GE Aviation has opened its ‘On Wing Support Centre’ in Dubai South’s Aviation District Aerospace Supply Chain Facility, marking the expansion of the company’s engine repair services in one of the world’s leading aviation hubs, Emirates News Agency WAM reported.

GE has been operating its On Wing Support Centre with Emirates Airlines since 2013, providing 24/7 full-service repair solutions for all GE and CFM engines that serve the Emirates fleet. With the new facility in Dubai South, the centre will serve all UAE carriers – including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and flydubai - providing prompt maintenance and repair.

A significant addition to the comprehensive aviation ecosystem at Dubai South, which is designed to service the global aerospace industry, GE’s On Wing Support Centre can service up to 20 LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines annually for quick turn work scopes, including hot section module replacements, in addition to delivering ongoing service support for all other GE/CFM engine models with capability to service the GE9x engines in the future. It will also store spare engines enabling GE Aviation to deliver them swiftly to its customers in the region.

The On Wing Support Centre at Dubai South, set on an area of 1,500 square meters, can undertake the entire breadth of services including remote borescope inspection, compressor top case repairs, fan case removal and installation, turbine module replacements and gearbox- and component replacements. It also offers 24-hour technician cover for Aircraft On Ground, AOG, services.

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, DACC, and Dubai South, said: “The Aviation District in Dubai South is taking shape as the new hub for the industry and creating a dynamic supply chain that can serve all international carriers. It is a comprehensive platform that brings together advanced aerospace products and MRO service innovation through partnerships with leading global entities, further contributing to Dubai’s strong credentials in the aerospace and aviation sector. With the new On Wing Support Centre, carriers can access prompt maintenance and service that will add to their operational efficiency.”

John Flannery, Chairman and CEO of GE, said: “With the UAE continuing to raise the bar in the aviation sector both regionally and globally - highlighted by its world-class airports, carriers and connectivity - the new On Wing Support Center allows us to be closer to our customers, better understand their needs and together deliver ground-breaking aviation technologies. The provision of more efficient, reliable and timely maintenance and repair services remains vital to the advancement of the industry. This centre will contribute to the long-term growth vision of Dubai South and support the needs of our partners from across the region.”

From Dubai, GE Aviation’s On Wing Support Centre serves over 19 nations in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, including Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Rwanda, Algeria, South Africa, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Operating a worldwide network of dispatch and quick-turn engine maintenance facilities, GE Aviation’s On Wing Support provides more than 3,000 rapid repair solutions yearly to more than 250 customers. With 285 professionals globally, the On Wing Support service was first established in London in 1992, and are now available in multiple locations globally - Dallas, Cincinnati, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul and Shanghai.

The world’s first master-planned airport city, Dubai South is building state-of-the-art infrastructure around the Al Maktoum International Airport. The Aviation District provides a specialized business environment that meets all the needs of the aviation industry. Spanning an area of seven square kilometers, Dubai South is the new permanent home of the Dubai Airshow and meets practical aspects of private and commercial aviation.

Every 30 seconds, an aircraft equipped with GE technology takes off in the Middle East and North Africa. With almost 2,900 jet engines in service, GE and its joint venture partners help fly two-thirds of all flights in the region.