HAECO’s Chinese Engine Business Hits GE90 Milestone, Readies Test Cell For GE9X

HAECO Engine Services Xiamen has completed its 700th GE90 output and has finished implementing upgrades to its engine test cell at its facility in China.

The company has specialized in overhaul, engine test and component repair services for the GE90, the engine powering the Boeing 777, for more than 10 years.

Aviation Week’s Fleet & MRO Forecast predicts a market value of $105.1 billion for the GE90 globally from this year through to 2030.

Testing is done from its 150,000 pounds of thrust engine test cell, which HAECO Engine Services Xiamen has been readying it for the arrival of the GE90’s successor engine the GE9X, which powers the 777X. Boeing said earlier this year that the aircraft’s entry into service could happen by 2023.

Work on the test cell commenced in April and a series of enhancements have been made since. These include upgrading the intake and exhaust stack to accommodate greater airflow, installing new noise reduction infrastructure, and adding an extra safeguard structure on the test cell’s thrust stand.

HAECO confirmed that following the modifications, both a shakedown test and full correlation test were carried out to correlate the modified engine test cell and confirm its serviceability and accuracy.

“With our upgraded engine test cell, we are progressing towards capability for servicing the GE9X, supporting the company’s long-term growth and enhancing our competitiveness,” says Angus Barclay, group director components and engine services of HAECO.

Since 2012, the China Aerospace Propulsion Technology International Forum (CAPTIF) has been held in Shanghai, Xi'an, Shenyang, Chengdu, Changsha and Guiyang in turn. It has been successfully held for eight sessions, attracting more than 2000 industry experts and representatives from hundreds of enterprises in more than 20 countries around the world. Hunan aviation industry has a long history, it is not only the research and production base of small and medium-sized aero-engines in China, but also the birthplace of the first aero-engine in New China and the first fully independently developed aero-engine. It has created several firsts in the aviation industry in New China. Important member units of China's aero-engine industry have also taken root in the province. On May 2018, AECC disclosed AES100 civil turboshaft engine and AEP500 civil turboprop engine for the first time. In the future, the market prospect of civil turboshaft and turboprop aeroengines in China is broad. It is expected that by 2035, there will be nearly 3000 AES100 engines and nearly 3500 AEP500 engines.

Under this background, the 9th China Aerospace Propulsion Technology International Forum will be held in the Changsha City on the upcoming November, focuses on the "14th Five-Year Pplan" and medium and long-term development plan, with the theme of digital and intelligent development of aviation propulsion technology, and focuses on the "safe development and green development", "simulation technology", "advanced test and test technology", "structural strength technology" of small and medium-sized civil aviation turboshafts, turboprops and piston engines "Parts design and manufacturing technology", "new materials, new processes" and "maintenance support" and other related topics, we sincerely invite your participation to contribute to the development of technology in China. Register your interest or get in touch with Lucy for more details.