engine, with hardware testing underway and the first full-scale engine core to be operational in just 18 months. Additionally, Boom announced that Symphony will be assembled in San Antonio, Texas through an expanded agreement with StandardAero.
Today’s announcements come on the heels of accelerating momentum for Boom. In March, the company conducted the historic first flight of its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator and in June completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“Passengers and airlines are hungry for supersonic flight,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “Following XB-1’s successful test flight, we’re accelerating. Overture features an all-new flight deck, incorporating extensive pilot feedback, resulting in a flying experience that is both innovative and instantly familiar. Our Symphony engine has quickly progressed through design into hardware rig testing, and with a fully operational engine core on track for next year, our rapid development approach is pacing ahead of schedule.”
Boom continues to partner with airlines and best-in-class industry suppliers. Overture’s flight deck builds on the next-generation Honeywell Anthem avionics suite. An advanced head-worn vision system from Universal Avionics, who joins the Overture program today, is integrated into the flight deck. Boom worked with BAE Systems to integrate Active Control Sidesticks into the Overture flight deck simulator displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Overture’s flight deck builds upon years of learning in aviation safety and is the result of extensive feedback from airline, business, and military pilots. Incorporating the Honeywell Anthem avionics suite, Overture offers pilots unprecedented situational awareness and ease of control, providing passengers with the safest possible flight experience.
Boom’s flight deck offers pilots the benefits of advanced automation and envelope protection, together with a force-feedback system that allows pilots to feel how the airplane is flying. With key airplane features accessible through high-definition touch screens, Overture can benefit from ongoing over-the-air software upgrades. Overture flight deck capabilities include:
Force-feedback sidesticks. For the first time on an airliner, force-feedback sidesticks allow pilots to control the plane while physically feeling both aircraft response and inputs made by the co-pilot or autopilot.
Autoland and augmented reality. Building on the system flown on XB-1, Overture has an advanced augmented reality vision system for takeoff and landing, eliminating the need for the droop nose used on Concorde. Pilots can safely land using autoland or augmented reality views provided on a head-worn device and on the pilot’s primary flight display.
Large 17-inch touchscreens. High-definition touchscreens eliminate the hundreds of breakers and buttons found in legacy cockpits. Every airplane function is accessible through software while physical controls—such as stick, throttle, and landing gear—are offered for safety-critical functions.
Over-the-air upgrades. Overture will receive over-the-air software upgrades, meaning new features and improvements will arrive regularly. Airlines can control how upgrades are rolled out across fleets.
Boom recently completed a series of flight deck tests with commercial pilots from leading airlines, including Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways.
“I’ve long believed that Overture is the rightful successor to Concorde,” said Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways. “After experiencing Overture’s flight deck, which is incredibly well designed and delightful to fly, my excitement and enthusiasm for this aircraft has only intensified.”
Symphony engine advances to hardware testing; engine core to be operational in 18 months
Boom revealed in June that it is already building and rig-testing Symphony hardware, starting with a full-scale test of combustor aerodynamics. The first 3D-printed parts have been produced for Symphony, including fuel nozzles and turbine center frames.
These hardware tests began just 18 months after the initial announcement of Symphony, demonstrating Boom’s rapid development approach. As part of this strategy, the company will conduct more than 30 engine hardware rig tests, allowing for validation and optimization of all key engine components, ranging from fan and nozzle acoustics to combustor fuel efficiency.
Boom also announced that it has accelerated development of a full-scale engine core, which will be operational in late 2025. Engine core testing will analyze performance of the compressor, combustor, and turbine section. Data gathered will further refine engineering and expedite production of a fully certified engine. Following this rapid development approach, Boom expects to build and test multiple iterations before certifying the final refined engine.
Boom also expanded its existing MRO partnership with StandardAero to include the production of Symphony. StandardAero will assemble and test Symphony engines at its facility in San Antonio, Texas. The Symphony assembly line will scale to produce 330 engines annually within a footprint projected to total over 100,000 square feet of production space.
“We are excited to expand our role to include the assembly and testing of Symphony engines, further supporting the development of next-generation flight with Boom,” said Russell Ford, Chairman and CEO of StandardAero. “Our collaboration is a testament to StandardAero’s world-class engineering capabilities and dedication to delivering solutions that power the future of air travel.”
