GTA and Strand Aerospace Malaysia partner to build R&D capabilities in turbo fan and turboprop engines in Malaysia

March 16, 2017 Comments (0) News  Like

Farnborough, July 10, 2012 – Global Turbine Asia (GTA), a Malaysian MRO service provider specifically for helicopter engines, with the support of SAFRAN SNECMA, a French multinational aircraft engines manufacturer, have formalised their partnership with Strand Aerospace Malaysia, a local engineering services company, to incorporate R&D expertise in the field of turbo fan and turboprop engines in Malaysia. 

The collaboration was motivated by the acquisition of the A400M by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from Airbus Military, which required a significant degree of collaboration and coordination between the two parties to support the aircraft in service.  GTA together with Strand Aerospace Malaysia proposed to provide the necessary support to RMAF in maintaining the A400M in service.

GTA was formed in 2009 as part of the transfer of Aero Turbine technology between France (SAFRAN TURBOMECA) and Malaysia. With the acquisition of 12 xEC725 Cougar helicopters by the RMAF, GTA was able to capitalize on the development of its Helicopter Turbine capabilities to establish a much stronger relationship with the OEM. Further talks  of SAFRAN SNECMA to set up additional capabilities for the M88 fighter jet turbine engine is currently ongoing. An agreement was signed during DSA in March 2012 between SNECMA and GTA.

In the framework of establishing a centre of excellence for Aero Propulsion in Malaysia, GTA

has decided to go even beyond MRO capabilities by establishing a strategic partnership with

another Malaysian Company called Strand Aerospace Malaysia (SAM).

The A400M aircraft is a highly advanced military transport aircraft that employs both advanced

composite structures in its airframe as well as advanced engine technology for its propulsion

System, employing the latest maintenance methodologies from the OEMs.

Both GTA and Strand Aerospace Malaysia have been affecting technology and knowledge transfer successfully for many years as a result of their global business footprint

It is envisaged that with this ready base of knowledge and experience, the partnership

can support the RMAF in achieving a quick build up of indigenous capabilities to support the

A400M in service and therefore reduce the reliance on costly overseas support.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GTA Chairman/Owner, Dato Nonee Ashirin and Strand Aerospace Malaysia COO, Naguib Mohd Nor, witnessed by Minister of Defense Malaysia, Datuk Sri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Figure 1: MOU Signing between GTA and SAM at the Farnborough International Air Show (from left to right Naguib Mohd Nor COO/Owner SAM, Datuk Sri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Dato Nonee Ashirin

Chairman/Owner GTA)