Emma Kelly / Singapore
Pratt & Whitney has opened a 48,000-square-foot expansion of its Singapore-based engine centre, Eagle Services Asia (ESA). The development will allow the facility to increase its GTF capacity by two-thirds this year to support the growing GTF fleet in the region.
ESA, which is a joint venture between SIA Engineering Company and Pratt & Whitney, is a member of the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network. Since introducing GTF MRO capability in 2019, the facility has completed over 500 GTF engine overhauls.
Last year, P&W announced three GTF MRO facility expansions and six shop activations to support the growing GTF fleet. There are currently 15 active GTF MRO engine centres around the world, with seven locations in the Asia-Pacific region, including ESA in Singapore, Korean Airlines in Korea, IHI and MHIAEL in Japan, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai and AMECO in China, and China Airlines in Taiwan. By 2025, the company expects to have 19 active GTF MRO shops worldwide.
ESA is deploying technologies from P&W’s Singapore Technology Accelerator to improve MRO operations, including integrating robotics, automation and machine learning to increase efficiency, lower stress on machine operators and increase safety for key MRO processes. Innovations include fully automated high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stacking, a Receive-in-Check Cobot that augments the work done by human inspectors, and a robotic arm to install and remove HPC bearing sleeves.
Image: Pratt & Whitney