This article is based on an official press release from the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Ascent Aviation Services Unveils $70 Million Expansion in Marana

On December 8, 2025, Ascent Aviation Services officially inaugurated two massive new maintenance hangars at Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona. The grand opening marks the completion of a significant infrastructure project designed to transform the facility into a global hub for wide-body aircraft modification. According to the official announcement, the total investment in the site reached $70 million, a figure that underscores the growing demand for specialized aviation services in North America.

The expansion is strategically focused on the “Passenger-to-Freighter” (P2F) market. Ascent Aviation Services has partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to establish a conversion line for the Boeing 777-300ER, a program often referred to in the industry as “The Big Twin.” This development positions the Marana facility as the only site in North America, outside of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), authorized to perform these complex heavy maintenance and conversion tasks.

Facility Specifications and Capabilities

The newly completed infrastructure includes two hangars totaling 180,000 square feet, with each structure spanning 90,000 square feet. This expansion effectively triples the company’s hangar capacity at the Pinal Air Park location, representing a 200% increase in operational space. The facilities were specifically engineered to house two lines of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft simultaneously, allowing for parallel conversion workflows.

David Querio, President and CEO of Ascent Aviation Services, emphasized the necessity of this expansion for the company’s long-term strategy. In a statement regarding the opening, Querio highlighted the competitive nature of the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector.

“A company must continue to foster growth and innovate to remain competitive in this niche industry.”

David Querio, President & CEO, Ascent Aviation Services

The project’s scope grew significantly during its development. While initial projections in 2023 and 2024 estimated a capital investment of $55 million, the final investment reported at the December 2025 opening was $70 million. This increase reflects the scale and technical complexity required to support heavy wide-body modifications.

Economic Impact on Southern Arizona

State and local officials have touted the project as a major economic driver for the region. The expansion is expected to create over 300 high-wage jobs, ranging from technical maintenance roles to engineering positions. To support this workforce demand, Ascent has implemented a structured apprentice program aimed at training local workers for these specialized aviation careers.

Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, noted that the investment reinforces the state’s status in the aerospace sector.

“Ascent’s investment in Marana reinforces Arizona’s position as a premier aviation and aerospace hub, while creating hundreds of high-quality aviation jobs in Southern Arizona.”

Sandra Watson, President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority

Local leadership also pointed to the transformative nature of the project for the Town of Marana. Historically, Pinal Air Park was known primarily for aircraft storage and reclamation, often colloquially called a “boneyard.” This new facility shifts the focus toward active, high-tech manufacturing and modification.

Jon Post, Mayor of Marana, described the opening as a pivotal moment for the local economy.

“This is going to be the economic kickoff for the economic powerhouse in Southern Arizona, which will be the Town of Marana.”

Jon Post, Mayor of Marana

AirPro News Analysis

The completion of these hangars arrives at a critical juncture for the global air cargo market. The demand for P2F conversions is being driven largely by the continued expansion of e-commerce, which requires robust air logistics networks. As older cargo fleets, such as the Boeing 747 and MD-11, face retirement, the Boeing 777-300ER is emerging as the preferred modern replacement due to its fuel efficiency and payload volume.

However, the market currently faces a “feedstock” challenge. Airlines are retaining passenger aircraft longer to meet travel demand, making the supply of convertible airframes tight. By securing the status of the only non-OEM facility in North America authorized for these specific conversions, Ascent Aviation Services has secured a highly valuable position in the supply chain. We anticipate that this exclusivity will likely result in high utilization rates for the new hangars immediately following their opening.

Sources

Arizona Commerce Authority

This article is based on an official press release from AerFin.

AerFin Acquires CFM56-5B PIP Engines for Teardown to Boost Global Supply Chain

On December 11, 2025, aviation asset specialist AerFin announced the acquisition of a package of CFM56-5B Performance Improvement Package (PIP) engines from a major European customer. According to the company’s official statement, the engines are currently undergoing teardown at AerFin’s expanded Indurent Park facility in Newport, South Wales. This move is expected to release high-demand Used Serviceable Material (USM) into a global market currently facing significant supply constraints.

