Line Maintenance, Removals, Re-installations Part Of The Package

Solo Aviation in Venezuela has signed an agreement with GE Aviation to become an Authorized Service Center for the M601 and H80 turboprop engines.

As part of the agreement, Solo Aviation will offer comprehensive line maintenance, removals and re-installations of engines and LRUs and engine spares for the M601 and H80 engine families. GE Aviation will provide Solo Aviation with comprehensive material support and training.

"Solo Aviation has offered M601 engine maintenance, airworthiness extensions and spare parts sales to operators in Venezuela, Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean, and has helped contribute to the M601 engines' reputation as the ideal heavy duty engine for unique conditions in the region ," said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation's Business and General Aviation Turboprops. "As the H80 engine nears entry into service, we are looking forward to growing this partnership with Solo Aviation, supporting the next generation of aircraft engines in this region."

M601 Engine

Formerly know as Hangar 4, Solo Aviation Systems C.A., based in Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela, is an engine maintenance and services provider for more than 30 years - attending to a wide range of aircraft models in private, corporate and commercial aviation. Solo Aviation's highly experienced team provides maintenance and services for M601 engines installed on L410 aircraft. Currently, Solo Aviation, which also includes Aircraft Industries Service Center, carries out bulletin modifications to improve the L410 aircraft, in accordance with EASA.

In addition to Solo Aviation support in the region, Premier Turbines was selected in 2009 as a Designated Repair Center in South and North Americas for GE's M601 and, once in service, the H80 turboprop engines. As a Designated Repair Center, Premier Turbines offers heavy repair services, full test capabilities, exchange engines and rentals, line replacement unit rotable pools and field service support to all existing and future M601 and H80 engines in the Americas region. GE Aviation provides the necessary OEM parts to meet Premier Turbines' needs.

H80 Engine

GE Aviation's Business & General Aviation Turboprops has more than 1,600 M601 engines in service that have accumulated more than 17 million flight hours on 30 applications. The H80 engine is undergoing certification testing and will power business and general aviation, utility and agriculture aircraft. The H80 engine combines the elegant, robust design of the M601 engine with GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine compared with the M601 engine, with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will also feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls, significantly enhanced hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise speeds. The H80 will provide the option of a single- or dual-acting governor, allowing customers flexibility in propeller selection. The engine will power the Thrush 510G aircraft.

FMI: www.ge.com