Credit to Duncan Aviation:
LINCOLN, NEB — Duncan Aviation has chosen Atec, Inc., as its contractor for construction of an engine test cell and control room at its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility. Construction will begin this fall and the engine test cell will be completed by the end of 2017.
The facility will be an Atec, Inc. Phoenix™ Series Modular Turbofan Engine Test Cell (20,000 lb. Thrust Class) with a modular control cabin with Atec’s ADAQ™ Data Acquisition and Control System, which is a scalable data system that can be customized and provides intermediate-level, depot-level, production-level, and development-level engine testing capability. The facility also has an overhead thrust stand system, packaged fuel system storage and is environmentally friendly. It is a truly relocatable test cell system should future business needs dictate that Duncan Aviation change the location of the test cell.
The environmentally friendly test cell is being constructed in response to the agreement Duncan Aviation made with Honeywell earlier this fall to extend its engine service authorizations, designating the Lincoln location as a Honeywell TFE731 Heavy Maintenance facility.
With the heavy authorization, Duncan Aviation will be permitted to inspect and repair the compressor zone on the Honeywell TFE731 engine during scheduled CZI (Compressor Zone Inspection) events, unscheduled compressor zone repairs, and expanded Service Bulletin capabilities. Duncan Aviation will begin scheduling CZI/MPI events for non-MSP (maintenance service plan) operators by January 2017.
“The specifications of this test cell are designed to not only meet the needs of TFE engines, but also to allow our engine business to grow with our clientele,” says Duncan Aviation’s Engine Services Manager James Prater. “In addition to the latest Heavy authorization for TFE731 engines, Duncan Aviation is pursuing repair and overhaul authorizations on other engines. Our expertise in control of quality, cost, and turntime, would be valuable assets to operators and manufacturers of larger, higher thrust engines as well.”
“Atec, Inc. is extremely pleased to have been selected by Duncan Aviation as the preferred contractor for adding engine testing capability to Duncan Aviation’s MRO complex in Lincoln. This order is the culmination of over ten years of relatioship building between Atec and Duncan Aviation. We look forward to bringing our Phoenix™ Series Modular engine test cell technology to Duncan Aviation to support their TFE731 Heavy Maintenance operations with the growth capacity to test other turbofans up to 20K lbs. of thrust,” says Paul R. Fenley, President of Atec, Inc.
Duncan Aviation has been a TFE731 Honeywell Authorized Service Center for more than 30 years. Other authorizations include Minor Authorization on Honeywell AS907 (HTF7000) Series and Line Authorization on CFE738 Engines, GTCP36-100/150, RE100 series and RE220 series APUs.
For more information, visit Duncan Aviation at booth #3126 during this year’s NBAA convention to be held Nov. 1-3 in Orlando, or watch for announcements at www.DuncanAviation.aero/nbaa.
About Atec
Atec, Inc. is a Houston, Texas-based company that has been in the engine test support business for over 60 years. Services include “whatever it takes to run a turbine engine off-wing,” including turbofan, turboshaft, turboprop and APU test systems. Atec offers a range of engine test facilities as well as all required ancillary systems and equipment necessary to support engine testing. Atec, along with its subsidiaries Celtech in Carlsbad, NM, and Hager Machine and Tool in Houston provide state-of-the-art engine test solutions for commercial and military aircraft worldwide. Atec has a broad array of engineering, program management, machining, fabrication and assembly services complemented by its strong commitment to field installation, training, technical documentation and service after the sale. More information on Atec may be found at www.atec.com.
About Duncan Aviation
Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint and interior services and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include Provo, Utah, and more than 20 other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with local support and the quickest response to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.
View Duncan’s press release.
