With the most up-to-date industry tooling and training, Duncan Aviation is fully equipped to perform heavy CZIs (Core Zone Inspections) as the first set of Honeywell TFE731 engines scheduled for MPI/CZI arrives at the company’s Turbine Engine Overhaul Facility in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The engines came off a Bombardier Learjet 45 managed by Jet Linx Omaha. According to Dave Zimmerman, Jet Linx Omaha Maintenance Manager, it was an easy decision on where to send the engines. “We are very familiar with Duncan Aviation and the level of quality service they consistently deliver. Their technicians are routinely in our hangars working on many of our managed aircraft. Now that they are a Honeywell Heavy Maintenance Service Center, we are totally confident these engines will receive that same level of quality and care.”
In late 2016, Duncan Aviation announced an agreement with Honeywell to extend their engine service authorization designating their Lincoln, Nebraska, facility as a Honeywell TFE731 Heavy /Overhaul Maintenance Facility. This authorization permits the company to inspect and repair the compressor zone on the Honeywell TFE731 engine during scheduled CZI events, unscheduled compressor zone repairs, and expanded Service Bulletin capabilities.
Mike Bernholtz, Duncan Aviation Turbine Engine Service Sales Rep, has noticed an increase in interest among business aviation operators now that the company is able to complete the entire engine overhaul process in-house. “The industry response has been great. I talk to customers daily fielding questions about what our capabilities are now and when then can get on our schedule. ”
A significant number of Duncan Aviation engine technicians already have hands-on career experience performing TFE731 Heavy /Overhaul events. To accommodate the increase in anticipated workload, Duncan Aviation sent an additional group of engine technicians to the OEM facility to be trained with the latest tooling and technology.
With more than 30 years’ experience working on Honeywell engines, Duncan Aviation also holds a Minor Authorization on Honeywell AS907 (HTF7000) Series and Line Authorization on CFE738 Engines, GTCP36-100/150, RE100 series and RE220 series APUs.
Once this MPI/CZI event is completed and prior to delivery to Jet Linx, the TFE731s will be sent to the engine manufacturer in Phoenix for a Certification Test Cell run. Duncan Aviation is planning a facility expansion with a new test cell and control room. The test cell is under construction and is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2017.