Additionally, Boom announced it is teaming with aerospace leader ATI, Inc. for advanced high-temperature materials and components for Symphony’s high pressure compressor integrated blade and disk stages and for its turbine assembly. These advanced nickel-based superalloys will enable Symphony to achieve high performance and reliability in sustained supersonic operation.
Overture remains on target to achieve FAA and EASA certification by the end of the decade.
GA Telesis and Alitheon joined forces to integrate Alitheon’s optical AI technology, FeaturePrint, into WILBUR, GA Telesis’s Web3-enabled Parts Provenance and Records Platform. WILBUR will provide a revolution in securing aircraft and parts authenticity, as well as drive maximum levels of aviation data security within the sector. This collaboration will empower stakeholders to meet the highest standards for product documentation and verification set by all global regulatory bodies.
This collaboration also drives a new level of safety across the entire aviation and aerospace supply chain by ensuring the irrefutable verification of products. Starting with raw materials and continuing forward with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), heavy maintenance facilities, MRO’s, logistics, airlines, and parts suppliers, WILBUR and FeaturePrint will enhance traceability and identification of aircraft parts throughout the entire aircraft lifecycle. The combined technology addresses aircraft parts previously manufactured, and serves as a forward-looking provenance verification system (“PVS”) and process for transfer of assets within the supply-chain.
FeaturePrint: Revolutionizing Transparency, Traceability and Trust
FeaturePrint addresses critical challenges in the aerospace industry, including counterfeit and gray market goods, untraceable items, and misidentification of physical products. By leveraging standard industrial cameras or mobile phones, FeaturePrint’s algorithms create a unique digital fingerprint based on the minute surface details of each physical item. Just like human fingerprints, these digital ‘FeaturePrints’ are inherently unique and persistent. This technology eliminates reliance on removable tags, QR codes, data plates, labels, and paperwork, which are susceptible to damage, loss, manipulation and fraud.
Irrefutable ‘Back to Birth’ Provenance
A longstanding risk in the aerospace sector has been recently exposed via multiple fraudulent events involving both false paperwork and counterfeit parts and materials entering the aviation supply chain. These events shine a spotlight on the aviation industry’s increasing need for transparency and trust. GA Telesis’s WILBUR platform uses a patented data tokenization process where irrefutable surrogates are created for the actual information. With the addition of FeaturePrint, the solution serves as an objective source of truth combining the power of web-3 based part-level data, and the connector between physical parts and their digital identities. By replacing outdated part traceability methods reliant on paperwork, tags, QR codes, and NFC chips, the combined WILBUR – FeaturePrint technology ensures irrefutable verification.
“Incorporating Alitheon’s FeaturePrint into our WILBUR platform will establish the ultimate standard of traceability and provenance for aviation industry stakeholders,” stated Jason Reed, President of the GA Telesis Digital Innovation Group. “The combination of our technology and extensive market presence, along with Alitheon’s optical AI technology, will empower the aviation industry to address significant challenges. As the aviation industry evolves, transparency throughout the value chain is becoming increasingly critical. The enhanced GA Telesis platform will empower stakeholders to meet the highest standards set by the OEMs, airlines, and aviation authorities around the world. Together, we will usher in an era where fraudulent aerospace documentation and aircraft parts not only become obsolete, but impossible.”
“FeaturePrint was developed to establish transparency, traceability, and trust using nothing more than a photo. This empowers high-consequence industries to provide the provenance and verification their customers deserve,” said Roei Ganzarski, CEO of Alitheon. “In the aerospace sector, where safety is paramount, companies and the flying public must have assurances that every part installed on an aircraft is authentic, legal, and correct. By integrating FeaturePrint into WILBUR, this industry gains a new level of trust and safety.”
Shift5, the observability platform for onboard operational technology (OT), announced Shift5 Manifold 10, the only configurable, passive serial bus interface designed to monitor, capture, and analyze high-volume data from up to 100 serial channels onboard modern aircraft at the edge. A key component of the Shift5 Platform, the bus-agnostic Manifold 10 enables real-time data access, contextual insights, actionable analytics, and alerting, facilitating smarter, faster decision-making so operators and maintainers can meet the rigorous cybersecurity and maintenance demands of modern aircraft.
