Category: Commercial

Rolls-Royce’s MRO Facility in Dahlewitz, Germany Receives First Trent 1000 Engine

Rolls-Royce announced the arrival of the first Trent 1000 engine scheduled for maintenance, repair and overall (MRO) at its facility in Dahlewitz, Germany. This important milestone follows the pledge to invest £55m in assembly, test and shop visit capacity in the UK and Germany, creating around 300 jobs. The commitment, made in March, addresses growing long-term demand for new civil large engines and improves customer aftermarket support services for the global fleet of Rolls-Royce Trent engines.  

“We’re investing in a resilient future and plan to significantly increase our global MRO capacity and capability by 2030. Earlier this year, we announced investment in our Dahlewitz site and today marks an important milestone on that journey as we see the first Trent 1000 arriving for MRO,” said Paul Keenan, director — commercial aviation aftermarket operations, Rolls-Royce. “New orders and increasing flying hours, on top of a strong existing fleet performance, mean that demand for shop visits will increase. So, just as we are planning for progress with our products, we are also seeing investment in our global Trent support network. This is further proof of our commitment to deliver both excellent products and services to our global customer base.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, minister for economic affairs, labour and energy, State of Brandenburg, said: “This is an important step towards the future positive development of the Rolls-Royce site in Brandenburg. The fact that modern large engines for long-haul jets will be assembled and serviced here in Dahlewitz in the future, in addition to the proven engines for business jets, is a vote of confidence. The expansion of the portfolio strengthens the competitiveness and future viability of the location.”

As outlined at last year’s Capital Markets Day, Rolls-Royce expects an annual increase of 7-9% in Rolls-Royce powered aircraft in service for the remainder of the decade.

Around half of the investment, and about one third of the 300 jobs created will be in Dahlewitz. Existing test capability in the facility will, in the short-term, focus on the Trent 1000 engine, providing additional capacity to the global network and enabling the introduction of next year’s Durability Enhancement package. The longer-term forecast is that the facility will transition to assemble and test new Trent XWB-84 engines in the future.

Already in service and performing well on the Trent 7000 engine, the Durability Enhancement package, which is part of a previously announced £1bn investment in the Trent fleet, will more than double engine time on-wing. A second package of hot-section enhancements, available in 2026, will deliver a further improvement of up to 30%.

Transition to AMOS: CrossConsense Provides Data Migration for TAP Air Portugal

Roland Berger and CrossConsense announced the successful completion of a complex data migration project for TAP Air Portugal (TAP), marking a significant milestone in aviation IT modernization. Over a span of just 16 months, the migration involved transitioning TAP’s entire data repository from its legacy MRO backend system to AMOS, the renowned maintenance and engineering software developed by Swiss AviationSoftware. The project was officially kicked off on June 1, 2023, and achieved its go-live milestone on September 30, 2024 — calling it “a remarkable achievement for a project of this scale and complexity.”

The success of the initiative reflects the seamless collaboration between TAP Air Portugal, Roland Berger and CrossConsense, combining strategic oversight with technical expertise to ensure on-time delivery and data quality excellence.

Roland Berger’s Contribution

Roland Berger served as a strategic partner in orchestrating and executing the complex data migration initiative, delivering value through:

• Leading the joint TAP-CC-RB Project Management Office with end-to-end delivery responsibility

• Implementing robust governance frameworks for efficient decision-making and risk management

• Managing project timelines and ensuring alignment between data migration and implementation streams

CrossConsense’s Contribution
The technical execution, not only of the data migration itself but also of other activities related to data migration, was managed by CrossConsense, leveraging its deep knowledge of aviation IT systems. CrossConsense’s tasks included:

• Establishing the data migration strategy and ensuring accurate data conversion within the defined scope.

• Conducting thorough data cleanup to maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality.

• Preparing and migrating data, alongside supporting End-to-End automated testing and rectifying any issues.

• Conducting comprehensive User Acceptance Testing to ensure the system meets all business requirements and user expectations.

• Setting up and configuring interfaces to ensure seamless integration with existing systems and workflows.

