GE Aviation and StandardAero announced the opening of the new $50m aircraft engine testing, research and development centre (TRDC) in Winnipeg. The announcement caps off a 12-month developmental partnership launched in February 2011 between the two companies. The new centre will perform icing certification testing on GE’s jet engines, as well as develop advanced testing methodologies and equipment for GE Aviation’s commercial and military aircraft engines.
The 122,500 ft² facility, located at the James A. Richardson International Airport in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a partnership between GE and StandardAero. Under the 10-year contractual agreement, GE designed and built the new facility and StandardAero will maintain and operate the certification test center which was designed to test gas turbine engines up to 150 inches in diameter and up to 150,000 lbs of thrust, as well as capabilities to accommodate high performance military engines.