Manifold 10 is now available for U.S. defense sector aircraft. Shift5 is in active pursuit of filing requests for FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) to make Manifold 10 available for Bombardier and Boeing aircraft, collectively representing thousands of in-service aircraft globally.
“Modern aircraft generate tremendous volumes of data, most of which goes uncollected, meaning its value is never realized. That data holds critical insights about the operating condition of the aircraft that can save time and money, but operators and maintainers are limited to little to no visibility of this invaluable information,” said Egon Rinderer, CTO, Shift5. “With Manifold 10, operators can gain a comprehensive understanding of what happens aboard the aircraft across their entire fleet, enabling airlines to improve fleet availability, safety, and reduce time an aircraft is grounded. Every bit of data across all buses and protocols is now able to be captured, retained and analyzed.”
Manifold 10’s processing and continuous onboard data monitoring capabilities go beyond those of traditional aircraft data capture and analysis solutions:
Edge Computing: By processing and analyzing data directly onboard, at the edge, Manifold 10 minimizes decision latency, reduces the dependency on ground-based systems, and ensures that operators and maintainers have the most information required to make the most well-informed decisions.
Data Collection: Equipped with up to 32GB of SDRAM and 8TB of storage, Manifold 10 can process in real-time and store thousands of hours of high-volume data streams.
Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis: Designed to monitor onboard data continuously to detect anomalies that might otherwise only be detected in post-flight data analysis, Manifold 10 helps operators and maintainers react and respond faster to critical maintenance and cyber alerts, like GPS spoofing or jamming, so they can keep aircraft safer and more secure.
Compliant and Compatible: Manifold 10’s efficient operation within specified power consumption parameters and certification under RTCA/DO-160G standards ensures reliable and high-performance data processing. Packaged in an ARINC 600 2 MCU form factor, Manifold 10 is compatible with standard aviation systems.
Manifold 10 features Ethernet ports configurable for ARINC 664, 100MB Ethernet, or 1GB Ethernet, alongside modular serial bus interfaces, enabling full-take data collection and monitoring across a diverse array and combination of channels and protocols. Manifold 10 can collect data from up to 100 serial channels, including ARINC 429, ARINC 717, ARINC 664, and Ethernet, and today supports CAN, CAN-FD, CAN-J1939, RS-232, RS-422, ASCB, UARB, RS-485, and MIL-STD 1553 protocols. It can be ordered in varying configurations to meet different operational needs, each with specific part numbers and varying numbers of ARINC and Ethernet connection data ports.
Manifold 10 is available alongside Manifold 4, which serves defense, commercial rail, and maritime customers. The Shift5 Platform uses the data collected and processed by Manifold 4 and 10 for a variety of use cases, supported by distinct modules:
The Shift5 Compliance Module automates compliance efforts for onboard fleet data by helping to ensure that it is processed, managed, and stored according to regulatory requirements and industry best practices. For example, compliance with FAA Advisory Circular 119-1A’s Aircraft Network Security Program (ANSP) requirements.
The Shif5 GPS Integrity Module provides sophisticated, multi-faceted detection and alerting for GPS spoofing attempts, helping to ensure the safety and reliability of navigation.
The Shift5 Predictive Maintenance Module provides data-driven insights needed to predict and schedule maintenance effectively, helping avoid critical failures before they happen so operators and maintainers can ensure the safety and performance of critical transportation and defense fleets.
The Shift5 Cybersecurity Module detects, identifies, and generates alerts for new anomalous activities and known threats in real time, enabling faster response and proactive mitigation of potential cybersecurity risks.
Learn more about Manifold 10 at shift5.io/manifold, or visit us at booth 2023 in the SIDO Made in the USA Partnership Pavilion in Hall 2 of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 in Farnborough, UK.
Elevate MRO, a division of Elevate Aviation Group (EAG), has announced the opening of a new aircraft maintenance center at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) in Denver. This expansion includes increased staff and maintenance teams to support the existing client base and enhance aircraft maintenance service availability while supporting Elevate Jet’s management, charter and aircraft sales capabilities.