Achieving such a complex migration within a tight timeline underscores the power of effective partnership and coordination.

AerFin Earns Great Place to Work Certification 

AerFin has received the “Great Place To Work” recognition. This award is based entirely on feedback from colleagues about their experience working at AerFin. The results revealed that 77 percent of AerFin employees agreed with the Great Place to Work statement, with trust scores and pride in working for AerFin reaching 80 percent, a sense of people caring about each other topping 86 percent and perceptions of fairness exceeding 90 percent.

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. 

“Great Place To Work certification is a highly-coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. 

“By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that AerFin stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees,” Lewis-Kulin added.

Jo Rival, chief people officer of AerFin, added, “We are thrilled to have become Great Place To Work-Certified. Our culture is built on company-wide collaboration and driven by our purpose ‘to breathe new life into aviation’, which guides and unites our business. We believe in co-creation and that means doing things together, confidently, reliably and progressively. And we encourage ideas from all our people to be part of our journey and shape the way ahead. “In short, everything we achieve, we achieve together as One AerFin. It is fantastic to see that our colleagues are truly seeing, believing and living this from wherever they work in the business. Our continued success is down to them and I thank them for the fantastic contributions they make to AerFin every day.” 

AerFin’s top ten scores: 

1Treated fairly regardless of race93%
2Treated fairly regardless of sexual orientation93%
3Treated fairly regardless of gender90%
4Made to feel welcome88%
5People care about each other86%
6Our customers would rate our service as excellent86%
7Trusted to do the job 82%
8Given responsibility 82%
9Competent Management and approachable / easy to talk to80%
10Offered professional training / development 78%

AAR recognized by Aviation Institute of Maintenance with Branded Classroom

AAR participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday for the opening of an AAR-branded classroom at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) campus in Indianapolis. 

AAR and AIM partner at locations across the U.S. to create educational and career opportunities for students interested in the aviation industry. Indianapolis is home to one of AAR’s Fellowship Programs in which students work part-time at AAR’s local maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility while pursuing coursework for an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. 

The company understands the importance of developing talent in this high-demand field and recently donated $25,000 toward AIM student scholarships in Indianapolis. In response to this generous donation, AIM designed a classroom that displays AAR logos, images, taglines and a QR code to learn more about a career with the company.

“We are pleased to gather together with members of the local AAR team and AIM leadership to celebrate the opening of this classroom. It symbolizes our shared passion for unlocking learning opportunities and speaks to the broader AAR / AIM partnership,” shared Tom Hoferer, AAR’s senior vice president of repair & engineering. “Developing the future aviation maintenance workforce starts with investing in people and enhancing their knowledge and skills.” 

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to AAR for their generous scholarship donation and the sponsorship of a new classroom,” said Andy Duncan, AIM’s campus executive director. “This partnership enriches our educational environment and provides our students with invaluable resources and opportunities, empowering them to excel in their aviation careers.” 

Rheinland Air Service Partners with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey to Elevate Regional MRO Solutions


Rheinland Air Service GmbH (RAS), a leading provider of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul
(MRO) services, announced a strategic collaboration with Lufthansa Technik AERO
Alzey GmbH (LTAA), a globally recognized MRO provider specializing in regional aircraft engines
and a proud member of the Lufthansa Technik Group and Lufthansa Group.

This partnership represents a significant milestone for both companies and the aviation industry, as
it combines RAS Group’s expertise in airframe and systems maintenance with LTAA’s world-class
capabilities in engine maintenance and support. Under this framework, LTAA will deliver engine
maintenance services to RAS and its customers in accordance with EASA Part 145 standards,
drawing on decades of experience and the global reputation of the Lufthansa Technik Group.

By integrating LTAA’s proven engine expertise, RAS Group further strengthens its ability to offer a
seamless, one-stop solution for its clients, particularly for operators of Embraer E-Jets, De
Havilland Dash 8 aircraft, and other regional fleets. This partnership not only enhances RAS’s
technical capabilities but also opens new opportunities to innovate and deliver value-added
services for its global customer base.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey, a name synonymous with
quality and reliability in aviation,” said Thomas Knäpper, CEO of RAS SAAR. “This partnership allows
us to elevate our service portfolio, providing even more comprehensive and efficient MRO solutions
to our clients worldwide. By aligning with a trusted partner within the Lufthansa Technik Group, we
are paving the way for a future of greater reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction.”

