UK-based AerFin plans to add V2500 quick turn maintenance services to its portfolio of engine maintenance offerings in response to shortages in new aircraft deliveries, geared turbofan recalls, and the high amount of narrowbody lease extension activity.
A noticeable gap between available narrowbody capacity and high passenger demand is pushing operators to extend existing lease commitments on ageing Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320ceo family of aircraft and see them through this period of high uncertainty.
“Owners are now more than ever seeking quick turn maintenance solutions for their legacy engines to maximize their service life,” explains Simon Bayliss chief operating officer at AerFin. “OEM engine reliability issues and engine recalls are reducing A220 and A320neo family dispatch readiness. Add to this a shortage of replacement aircraft, and narrowbodies fitted with legacy engines must remain active longer than planned.”
AerFin is currently certified to complete quick turn maintenance tasks on CFM56 series, RB211-524 and CF34 family of engines. Now the end of life aircraft solutions provider is looking to provide bespoke V2500 engine maintenance that will include borescope inspection, post lease inspections/transitions and quick engine change build ups.
“We first started to target some quick turn workscopes and strategic strikes into CFM56-5C engines followed by CFM56-5B/-7B,” says Bayliss. “We have RB211-524 approval, and on top of this CF34-8A approval that we attained to help with some of AerFin’s Embraer E170 acquisitions at the time.”
Most of AerFin’s V2500 repairs will comprise of lease transitional workscopes. The linear life limited part (LLP) lifecycle of the V2500 engine does lend itself well to module swaps compared to the CFM56. “Module swaps for CFM56 engines are a very accessible option for owners at the moment, partly because the turnaround time needed to complete a module swap is much lower compared to a full shop visit,” Bayliss adds.
AerFin was first awarded Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) MRO Part 145 approval for engine MRO services at its Wales facility in 2019 and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval in 2021. AerFin will look to gain V2500 approvals from regulators through 2024.