Summary

  • Ethiopian Airlines’ MRO facility has achieved testing capability for CFM Leap-1B engines.
  • It becomes the first African facility to offer testing capability for the Leap engines, which power the Boeing 737 MAX.
  • The MRO facility aims to complete Phase 2-Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) project by September 2024.

Ethiopian Airlines’ Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, the largest MRO service facility in Africa, has achieved testing capability for the CFM Leap-1B Engine, which powers the Boeing 737 MAX. This marks yet another milestone for the Ethiopian flag carrier, whose MRO facility becomes the first in Africa to achieve this testing capability.

CFM Leap-1B Engine testing in Addis Ababa

On July 09, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) proudly inaugurated its CFM Leap-1B engine test cell at its MRO facility at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). This gives Africa’s largest airline group the full testing capability of Leap-1B engines, the exclusive powerplant for the new-generation 737 MAX. Ethiopian Airlines is currently the largest operator of the type on the continent.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX (ET-AWJ) in Manchester

Photo: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock

The newly launched testing facility will enable Ethiopian to finalize the development of Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) repair capability on the Leap 1-B engine, which is expected to be operational soon. Speaking about the development, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said,

“We feel proud for achieving full testing capability for the CFM Leap-1B engine at our modern MRO facility in Addis Ababa. The addition of this state-of-the-art facility will enable us to finalize the development of Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) repair capability on the engine, which is expected to be ready very soon. We extend our appreciation to SAE, GE, and the other partners who contributed to this success.”

Ethiopian Airlines’ MRO facility, which is fully equipped with hangars and engine and component maintenance workshops, has become the fifth facility in the world outside the Safran Aero Engines (SAE) and the General Electric (GE) network to possess Leap-1B engine testing capabilities. According to the airline, it is also the first in the Middle East and Africa.

Extending services in the region

The MRO service facility in Addis Ababa, established in 1957, provides line maintenance services at stations served by Ethiopian Airlines and extends its services to other African and Middle Eastern operators. The Ethiopian flag carrier plans to complete the Phase 2-Performance Restoration Shop Visit (PRSV1) project by the end of September 2024, allowing it to offer Leap 1B PRSV solutions for other operators in the region and beyond.

Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8

Ethiopian MRO is certified by various regulatory bodies, including the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The maintenance workshops have all the equipment required to repair/overhaul aircraft, engines, and components.

With over 160 CFM Leap operators worldwide, airlines flying the Boeing 737 MAX benefit from enhanced performance in terms of fuel efficiency, emissions, and noise reductions. Ethiopian Airlines is one of six 737 MAX operators in Africa. According to ch-aviation, the Addis Ababa-based carrier has 17 MAX 8s in its fleet, with 34 more on order.

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The MAX has proven reliable for the airline, although one jet was lost in the fatal 2019 crash. The other African operators include Air Tanzania, ASKY Airlines (an ET partner), Cabo Verde Airlines, Mauritania Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc. North African carriers Air Algerie and Egyptair also have 737 MAX aircraft on order.

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