Manitoba Aerospace Week

Where vision takes flight StandardAero's tradition of excellence continues S For the Free Press tandardAero continues to demonstrate why, for over 100 years, it has grown to become not only one of Canada's pioneer aviation/aerospace companies, but one of the world's largest aviation support businesses specializing in gas-turbine engine maintenance, repair and overhaul. With a company whose birthright rests among the people of Manitoba, it is with great pride that its citizens share in the success of its growth, progress and global reputation for excellence. From a small automotive parts repair shop founded by two men in Winnipeg in 1911, StandardAero has evolved as a major centre of excellence among a diverse array of industries ranging from commercial aviation, industrial power, military aviation, engineering services and helicopter programs. And the companies within those market sectors are no less diverse, representing the world's leading OEMs and defence agencies. Considered by many as 'the apple of Winnipeg's eye,' it comes as no surprise that StandardAero has served as the workplace of choice to multiple generations of Winnipeggers who believe that the quality of their work and their company, are secondto-none. This tradition of excellence was no less present in 2013. One of StandardAero's less publicly visible operations is its Engineering business unit. Not only does this core function generate advanced technology solutions in support of the company's immediate, customer-driven product needs, it also serves as a local technology and training incubator through the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training (CATT) – a joint partnership between Red River College (RRC), StandardAero and the federal (Western Diversification) and provincial governments. Within the partnership, StandardAero provides the facility, equipment maintenance, shop access, shop supplies, security, trained operators and OJT trainers for RRC project support. The centre includes such advanced capabilities as Chemical Vapour Deposition, Fluoride Ion Cleaning and Robotic Laser Welding. Over the past 12 months there have been scores of successes involving StandardAero's CF34 and CFM56 product lines. In June StandardAero announced it had signed license agreements with GE to become an independent TRUEngine authorized maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider, making StandardAero the first independent TRUEngine authorized MRO provider for CF34 engines and the second for CFM56 engines.
The Helicopters team also got its chance to bang the drum in 2013 when, announcing they had been selected by Rolls-Royce to be an Authorized Repair Maintenance and Overhaul Center (AMROC) in support of the RR300 engine at both its Winnipeg and Singapore locations. The announcement was well-timed as StandardAero had just expanded its operational capabilities in Singapore by moving to a larger facility at the SeletarAerospacePark. For years StandardAero has provided MRO support for business aviation, general aviation enthusiasts and now, military turboprop-powered aircraft (trainers), using the PT6A engine. Just last month the company announced that it had expanded its turboprop engine test capabilities with the implementation of a new test cell, component repair capability. StandardAero is only the second MRO in the world selected by the USAF selected to provide turboprop support on the T-6A Texan II. As a long-time service provider on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, StandardAero's Government & Military sector in Winnipeg continues to keep the U.S., Canadian and other foreign militaries flying by servicing the engines that power those aircraft. Although sequestration and increased defence spending scrutiny is having an impact on the industry, StandardAero continues to expand its presence among key foreign Laser welding at RRC/StandarAero CATT Lab. Submitted photo militaries that rely on the aircraft. One of StandardAero's key growth areas is in the area of industrial power – a target vertical in which 40 per cent of the overall market is held by StandardAero. Even though the company is the dominant player in this arena, areas for growth continue to emerge and the company has plans to leverage its expertise in this field and further capitalize on some very strategic, high margin business. StandardAero's reputation for service quality and expertise in turbine engine MRO has resulted in partnerships with many OEMs. One such example occurred last year with StandardAero and GE receiving the prestigious Canadian American Business Council (CABC) Achievement Award for the two companies' collaboration effort on the GE Aviation Engine Testing Research & Development Centre (TRDC). West Canitest R&D Inc (WestCaRD) is working closely with GE Canada and StandardAero to facilitate year-round utilization of the GE Aviation TRDC located at Winnipeg's James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. Now in its second year of operations, this world-class, $50 million R&D Test Centre has had a very successful record of completing engine certification tests under various winter temperatures and icing conditions. Engines that have been tested at the TRDC so far include the world's newest, high-technology engines such as the GEnx 1B series that are on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the GEnx 2B for the new Boeing 747-8, and the GE-Honda engine destined for the new HondaJet business aircraft. GE is investing in further improvements to the TRDC facility and additional WestCaRD equipment is being added to the facility to enable other year-round engine testing such as hailstone ingestion testing and endurance testing. These new testing technologies, such as advanced instrumentation and sensors, vibration monitoring equipment, and high speed cameras are bringing new technical capabilities to Manitoba. These exciting new technologies require a specialized workforce, so WestCaRD is working closely with the University of Manitoba Engineering Faculty and with Red River College to facilitate the education and training opportunities. In collaboration with the Province of Manitoba, GE Aviation, StandardAero and EnviroTREC, WestCaRD has contributed to the establishment of a new AeroEngine Testing Engineer-in-Residence position at the University of Manitoba to spearhead some of the specialized education and training. In 2012-13, StandardAero was also recognized as one of Canada's top-100 employers as well as among Manitoba's top 25. And each September, StandardAero celebrates its heritage as one of Winnipeg's oldest private companies, recognizing the team who has made the company what it is today. Manitoba Aerospace Week September 9 - 13, 2013 15

• Cover