The new General Electric bonded aero engine maintenance facility officially started operating on July 24 in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone – located in the Lin-gang Special Area in East China's Shanghai.

US corporate engineering giant GE, a global leader in aircraft engines, has invested in the project to provide high-quality services for engine repairs.

Previously, Chinese airlines had to ship engines to other countries for maintenance, facing long transportation periods and difficulty in booking repair locations.

The opening of the maintenance center is expected to alleviate these challenges and reduce operational burdens for customers.

A view of repair works underway. [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]

The center will offer services such as engine hole grinding and polishing, AI-assisted inspections and engine maintenance and replacements. This will prevent emergency shutdowns and unplanned repairs due to engine issues.

Recognizing the great business environment in the Lin-gang Special Area, GE has also established its unit GE Aviation Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd in the Yangshan Free Trade Zone. This will serve as a platform for efficient resource allocation, supporting the company's global investments.

The Lin-gang Special Area is aiming to establish an internationally influential and competitive special economic function zone.

Through institutional innovation, it is accelerating the development of a high-level aviation "bonded +" industrial ecosystem. This integrates aviation manufacturing, maintenance, testing, research and development and other business formats.

The area also focuses on the coordinated development of aviation logistics, finance, training and other high-end aviation service elements.

The goal is to become a global civil aviation industry hub.