The 17,000-square-foot facility provides essential hangar and office space, allowing Elevate to expand its MRO aircraft maintenance and management. Notably, the MRO will introduce much-needed avionics services, including custom installations and maintenance. Elevate MRO was recently selected by SpaceX as an approved dealer and installer of Starlink for business aircraft.
With other companies closing their Denver operations, Elevate aims to tap into the region’s talented pool of aviation technicians and industry veterans, offering aircraft owners a new local management option. With a mobile AOG team capable of quickly restoring an aircraft to service, Elevate provides support to the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding resort airports.
“In addition to expanding our MRO footprint, this new facility will provide Elevate clients a home for owners who are looking for aircraft management services,” said Jim Slack, president of Elevate MRO. “With its savage client-centric approach, Elevate MRO maintains a wide array of current airframes representing 43 unique aircraft models across 11 manufacturers. This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier services and innovative solutions to the private jet community.”
CoreAVI announced that it has released enhancements to its accelerated compute framework to further facilitate use of the AMD E9171 Radeon GPU capabilities and has extended the availability of the AMD E9171 Radeon GPU for the aerospace and defense markets. CoreAVI continues to invest in the product portfolio and has collaborated with AMD to ensure extended availability of this proven and popular discrete GPU for the military and aerospace markets. With established flight worthiness and long-term program supply, the E9171 power-efficient, compact GPU provides scalable compute and graphics capabilities while meeting the SWaP (size, weight, power) constraints of high reliability embedded systems.
The E9171 GPU paired with CoreAVI’s open standards-based Safe AI suite facilities safety critical compute, AI and machine learning capabilities. CoreAVI’s VkCore SC Vulkan SC graphics and compute product suite supports all MOSA requirements, is aligned with the latest FACE specification and operates with commonly used real time operating systems.
CoreAVI offers an extended temperature-screened version of the AMD Radeon Embedded E9171 GPU-based module along with DAL A certification evidence to support the needs of safety critical avionics and other high reliability system manufacturers. The Radeon E9171 provides higher performance compared to the predecessor AMD Radeon E8860, with H.265 video encode/decode capabilities and 4 GB integrated memory (double that of the AMD Radeon E8860) all in a lower power footprint, making it ideal for embedded applications.
“The AMD E9171 discrete GPU is used in the most advanced avionics systems globally and continues to be a very popular option to be deployed by our customers that require high reliability and safety certification. The E9171 GPU remains an integral part of our mil/aero product portfolio. CoreAVI is pleased to extend our longevity of supply to further support our customer’s critical programs,” said Dan Joncas, Deputy CEO at CoreAVI.
AMETEK MRO has named Mike Audus as its new DVP & business unit manager – MRO Europe. In this new role, Audus will be responsible for driving customer satisfaction and growth, leading AMETEK MRO’s multiple businesses across Europe including: Muirhead Avionics, AEM, AvTech and Antavia.
With a career to date focused on avionics, power management systems and engine MRO, Audus has significant experience of working closely with airlines, military organizations, and across the OEM/prime manufacturer sector.
He joins AMETEK MRO as the organization reinforces its footprint in Europe. A new facility for Muirhead Avionics incorporating AvTech’s capabilities opened near LHR last year, and additional battery and wheels & brakes repair shops have recently on stream for Antavia near CDG in Paris.
Audus says that the fast-paced growth of the business, and the opportunity to get back to aircraft component MRO support after his lengthy stint with the OEMs, were the catalysts for the move. “I am keen to take responsibility for the performance of the business and bring commercial and operational skills to the table – the potential is far-reaching across the aviation industry” he explains.
“AMETEK MRO businesses in Europe have a proud heritage and strong business ethos anchored by their niche technical expertise and a reputation for excellent performance. Airlines, parts broker customers, and specifically our OEM partners entrust their MRO services to AMETEK MRO due to the services provided by our highly trained technicians and quality of work they deliver. We are underpinned by solid partnerships throughout the supply chain which firmly support the needs of customers.
“I have worked in operations across many countries and cultures and would describe myself as an absolute Lean zealot. Removal of waste and creating value are key for me, coupled with nurturing and sustaining a culture at AMETEK MRO that everyone wants to be a part of.”