“We are also delighted to welcome RAS as a new customer to our network”, adds Rubin Siddique,
CEO, Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey. “Together, we will combine our strengths to drive innovative
projects forward.”

This partnership highlights the mutual commitment of RAS and LTAA to innovation, excellence, and
safety. As a part of the Lufthansa Technik family, LTAA brings the strength and expertise of one of
the world’s leading aviation groups, ensuring that this collaboration sets a benchmark in MRO
services.

The agreement also underscores the potential for future opportunities, enabling both companies to
explore new ways to support customers and partners in an ever-evolving aviation landscape. By
combining their strengths, RAS and LTAA are poised to deliver unparalleled value to airlines,
operators, and lessors globally, ensuring that both organizations remain at the forefront of the
industry.

MK Test Introduces Tailored Engine, LRU, and AMU Test Solutions for MROs

MK Test, a provider of advanced test systems for the aerospace industry, is excited to announce the launch of its fully tailored test solutions for engines, Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), and Auxiliary Power Units (AMUs). Designed specifically for individual aircraft engine models, LRUs, and AMUs, this new offering directly addresses the needs of MROs who require precise, dedicated test systems for their specific variants, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Historically, MROs have faced challenges with systems that offer compatibility across multiple engine variants and components. MK Test’s latest product offering eliminates this complexity by providing a complete engine test system designed for specific engines, such as the GE90-, CFM56-, and LEAP models, as well as LRUs and AMUs. This ensures that each system is optimized for the unique requirements of the component, improving reliability, efficiency, and reducing turnaround time (TAT).

The complete solution from MK Test includes:

  • Automeg Test System: A high-performance platform for testing engines, LRUs, and AMUs.
  • Custom Interface Cable Sets: Pre-configured to match specific engine models or custom-designed to the client’s requirements.
  • Pre-Written Test Programs: Tailored for individual engine models, LRUs, and AMUs, saving valuable setup time and reducing operational costs.

“Our customers told us that a system that works for multiple engine variants or components simply doesn’t meet their specific needs,” said Jeffrey Miller, Sales Manager at MK Test Americas. “We listened, and now we offer fully customizable test solutions for MROs which offer exactly what they need for each engine model, LRU, and AMU they service. This approach ensures faster, more accurate testing and improved overall efficiency.”

MK Test’s Engine, LRU, and AMU Test System Solutions are available for various aircraft engines, LRUs, and AMUs, with more options available upon request. The customizable nature of the solution allows MROs to choose from a full cable set, design-only options, and pre-written test programs, ensuring flexibility and cost-efficiency.

For more information, please contact MK Test at sales@mktest.com or visit https://mktest.com/products/engine-test-system-solution/.

StandardAero Secures Indian DGCA Approval for Its OEM-Authorized PW127M Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services

StandardAero announced that its Pratt & Whitney Canada authorized PW100 Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) in Gonesse, France recently secured maintenance organization approval from the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This approval enables StandardAero to support the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) needs of PW127M operators in India, where over 100 of the turboprop engines are currently in operation. StandardAero’s Gonesse facility has already inducted its first PW127M engine for an Indian customer.

The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 family powers a broad range of applications including the ATR 42 and ATR 72 regional transports, and the Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft.

StandardAero supports the PW100 engine family from two overhaul locations worldwide:  Gonesse, France (which began supporting the PW100 in 1986); and its Center of Excellence (COE) for Turboprop Engine MRO in Summerside, PEI, Canada (which commenced work on the PW100 in 1991). Operators are also able to benefit from access to six additional StandardAero PW100 service centers across North America, South America, Africa and Australasia.

