StandardAero Breaks Ground on Turbine Engine Overhaul Facility Expansion

Aug. 8, 2008
Expansion will bring new aerospace jobs to Manitoba.

WINNIPEG, Canada -- Due to growth in turbine engine overhaul contracts, StandardAero, a DAE Engineering company, celebrates the official ground breaking of an 80,000 square foot expansion to its Winnipeg facilities to accommodate the expected engine throughputs. The expansion is timed with several large contract wins and the large volume of engine maintenance associated with those contracts. After securing agreements with several airlines, the company is now at a stage where additional production space is required.

"When we entered the CF34 maintenance, repair and overhaul business seven years ago, we anticipated the need to expand the facilities at some point in the future, building it into our business plan," says StandardAero President and CEO, Paul Soubry. "Our business has now grown to the point where capacity was becoming an issue. It is a great opportunity for the business and our employees, as well as the local community."

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer announced a $20 million Manitoba Industrial Opportunities Program repayable loan to support the facility's construction. Doer noted the expansion will bring new aerospace jobs to the province, as well as additional training opportunities which are currently under discussion.

"The expansion announced today reinforces and solidifies StandardAero's presence in Manitoba," says Doer. "The aerospace industry is a driving force in creating highly-skilled, knowledge-based jobs that are critical to our provincial economy. This will enhance Manitoba's position as a leader in the highly-specialized area of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance."

The expansion will also require the addition of new employees. Current plans call for 60-120 new employees by the end of 2009, with potential for another 150-200 by 2014. The expanded facility is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2009.

StandardAero provides complete maintenance, repair and overhaul on General Electric CF34-series engines, including both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. These engines are used on Bombardier CRJ-100, CRJ-200, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900-series aircraft, as well as the Challenger and Embraer 170s.