AG Aero Named Authorized Service Center for GE's M601 and H80 Engines
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – June 16, 2011 – AG Aero, part of the AGA Group of Companies, known throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales for its reliable and efficient aerial agricultural application and maintenance capabilities, has signed an agreement with GE Aviation to become an Authorized Service Center for GE’s M601 and H80 turboprop engines in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines regions.
As part of the agreement, AG Aero will offer comprehensive line maintenance, removals and re-installations of engines and line-replaceable units (LRUs) and engine spares for the M601 and H80 engine families. GE Aviation will provide AGA Services with comprehensive material support and training.
“GE is excited to work with AG Aero to better serve customers in the South Pacific region,” said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation's Business and General Aviation Turboprops. “With this expanded support network, local operators will receive faster service at a lower cost.”
The AGA Group of Companies, which includes AG Aero has grown over the past 40 years to become an industry leader in aerial application, including firefighting and agriculture, and maintenenance of these applications. In addition to maintaining its own aircraft, AG Aero provides general maintenance services for owners of single and multi-engine, piston, turboprop and pressurised aircraft, and carries out electrical, instrument and radio inspections and upgrades. AG Aero has two maintenance facilities, located in Deniliquin, New South Wales, and Stawell, Victoria.
GE Aviation's Business & General Aviation Turboprops has more than 1,600 M601 engines in service that have accumulated more than 17 million flight hours on 30 applications. The H80 engine continues flight testing on the Thrush 510G aircraft, is undergoing certification testing and will power business and general aviation, utility and agriculture aircraft. The H80 engine combines the elegant, robust design of the M601 engine with GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine compared with the M601 engine, with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will also feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls, significantly enhanced hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise speeds. The H80 will provide the option of a single- or dual-acting governor, allowing customers flexibility in propeller selection.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Learn more about GE Business & General Aviation at http://facebook.com/GEBGA. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/GEAviation.
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For further information, contact:
Eden Zeek (513) 243-1909 edengrace.zeek@ge.com Mobile: 513.417.5495
Deb Case (513) 243.0094 deborah.case@ge.com Mobile: 513.418.1644