LONDON—Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has completed the industrialization of CFM International Leap engines at its recently upgraded test cells in Paris and Amsterdam.
The French-Dutch MRO company announced the milestone at Aviation Week’s MRO Europe in London on Oct. 16, bringing online Leap-1A and 1B test cells at its shops in Paris and Amsterdam. Previously at the Paris Air Show in June, AFI KLM E&M announced that it had completed the 1A industrialization, with the 1B expected shortly thereafter.
The milestone gives the MRO capability to conduct performance testing and diagnostics for Leap 1A, which powers Airbus A320neo aircraft, and the 1B, found on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
AFI KLM E&M said both advanced test cell facilities are equipped with advanced testing technologies and have been engineered to accommodate high-bypass, high-thrust engines under real-world operating conditions. The testing facilities will enable the company to give precise engine diagnostics, performance validation and post-maintenance certification under controlled conditions, immediately prior to final release to service.
In addition to testing the Leap-1A and Leap-1B engines, it will also be able to simulate operational flight conditions, with on-site real-time digital data acquisition systems ensuring full traceability and OEM compliance. The maintenance provider also said that the new facilities will enable airline operators to benefit from faster turnaround times, reduced logistical complexity and enhanced visibility into engine performance after shop visits.
“The commissioning and certification of these two new facilities represent a major step forward in our ability to support the world’s leading airlines with combined slot availabilities,” said Jean Louis Forest, senior vice president for group engines at AFI KLM E&M. “As Leap engines become a backbone of modern narrowbody fleets, this test cell gives us a strategic advantage in ensuring quick turnarounds and uncompromising reliability for our customers.”
The test cell announcement is the latest part of AFI KLM E&M’s long-term investment in its Leap aftermarket network. Earlier this year, AFI KLM E&M further bolstered its Leap footprint after it commenced negotiations with leasing giant AerCap to form a Leap engine-focused leasing joint venture aimed at supporting its Premier MRO customers by building a jointly owned pool of Leap-1A and Leap-1B engines. AFI KLM E&M was one of the first five founding members of the Premier MRO network last year.
Related Content
