StandardAero Achieves FAA Certification of San Antonio RB211-535 Test Cell; Now Processing Engines for Multiple Customers

StandardAero announces it has received FAA approval for acceptance testing of the Rolls-Royce RB211-535 turbofan engine at its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in San Antonio, Texas.  This achievement, which followed a test cell correlation effort undertaken in partnership with the engine manufacturer, marks StandardAero’s attainment of full capability on the RB211-535, in support of the life-of-type maintenance services partnership signed with Rolls-Royce in 2018.

Under the partnership agreement, responsibility for RB211-535 in-service support is being transferred from Rolls-Royce’s Derby, UK location to StandardAero’s 810,000 sq. ft. facility in San Antonio.  StandardAero’s RB211 team had already received FAA and EASA certification for engine disassembly, cleaning, inspection, repair, assembly and test, and correlation of the San Antonio facility’s RB211 test cells now enables engine performance testing to be completed on-site, prior to engine redelivery to customers.  

“StandardAero is now delivering on its promise to provide RB211-535 operators with reliable go-forward support for this acclaimed engine family,” says Roger Ross, president - Airlines & Fleets.  “As a result of the significant investment made by StandardAero in this new capability over the past twenty months, we have now set-up all of our production rate ready work cells, and are continuing to ramp-up inductions following successful customer audits. Thanks to the support of Rolls-Royce, we now have full capability on the RB211-535 to service the needs of the global Boeing 757 operator community over the coming decades.”

Generating 40,100 to 43,100 pounds of thrust, the RB211-535 powers the Boeing 757, which is flown by many of the world’s major airlines, with half of the fleet in-service in North America. The RB211-535 powers nearly 60% of all Boeing 757s delivered, and is expected to remain in commercial airline service until the year 2040.