Having the pleasure of working in the aviation environment for nearly 30 years has undoubtedly taught me about the cyclical trends we see each year in the life of the airline industry. However, it is the innovations that are introduced during these cycles that have a lasting impact on the success of the industry as a whole. Regardless, there is a constant search for growth, balance, consistency in load factors, and matching operational requirements that never ceases to amaze me. Over the last 4 years, commercial aviation has begun a forced revolution in finding the most economical means of operating an aircraft. It is in the middle of one of its largest supply and engine shortages in the last 50 years. The COVID shutdown in most OEM supply chains and the demand to ramp up more production aircraft have created a perfect storm of demand that cannot be fulfilled for the next 3-5 years. Specifically, engine components are driving the greater portion of this demand. The pandemic deferred a significant amount of engine maintenance, and this has caused a bow-wave of capacity needs not only for engine maintenance slots but also for the engine parts needed to perform the maintenance. We saw this early on and created our first SPAH (Special Procedures Aeroengine Hospital) in Helsinki, Finland, to address the need for quick-turn light engine shop visits. Success in Finland was immediate, so GA Telesis and ATSG have partnered to build a second SPAH in Wilmington, Ohio.
Today at our Special Procedures Aeroengine Hospital (“SPAH”), located in Wilmington, Ohio, we focus on various methods of quick turn support for GE CF6, CFM56, and PW4000 engines, which can vary from zero letter checks, borescope inspections, QEC on/off management, light/medium/heavy repair services, and module changes as well as full teardown management. This type of support often offers an engine a life extension, thus helping airlines defer heavy maintenance to dates later down the line when full restoration slots and replacement parts are available. The SPAH is driven to support the aftermarket suppliers and lessors who directly support airlines with their assets. This allows them to access a maintenance resource within the Americas to meet these needs. That being said, an additional benefit to working with the SPAH is gaining access to the full support of our Flight Solutions Group supply chain team for the replacement parts needed during repair and an entire team to manage all logistics and test cell requirements. GA Telesis Engine Services’ recent FAA approval for on-wing engine maintenance has expanded our capabilities, allowing on-site support for CF6, CFM56, and PW4000. The need for on-wing engine repairs has seen a surge in demand this past year. Our on-wing engine team performs inspections and repairs, including borescopes, directly on the aircraft without the need to remove the engine. This approach not only saves time but also reduces costs as well. To top it off, our on-wing crew also performs full engine removal and installations as needed. Our on-wing focus initially is in the Cincinnati area, but that will expand as demand grows to other areas of the country.
We are here to help customers in our Americas-based ecosystem, from Canada to Argentina. Contact our SPAH team in Wilmington, Ohio, to support your in-shop repair and on-wing engine maintenance needs with our talented team of technicians.