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Garuda launches engine test facility
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, through its subsidiary GMF AeroAsia, has officially launched the operation of its CFM56-7B engine test facility in Cengkareng, Banten, to better develop GMF’s capacity for aircraft repair
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ational flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, through its subsidiary GMF AeroAsia, has officially launched the operation of its CFM56-7B engine test facility in Cengkareng, Banten, to better develop GMF’s capacity for aircraft repair.
The engine test facility, developed in cooperation with US firm General Electric (GE) and CFM International, a joint venture company between GE and Snecma of Safran Group, will enable GFM to improve its engine maintenance capability in accordance with international safety and maintenance standards.
The facility was officially launched by Garuda Indonesia president director Emirsyah Satar, GE chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt, GMF president director Richard Budihadianto and witnessed by Industry Minister MS Hidayat.
“Building the CFM56-7B engine test facility is an important milestone for Garuda Indonesia and GMF AeroAsia in realizing our
goal to become a center of excellence in Southeast Asia. As Garuda will operate more Boeing B737-800 Next Generation planes, the facility will support our expansion,” Emirsyah said.
The facility will be used to test plane engines to meet stringent parameters before they are installed on planes. It comprises a large chamber whereby the engines will be tested through sensors that mimic various actual flying conditions.
He said that the engine test facility would also mean GMF AeroAsia would be able to overhaul aircraft with CFM56-7B engines by the end of 2015. In the first stage, the development will involve engineers from GE and CFM International.
He expects GMFAeroAsia to be able to maintain and overhaul 150 engines a year starting in 2016.
In addition, the GMF president said that there were 314 aircraft with CFM56-7B engines operating in Indonesia and another 566 in Asia Pacific at present. As the number of these engines was expected to increase at an average of 13 percent annually until 2020, it gave huge scope for GMF to tap into
that market, he said. He added that the new facility would help the firm to reap US$375 million in revenue in 2015.
Immelt said that GE was pleased to further support Garuda Indonesia in its strategic step to becoming a world class airline by improving its service and maintenance