AMETEK MRO companies in Europe: AEM, ANTAVIA, AVTECH and MUIRHEAD AVIONICS, anticipate that the next five years will be busy as the aviation sector continues to grow quickly and mature aircraft assets remain in demand as new aircraft deliveries suffer from continued supply-chain induced delays.
Audus is conscious that this growth will lead to new challenges for the OEMs and repair vendors across the region. He says, “AMETEK MRO has six main product areas: actuation, thermal management, landing gear and brakes, avionics, safety equipment and power generation. We publish monthly stock forecasts for some of our suppliers, thereby managing our customers’ expectations in terms of repair schedules and unit deliveries – and this helps them to plan efficiently.
“Innovation, and harnessing change to bring new customer benefits that maximize uptime and reduce maintenance costs, are always key components of our business strategy” summarizes Audus. “AMETEK MRO is always looking to invest, partner and establish capability that supports airlines and operators in both commercial and military sectors.”
After the biggest turnout yet with 90 teams taking on 27 events, Southwest Airlines – Team Herb, topped them all to capture the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance at The Competition Presented by Snap-on in Chicago in April.
“When Ken (MacTiernan) called our team, all the hard work, blood, sweat, and sacrifices we put into this effort really paid off,” said Chad Rhyne, coach of Southwest Airlines – Team Herb. “I want to thank Southwest’s upper management team, which is so supportive and willing to stand behind us all the way. I also want to thank our fellow competitors who continue pushing us to be better. It’s competitive, but everyone is here to support each other. I got as many high-fives from other teams as I did from my own.”
The crowning of Southwest Airlines – Team Herb, named after its founder Herb Kelleher, and one of two teams from Southwest in the field, capped off two days of excitement at The Competition, an aviation maintenance skills competition held at the MRO Americas convention last week in Chicago. As winners of the O’Brien Award, Rhyne and his team including David Swisher, Matt Lehner, Chase Lehner, Kevin Shaw, Chris Grover, and alternate Roy Luna, have the honor of taking the five-foot tall traveling trophy with them back to their headquarters at Love Field in Dallas for the year. The trophy features a bust of Charles E. Taylor, an aviation pioneer who built and maintained the first aircraft engine used by the Wright Brothers. Sponsorship of the Award is part of Snap-on’s continued commitment to The Competition and aviation maintenance technicians around the world.
“We were thrilled to see such a great turnout and incredible demonstration of skills,” said Bill Willetts, vice president of Snap-on Industrial and Aerospace Maintenance Council board member. “Every year, myself and the thousands of Snap-on team members worldwide are impressed with how these technicians continue to raise the bar. Congratulations to Southwest Airlines – Team Herb on your hard-fought victory and to the 89 other teams who came out to Chicago. The aviation industry is in great hands.”
Another historic moment at this year’s competition was the first all-female team announced as a finalist for the O’Brien Award. United Airlines Team Chix Fix originally formed in 2018 and has been a mainstay at The Competition ever since. However, it was revealed shortly before the convention that this would be the last year for the Chix.
“We came here to prove that women had a place in the aviation industry,” said Katrina Oyer of Team Chix Fix. “When we started there were only one or two other female teams, and now there are nearly 10 in this year’s field, including the first all-female military team. Our mission has been accomplished and it’s time to move on.”
The Competition Presented by Snap-on and hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council gives teams of licensed AMTs, AMEs, international military personnel, and qualified aviation maintenance students the chance to test their aviation maintenance skills against those of their peers. The competition included 27 challenges in areas such as avionics; safety wiring; fiber optics/flight control rigging; hydraulics; jet engine troubleshooting; workplace safety SMS; and other tasks. Teams had 15 minutes to accurately complete each task; teams that finished their tasks up to safety standards in less than the allotted time received higher scores with points deducted for any errors.
“There has been a lot of attention on aircraft maintenance lately,” said Ken MacTiernan, chairman of The Competition. “This year more than ever, our hope was to shine a light on the professionalism of the people in this field. Don’t let the fast pace of the timed events fool you. Precision is the name of the game, both at the event and in the field, and perfection is the minimum standard.”