“StandardAero is pleased to now be able to offer Indian PW127M operators the same high level of service and support to which hundreds of other PW100 customers worldwide have become accustomed,” commented Jeff Poirier, vice president/general manager of the Turboprops & Fleets (TPAF) Business Unit for StandardAero. “Efficient regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 42 and ATR 72 are playing a major role in supporting the expansion of the Indian Government’s UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, which is aimed at boosting economic development, employment and tourism by connecting small and remote cities.  StandardAero is now able support this effort by providing Indian ATR operators and their customers with reliable, cost-effective engine MRO support.”

PhysicsX Introduces Free-to-Use “AI for Advanced Engineering” to Transform Aerospace Development

PhysicsX, a London-based start-up bringing the power of generative AI to enable breakthrough engineering in advanced industries, has launched the first Large Geometry Model (LGM) for aerospace engineering, LGM-Aero, and a publicly accessible reference application, Ai.rplane, to showcase its power in designing aero structures.

Ai.rplane allows engineers to generate innovative aircraft designs in an infinitely wide design space and instantaneously assess the designed aircraft’s potential performance.

Developed and provisioned on AWS, LGM-Aero was trained on more than 25 million meshes, representing more than 10 billion vertices, and a corpus of tens of thousands of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations generated with Siemens Digital Industries tools. It is a fully trained model that generalizes to a broad set of aeroelastic applications. It also infers aero performance, flight stability and structural stress for a large class of flying shapes as a zero-shot model. This technology creates geometry and assesses performance results in less than a second, compared to the several hours required for traditional numerical simulations.

“In the same way that large language models understand text, Ai.rplane has a vast knowledge of the shapes and structures that are important to aerospace engineering,” says Jacomo Corbo, co-founder and CEO of PhysicsX. “The technology can optimise across multiple types of physics in seconds, many orders of magnitude faster than numerical simulation, and at the same level of accuracy. We’re excited about what LGM-Aero brings as capabilities to our customers while recognizing that it is also an important stepping stone towards developing physics foundation models.”

In one seamless operation, the technology creates novel designs, predicts lift, drag, stability, structural stress and other attributes for each shape, then optimises the design according to the user’s preferences. When used in industrial applications, this workflow reduces development time from months to hours.

LGM-Aero was developed using an extensive set of simulation technologies from Siemens to automate and scale the generation of high-quality training data, as well as AWS Batch and Amazon EC2 to scale compute during training. It is available on the PhysicsX AI engineering enterprise platform, which is trusted by some of the most sophisticated engineering and manufacturing organizations across advanced industries.

“We are delighted to work with PhysicsX as they develop their first Large Geometry Model and release its showcase application Ai.rplane,” said Ozgur Tohumcu, general manager, automotive and manufacturing, AWS.  “This technology will accelerate the transformation of engineering in Advanced Industries for AWS customers, enabling them to bring their products to the market faster while increasing product performance. We’ve been impressed by PhysicsX’s pace of innovation and look forward to deepening our collaboration.”

“We are thrilled to continue to build on our deep collaboration with AWS, and to announce the release of LGM-Aero and of Ai.rplane. This is a first step in transforming the way engineering is practiced in Advanced Industries,” added Robin Tuluie, founder and chairman of PhysicsX. “Over time, we will bring new capabilities to LGM-Aero and to Ai.rplane, allowing users to select powertrains, add controls and further content to reach mature designs in days rather than months or years.”

Molex Completes AirBorn Acquisition to Expand Offering of Industry-Leading Interconnect Solutions for Mission-Critical Aerospace and Defense Applications

Molex, a global electronics and connectivity innovator, has completed its acquisition of AirBorn, a global manufacturer of rugged and highly reliable connectors and electronic components designed for mission-critical applications across aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical and industrial markets. AirBorn brings an expansive product portfolio and proven aerospace and defense solutions to Molex, which is known for its deep electronics industry knowledge, value-added engineering expertise and worldwide manufacturing footprint.

