ST Aerospace opens US$78mn Xiamen engine facility

The facility receives first CFM56 engine from Xiamen Airlines.

ST Engineering’s aerospace arm, ST Aerospace, and Xiamen Aviation Industry Co., Ltd (XAICO) today announced that their joint venture company ST Aerospace Technologies (Xiamen) Company Limited (STATCO) has unveiled its new engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Xiamen, China.

The US$78m (about $101m) facility has a capacity to support up to 300 engines annually. It will initially provide MRO and total support for the CFM56-7B and CFM56-5B series of engines that power narrow-body aircraft such as Boeing 737 next generation aircraft and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft.

At the opening celebrations, STATCO received the Part 145 certification from China Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Besides the certification from CAAC, STATCO has also received approvals from the US Federal Aviation Administration and Korea’s Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs for the maintenance of the CFM56-7B series of engines. 

STATCO also celebrated the induction of its first engine, a CFM56-7B from Xiamen Airlines for a full performance restoration which includes the replacement of life limited parts, engine testing and engine parts repairs, according to an ST Aerospace report.

The newly completed facility is located on a 38,620 sqm (about 415,702 sq ft) plot of land, near Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in Xiamen. With a build-up area of 29,860 sqm (about 321,410 sq ft), it houses an engine shop designed to operate with a streamlined production flow system. The engine shop is equipped with high technology, automated processes and equipment, such as the fully automated cleaning processes and a high speed grinder, to further improve turnaround times. STATCO also has a state-of-the-art fully computerised data acquisition engine test facility, capable of testing up to 90,000 lb of thrust.

Operated and managed as part of ST Aerospace’s global MRO network, STATCO will further strengthen the Group’s presence in China, and provide better response and support to ST Aerospace’s global customers. It complements ST Aerospace’s engine MRO facility in Singapore, which can handle up to 350 engines annually.