StandardAero is advancing its plans to significantly expand its annual maintenance capacity for the CFM International LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines by 2029. This strategic move is in response to the projected rise in demand for quick turn shop visits (QTSV) and performance restoration shop visits (PRSV), as the global fleet of Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft continues to grow rapidly.
The planned expansion will be centred at StandardAero's San Antonio, Texas facility, which houses two dedicated LEAP engine test cells and offers a considerable operational footprint. The facility is well prepared for increased throughput and was originally designed with future scalability in mind, including the potential for additional test cell correlation.
To support this accelerated growth, StandardAero has strengthened its long-standing relationship with CFM International through a new agreement covering LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B shop visits and test cell support. This agreement will enable StandardAero to scale more efficiently, ultimately enhancing service provision for operators around the world.
Global demand for LEAP engine maintenance is expected to triple by the end of the decade, driven by the engine's approximately 70% win rate on A320-family aircraft and extensive operation in hot and harsh environments, which can shorten engine life on wing.
StandardAero, a CFM LEAP Premier MRO provider, has been a key player in the LEAP ecosystem since becoming the first non-airline to sign a CFM-branded service agreement (CBSA) in the Americas for both LEAP variants in March 2023. The San Antonio site began accepting LEAP QTSV engines in March 2024 and carried out its first PRSV work in the second half of the same year.
In addition to full engine maintenance, StandardAero delivers a range of services under its Total Engine Asset Management (TEAM™) portfolio, including component repair, engine testing, programme management and lease engine support. The company is also actively developing new engine component repairs through its Component Repair Services (CRS) segment and Repair Development Centre of Excellence. To date, more than 300 LEAP component repairs have been industrialised.
StandardAero is also expanding its skilled workforce through its in-house Aviation Mechanic Training Programme, based at its San Antonio Training Academy, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified LEAP technicians to support its growing MRO operations.