“Molex is excited to complete this important acquisition, which enables us to expand into the aerospace and defense market while extending our capabilities across space exploration and other key sectors,” said Joe Nelligan, CEO, Molex. “As we begin to integrate AirBorn’s people, products and processes within Molex, we will focus on supporting the needs of our customers, distributors and partners through collaboration and strategic investment in innovation and technology, shaping the future of the aerospace and defense category.”

Combined Skills, Scale and Scope

AirBorn’s portfolio of military-grade connectors, cables and electronic assemblies will form the foundation of Molex’s new Aerospace and Defense Division. AirBorn’s CEO, Michael Cole, will lead this new Division while working closely with Molex’s integration team and global leadership team to align priorities, empower employees and create recurring customer value.

“The combination of Molex’s organizational scale and financial stability with AirBorn’s purpose-built products and unmatched customer experiences will enable us to solve the most complex rugged connectivity challenges,” said Michael Cole. “Together we can reinforce our role as trusted advisors serving the unique requirements of aerospace and defense customers and accelerate investments in the business that will drive growth and competitive advantage.”

The combined organization will total more than 50,000 employees and 85 plants located in 20 countries. The collective product portfolio will benefit from Molex’s robust global distribution network, which plays a pivotal role in driving regional and global demand generation, sales and inventory support.

As a highly valued distribution partner for both Molex and AirBorn, TTI, Inc. envisions tremendous potential emerging from this unique blend of capabilities, expertise, products and global operations. “We applaud Molex’s acquisition of AirBorn, which offers new business opportunities for the combined AirBorn and Molex entity and their valued distribution partners,” said Lew LaFornara, SVP, product and supplier marketing, TTI, Inc. “AirBorn’s solid reputation in aerospace and defense, coupled with Molex’s long-standing distinction as a provider of innovative, high-quality products in a diverse set of market segments is a powerful combination.”

Building on Proven Experience and Expertise

AirBorn’s legacy in the aerospace and defense industry complements Molex’s leadership in the broader connector and cable assembly space. According to Bishop & Associates’ Top 100 Connector Manufacturers Report, Molex was ranked No. 3 in total world connector sales and No. 2 in the computer and peripheral, business and retail equipment, medical electronics and consumer electronics connector market sectors.

Both Molex and AirBorn have long track records of product engineering and design capabilities focused on optimizing size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements, which are crucial in supporting aerospace and defense applications. Further, as an interconnect technology innovator across automotive, generative AI, hyperscale data center and mobile device applications, Molex brings electronic and fiber optic capabilities that will enhance signal integrity, reduce electromagnetic interference and enable greater product data rates.

Abaco Systems Introduces NVA500 Latest XMC GPU Card for AI and C5ISR

AMETEK Abaco Systems announced the launch of the NVA500, an XMC form factor AI/GPGPU card powered by the NVIDIA RTX A500 GPU. Designed to meet demanding computational challenges, the NVA500 brings advanced AI, ML and deep learning capabilities to mission-critical embedded systems, revolutionizing performance in defense and aerospace applications. 

“Abaco Systems has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Simon Collins, director of product management at Abaco Systems. “The NVA500 is a testament to our commitment to delivering powerful, scalable solutions for modern defense systems. With its rugged design and superior computational performance, the NVA500 is set to become a critical enabler of advanced C5ISR operations.” 

Key features of the NVA500 include: 

  • NVIDIA RTX A500 GPU architecture with 2.7 TFLOPS FP32 single floating-point performance. 
  • 2048 CUDA Cores, 64 Tensor Cores, and 16 Ray Tracing Cores for exceptional parallel processing.
  • High-speed PCIe Gen 4 compatibility for seamless data throughput. 
  • Support for advanced software tools such as CUDA-X, OpenCL, and GPUDirect RDMA. 

The NVA500 excels in applications that demand low-latency processing, including real-time AI inferencing, sensor fusion, and complex image recognition. Its ruggedized engineering ensures reliable operation in harsh environments, conforming to MIL-STD-810 standards. 

Aligned with the MOSA framework, the NVA500 underscores Abaco’s dedication to open standards and future-ready solutions. Customers leveraging the NVA500 gain the advantage of reduced latency, streamlined data processing, and superior performance in mission-critical scenarios.