Start of construction for new training center at MTU Maintenance Zhuhai

At MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, the joint venture partners MTU Aero Engines and China Southern Airline Company Ltd. held a groundbreaking ceremony today for the construction of a new training center. Beginning in early 2023, the center will train 50 to 100 engine mechanics for the company every year.

“With a training center, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai will get on a fast lane to be a company with abundant talents and high-quality development,” says Wu Rongxin, Chief Engineer of China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd., and General Manager of Engineering Technology, China Southern.

“Building the training center is part of our long-term growth strategy at the Zhuhai site,” says Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer of MTU Aero Engines. “At MTU, we believe in the future of the aviation industry, and in the growth and strength of the market for engines for short and medium-range aircraft in Asia. That is why we are so committed to expanding our network.”

In September 2021, MTU Maintenance Zhuhai began building a new site in Jinwan for engine disassembly, assembly and testing. The new plant will initially have capacity for 260 maintenance procedures, focusing on Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM and V2500 engines, and will go into operation in 2024. The new training center will serve both the existing plant in Zhuhai and the new site in Jinwan.

“This center is an investment in our most important capital – our employees,” adds Jaap Beijer, President and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai. “We will be able to implement our ambitious plans for personnel requirements and guarantee the high-quality training that is demanded of us.”

The main technical achievement of the new training center will be successfully reducing turnaround times (TAT) for engine maintenance by implementing the highest quality standards. The dual training system used in Germany – a combination of theoretical and practical training – will be applied here.

MTU Maintenance Zhuhai currently already offers its employees a wide range of further education options. In addition, the company invests in professional development for students at the leading universities in China.