An engineer conducts a routine inspection on an aircraft engine. (Photo/Aerospcae Engineering Exhibition)

Chongqing - Ruihang (Chongqing) Aircraft Engine Maintenance Co. has secured orders through 2026 and expects first-quarter output to top 20 million yuan (about 2.9 million U.S. dollars). 

Since launching Phase I in April 2025, the company has delivered 10 engines, generating over 30 million yuan in output. As it expands, it aims to overhaul 100 engines this year, helping airlines shorten transport time and save up to 400,000 yuan per engine.

The project was jointly established by HNA Aviation Group Co., Ltd., Switzerland-based SRT, and U.S.-based GE. It is Chongqing’s first civil aero engine maintenance base, making the city the seventh in China with full-chain maintenance capability for civil aviation engines.

The company has obtained maintenance qualifications for five engine models, including CFM56-5B/7B and LEAP-1A/B/C. Phase I is equipped to provide full-process services for CFM56-5B/7B engines, including module disassembly and assembly, partial component repair and material storage.

Mao Zhidong, the company’s vice president, said more than 100 CFM56 engines in southwest China need overhauls each year. In the past, many had to be shipped to a few domestic cities or overseas facilities in Europe and the United States, leading to longer transport times and higher costs.

With overhaul capacity now available in Chongqing, each engine can cut transport time by about three weeks and reduce freight costs, he added.

Upon arrival, engines undergo borescope inspection to assess faults without full disassembly, after which the repair scope is confirmed with the client. If additional issues are identified during maintenance, the company adjusts the repair plan in consultation with the customer. It provides both on-wing services at airline sites and in-shop overhaul services at its base.

Given the high cost of engines and materials, including high-pressure turbine blades that can cost several million yuan per replacement, the project faces significant capital requirements. Under the guidance of the Chongqing Branch of the People’s Bank of China, China CITIC Bank's Chongqing branch, together with other lenders, extended a syndicated credit line totaling 1.98 billion yuan. The first tranche of 63.47 million yuan has been disbursed for the purchase of materials and equipment.

Phase II, with a planned floor area of about 51,500 square meters, is under construction and includes a heavy maintenance workshop, an equipment manufacturer-standard test cell, and a training center. The training center has been completed, and overall construction progress has reached 80 percent. Drawing on technical experience from GE and SRT, the expanded facility is designed to support more than 300 engine-heavy overhauls annually.

“The first test cell is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2027. We have also reserved space for a second test cell in Phase III,” Mao said.

According to the company’s plan, by 2031, it aims to generate annual revenue exceeding 18 billion yuan, annual tax payments of more than 280 million yuan, and create over 700 jobs.