At last year’s Farnborough Air Show, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways made a record buy of 100 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. At this year’s Paris exposition, the Mideast airline announced its choices of engines to power those aircraft. As a result, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT), principal provider of Etihad’s maintenance and overhaul services, was able to reveal new capabilities in engine support.
ADAT now claims to be the world’s first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network provider for the GE GEnx-1B and -2B engines. This announcement was made after Etihad unveiled its order for 78 GEnx engines to power its 35 Boeing 787s. The MRO also signed an agreement with International Aero-Engines (IAE — a consortium comprising Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines and the Japanese Aero Engines Corp.) to become the Middle East’s first IAE-approved shop for V2500-A5 and V2500 SelectOne engines. This corresponds with Etihad’s decision to buy 44 V2500 SelectOne engines for its 20 new A320s. ADAT also announced an agreement with Engine Alliance (EA — a Pratt & Whitney/GE partnership) to become an EA-branded repair and overhaul provider for the GP7200 engine in the region. Etihad announced at the Paris Airshow its purchase of 45 GP7200s to power its 10 A380s on order. ADAT will be upgrading its engine test cell to accommodate the new engine types.
In addition to Etihad, ADAT will seek engine maintenance work for the GEnx and V2500 engines from operators throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The MRO also is set to become a member of GE’s network of On-Wing Support (OWS) service providers, initially focused on the GE90 engine and subsequently adding the GEnx. ADAT has been steadily expanding; it’s new paint hangar has been operational for about six months, and in the August/September 2010 timeframe, it plans to open a new hangar at Abu Dhabi Intl Airport (AUH), capable of taking in three Boeing 777s. At Paris, Ian Wolfe, the MRO’s chief commercial officer, said ADAT is also constructing a new and expanded wheel and brake shop.
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