Major Category Winners
William O’Brien Award
• 1st place: Southwest Airlines – Team Herb
• 2nd place: American Airlines – Team Tulsa
• 3rd place: United Airlines – Chix Fix
MRO/OEM Category
• 1st place: American Airlines – Team Tulsa
• 2nd place: FedEx Express
• 3rd place: United Airlines – Base
School Category
• 1st place: Tarrant County College
• 2nd place: George T. Baker Aviation Technical College
• 3rd place: Liberty University
Military Category
• 1st place: United States Army – 128th Aviation Brigade – Team Blackhawk
• 2nd place: United States Army – 128th Aviation Brigade – Team Chinook
• 3rd place: United States Air Force – 86th MXG, Ramstein ABGermany – Team 2
Commercial Category
• 1st place: Southwest Airlines – Team Herb
• 2nd place: United Airlines – Chix Fix
• 3rd place: United Airlines – Line
General Aviation Category
• 1st place: Victory Lane Aviation
• 2nd place: Aircraft Engineers International
• 3rd place: Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Peer Team Award
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Dream Team Award
• Embry-Riddle University
Professionalism Award
• Heather Behrent – United Airlines – Chix Fix
Professionalism Award (student)
• Mason Migliaro – Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics – Myrtle Beach
United’s John Goglia Competing with Professionalism Awards
• Liberty University
• Tulsa Tech – Aerospace Academy
In addition to the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, Snap-on provided all the tools and equipment used by the participants during The Competition and donated more than $140,000 in tools and equipment prizes to top finishers. More than 50 other companies, educational institutions, community organizers, and countless individual volunteers contributed time, resources, prizes, product, and airline miles to make The Competition a success. Other top sponsors include American Airlines and Pratt & Whitney (Platinum); United Airlines, Teamsters and PPG (Gold).
Rolls-Royce and Turkish Airlines solidified their ongoing cooperation to support and grow Türkiye’s position in the global aerospace industry. Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, and Prof. Ahmet Bolat, chairman of the board and the executive committee of Turkish Airlines, signed a joint statement at a ceremony held at the Turkish Airlines headquarters in Istanbul. In attendance were the ministers of Industry & Technology, Trade, Transport & Infrastructure, and the deputy minister of National Defence. Also present were the representatives of top Turkish Aerospace companies as well as the British Consul General, and undersecretaries of France and Spain. They were joined by Guillaume Faury, CEO Airbus, Christian Scherer, Airbus commercial CEO, and Rob Watson, president Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce.
“Türkiye is a strategically important market for Rolls-Royce across our business,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce. “We are very pleased with the confidence that Turkish Airlines has placed in our Trent XWB engines. We now look forward to working with Turkish Airlines and our partners to use our extensive aerospace engineering experience to benefit the Turkish economy, grow the country’s skills base and expand its role in the energy transition. I am personally very energised by the strengthening relationship between our great company, Turkish Airlines and the Republic of Türkiye.”
The joint statement follows the historic Turkish Airlines order for 80 Airbus A350 aircraft. That deal makes Turkish Airlines the world’s largest operator of the Trent XWB, which powers the Airbus A350, and included an order for 120 Trent XWB-84 engines and 40 Trent XWB-97 engines, excluding options and spares.
Pratt & Whitney announced a $20 million investment to increase the GTF maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity of its West Palm Beach Engine Center. The expansion will accommodate a 40% increase in capacity and is expected to be complete by the second half of 2025.
To accommodate the planned growth, the facility will increase its workforce by 25% over the next year and will add critical equipment in areas such as machining, test, clean, and warehousing. It will also incorporate transformative technologies developed at the recently announced North American Technology Accelerator.
“The expansion at West Palm Beach is the latest example of our global investment to support the GTF fleet,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, vice president of global aftermarket operations at Pratt & Whitney. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to support customers and maintain their trust as we carry out the GTF fleet management plan.”
West Palm Beach was transformed into a fully capable GTF MRO engine center in mid-2021. It was the first Pratt & Whitney facility to adopt an automated system that assembles the high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor and a refined overhead engine handling system. Since implementation, Pratt & Whitney has seen a more than 25% improvement in HPC rotor yield and a 50% reduction in process turnaround time.
In 2023, Pratt & Whitney announced three GTF MRO facility expansions and five shop activations to support the growing GTF fleet. There are currently 16 active GTF MRO engine centers around the world, with another three expected to come online by 2025.
