Aerospace

Rolls-Royce and Air China announce Joint Venture for new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Beijing

A new 50/50 Joint Venture, MRO facility has been announced by Rolls-Royce and Air China in Beijing, China. The new facility, known as BAESL (Beijing Aviation Engine Services Company Limited), will offer MRO assistance for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700, Trent XWB-84, and Trent 1000 aero engines. All three engine types are currently present in the fleet of Air China.

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BAESL will be able to accommodate up to 250 shop visits annually when it reaches full capacity, which is anticipated to be reached in the middle of the 2030s. The facility will provide MRO services to Air China and our other airline clients based in Greater China and elsewhere. Currently, more than 550 aircraft are in service or on order with Rolls-Royce powering 60% of China’s wide body fleet. Our Trent 700 engines also power 90% of the nation’s Airbus A330 fleet, and the Greater China fleet accounts for 20% of all Trent engines currently in flight.

In order to strengthen our partnership with Air China, provide clients with the highest quality of service, increase our business’ cost-competitiveness, and create additional MRO capacity as shop visits increase, this JV is a crucial component of Rolls-China Royce’s strategy. By minimizing the overseas shipment of engines for MRO activities, it meets our sustainability goals by balancing in-region development with in-region capacity and providing customer proximity.

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Additionally, the new facility will help our capable, competitive, and adaptable global Care Network continue to grow. Our plan, which was presented at our Investor Day in May, calls for expanding our MRO network in a practical manner in order to serve our expanding fleet.

“The launch of this JV is a key milestone for Rolls-Royce in China, where we have been powering the country’s airlines for more than 50 years,” said Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce.

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The president of Air China, Mr. Ma Chongxian, stated: “Air China has long been committed to strengthening its aircraft maintenance skills and assuring the reliability of the fleet, while also working to enhance the industrialization of aircraft maintenance.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.