StandardAero to Provide German Carrier Lufthansa CityLine with GE CF34-8C Engine Support Services Under Exclusive 7-Year Contract

German airline Lufthansa CityLine has selected StandardAero to provide support for the GE Aviation CF34-8C turbofan engines powering its fleet of MHI RJ Aviation (formerly Bombardier) CRJ900 regional jets.

Under the exclusive seven-year agreement, StandardAero will support Lufthansa CityLine with a range of CF34-8C services from its overhaul facility in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.  StandardAero will also be qualifying its European field service team based in Rijen, the Netherlands to support the CF34, thereby assuring Lufthansa CityLine of responsive local airside assistance.

Lufthansa CityLine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa, one of the world’s leading airline groups, operating feeder flights from hubs at Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport.

StandardAero was first appointed as a GE Aviation Authorized Service Provider (ASP) for the CF34-3 and CF34-8 in 2001, and in 2013 was named by GE as the first independent TRUEngine authorized MRO provider for the CF34.  In 2020, the company celebrated its milestone 3,000th CF34 engine workscope.

Commenting on the agreement for Lufthansa CityLine, Michael Lariviere, Vice President Technical Fleet Management said:  “Reliable operations are at the center of our business, and for that we need reliable partners.  StandardAero has proven to be a professional and committed service provider to us in the past.  That’s why we absolutely look forward to working with the great team of StandardAero in the coming years even closer than before.”

“We are truly honored to have Lufthansa CityLine entrust us with the support of its CF34-8C engine fleet, and look forward to meeting and exceeding their expectations over the coming years,” commented Kevin Cusack, Director of Business Development - Airlines and Fleets for StandardAero.  “This exclusive agreement is the culmination of many years of cooperation between StandardAero and Lufthansa CityLine, including support previously undertaken for the airline’s auxiliary power units, and we are delighted to expand our relationship with such a well-known operator.”

In addition to its ASP and TRUEngine approvals, StandardAero also offers CF34 Authorized Line Service maintenance throughout its North American Business Aviation facilities, including Augusta, GA (AGS), Springfield, IL (SPI) and Houston, TX (IAH).  StandardAero has supported CF34-3 business jet applications as an Authorized Service Center (ASC) since 2012.Fort Worth, Texas (August 11, 2021) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has released new data on the build and testing for the Bell 360 Invictus competitive prototype. The Bell 360 program is rapidly progressing through manufacturing, assembly, components testing, and systems integration work for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. The team has completed multiple design and risk reviews with the Army and is on schedule for all program requirements. The Bell 360, a low-risk, high-speed platform with proven technology and inherently reliable designs, will deliver soldiers transformational operational capabilities at an affordable cost.

“This team is achieving great results responding to requirements, reducing programmatic risk, and delivering state-of-the-art capabilities for the Army,” said Chris Gehler, vice president and program director for the Bell 360 Invictus. “We are combining Bell’s unique knowledge of the demands placed on scout aircraft with engineering and technical expertise to give the Army a weapon system to dominate attack reconnaissance missions for decades to come.”

Since beginning the build in late 2020, Bell has made significant progress on the Bell 360 Invictus fuselage, main rotor blades, gearbox assembly, cases, and other high-value components. By implementing a design-as-built methodology that digitally connects the entire program throughout its lifecycle, Bell has increased its ability to collaborate in real-time with program partners and the Army. This method accelerates decision-making among distributed teams using a common, secure data environment that creates a singular source of data for the program leading to reduced assembly, rework time and cost.   

Along with assembling the Bell 360 Invictus, high-value components such as the main rotor gearbox, driveshafts and couplings are being tested at Bell’s Drive Systems Test Lab (DSTL). The DSTL is used to carry out risk-reduction efforts that ensure the program has accurate and verified data to qualify components in advance of flight test.

A new FARA-specific Systems Integration Lab (SIL) is also operational at Bell. This facility allows Bell to integrate flight-critical components, software, and mission systems for testing, verification, and validation of functionality before they take flight on an actual aircraft. This approach reduces technical risk and aids in the safe, rapid, and efficient execution of flight test program.

“The Bell 360 Invictus is an exciting aircraft that brings sophisticated digital systems together in a high-speed, reliable, maintainable vehicle for austere environments around the world,” said Jayme Gonzalez, program manager, Bell 360 Invictus. “The Bell 360 offers the Army the ability to modernize using simplified and inherently reliable designs to reduce costs and deliver enhanced effectiveness for the Army.”