StandardAero Grows its Chinese Customer Base as Cargo Specialist Air Central Signs for CFM56-7B MRO Support
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – April 22, 2025 – StandardAero, a leading independent pure-play provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services, including engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and engine component repair, has been selected by Chinese cargo airline China Central Longhao Airlines Co., Ltd. – operating as Air Central – to provide CFM International CFM56-7B engine MRO services in support of its fleet of Boeing 737-800BCF freighter aircraft. StandardAero’s Winnipeg, MB facility in Canada inducted an initial Air Central CFM56-7B engine for a performance restoration shop visit (PRSV) last month.
StandardAero is a CFM-authorized CFM56-7B MRO provider, supporting operators worldwide from two full-service overhaul facilities in Winnipeg, Canada and DFW-Fort Worth International Airport, USA. The company provides an extensive range of additional services for the CFM56 family, including component repair and overhaul capabilities through StandardAero’s Component Repair Services (CRS) segment; engine, module and used serviceable material (USM) asset management support through PTS Aviation; and engine health monitoring (EHM) data analysis services.
Commenting on the announcement for China Central Longhao Airlines, Mr. Yi Yunyuan, Chief Engineer, said: “We are very pleased to have reached a cooperation with StandardAero, becoming the first Chinese customer to introduce CFM56-7B engine maintenance services. StandardAero's professional expertise and global service network will provide us with strong support, helping us further enhance the operational efficiency and safety of our fleet. We believe that this collaboration will lay a solid foundation for the future development of China Central Longhao.”
Commenting on the announcement for StandardAero, Will Pitcher, Senior Vice President – Sales, Marketing & Customers, said: “StandardAero is honored to have been selected to provide Air Central with CFM56-7B MRO services in support of its domestic and international cargo operations. China accounts for over 20% of the global installed CFM56-7B fleet, with over 2,600 engines in service, and StandardAero is proud to support the country’s Boeing 737NG operators – including Air Central – with responsive, cost-effective CAAC-approved engine MRO solutions.”
StandardAero has a long history supporting the Chinese operator community from its global network of MRO facilities, and the company today provides Chinese commercial operators with support for a wide range of engines including the Rolls-Royce RB211-535, CFM International CFM56-7B, GE Aerospace CF34, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100/PT6A, and various auxiliary power units. Most recently, StandardAero has commenced support of Chinese operators of the CFM International LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B, following receipt of CAAC maintenance approval for the type.
China Central Longhao Airlines, based in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, operates a fleet of Boeing 737, Boeing 747 and COMAC C909 freighters, providing air cargo services across China and beyond. Originally operating as Guangdong Longhao Airlines, Air Central has been operating since 2017, and is today a subsidiary of Henan Civil Aviation Development & Investment Group.
CFM International, the 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines founded in 1974, has redefined international cooperation and helped change the course of commercial aviation. Today, CFM is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines with a product line that sets the industry standard for efficiency, reliability, durability, and optimized cost of ownership for narrowbody aircraft. The company produces the LEAP family of engines and supports both LEAP and CFM56 fleets for more than 600 operators worldwide.
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StandardAero is a leading independent pure-play provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, serving the commercial, military and business aviation end markets. StandardAero provides a comprehensive suite of critical, value-added aftermarket solutions, including engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, on-wing and field service support, asset management and engineering solutions. StandardAero is an NYSE listed company under the ticker symbol SARO. For more information about StandardAero, go to www.standardaero.com.
Released April 22, 2025