The acquisition underscores a strategic push by AerFin to secure high-quality inventory for operators of the Airbus A320ceo family. With the teardown process reportedly well underway, the company states that components from these engines are already becoming available to airlines, lessors, and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers worldwide.

Strategic Acquisition at Indurent Park

The teardown operation is being conducted at AerFin’s global headquarters at Indurent Park. The facility, which opened in January 2025, represents a significant expansion of the company’s technical capabilities. In the press release, AerFin executives emphasized that the facility’s increased capacity allows for tighter control over inventory flow.

Simon Bayliss, Chief Operating Officer at AerFin, highlighted the operational significance of handling the PIP configuration in-house:

“Bringing these PIP engines through teardown at our Indurent Park facility in Newport, shows how far our in-house capability has come. We’ve handled PIP material before, but the combination of this advanced configuration and our increased capacity means we can control the flow of inventory more closely and respond to customer needs with greater precision.”

, Simon Bayliss, COO of AerFin

Bayliss further noted that this precision allows the team to apply expertise where it has the “greatest impact,” ensuring that airlines receive serviceable material exactly when required.

Simon Goodson, Chief Executive Officer at AerFin, framed the acquisition as a reinforcement of the company’s market position:

“This acquisition highlights both the trust we have built with leading airlines and the confidence we have in our team’s ability to deliver. By bringing these newer-technology engines into our pipeline, we’re not only enhancing our capability but also reinforcing AerFin’s position as a global leader in the aviation aftermarket.”

, Simon Goodson, CEO of AerFin

Technical Context: The Value of “PIP” Hardware

The specific assets acquired are the “Performance Improvement Package” (PIP) configuration of the CFM56-5B engine. Originally introduced around 2011, the PIP standard features hardware upgrades designed to improve fuel efficiency and durability compared to earlier models. Key enhancements typically include a new high-pressure turbine blade, modifications to the fan and compressor blades, and a redesigned core.

For operators, these components are highly desirable. The hardware is generally interchangeable with older engines, allowing airlines to upgrade performance and retention during routine maintenance. By securing PIP engines for teardown, AerFin is effectively harvesting the “gold standard” of spares for the A320ceo fleet.

AirPro News Analysis: Addressing the Supply Crunch

The timing of this acquisition is critical when viewed against the backdrop of the late 2025 aviation landscape. Delays in the delivery of new-generation aircraft, such as the A320neo, have forced airlines to extend the service lives of their older A320ceo fleets. This extension has created a “USM crunch,” where the demand for used serviceable material far outstrips supply because fewer aircraft are being retired and scrapped.

Industry data suggests that MRO demand for the CFM56 platform is plateauing at record highs rather than declining. By injecting PIP-standard components into this starved market, AerFin is addressing a specific bottleneck. The ability to provide newer-technology spares helps operators mitigate maintenance delays and keep their existing fleets airborne.

Furthermore, this operation validates AerFin’s recent infrastructure investments. The Indurent Park facility, which doubled the company’s engine maintenance capacity upon opening, was designed to handle exactly this type of high-volume, high-technicality work. The successful execution of this teardown program serves as a proof-of-concept for the facility’s role in the broader global supply chain.

Inventory Availability

According to the press release, material from the teardown is positioned across AerFin’s global warehousing network, including locations in Newport, Gatwick, Miami, and Singapore. The company noted that this stock sits alongside inventory from their A320neo teardown program and Boeing 777-300ER components.

Customers interested in the specific availability of the CFM56-5B PIP components are encouraged by the company to contact AerFin’s sales team directly.

Sources

Sources: AerFin Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from ExecuJet MRO Services.

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia Secures EASA Heavy Maintenance Certification for Falcon 7X and 8X

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia has officially received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to perform heavy maintenance on Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X aircraft. Announced on December 11, 2025, this regulatory approval marks a significant expansion of the facility’s capabilities, allowing it to support European-registered ultra-long-range business jets with comprehensive structural inspections and major scheduled checks.

According to the company’s announcement, this certification upgrades the facility’s previous EASA approval, which had been limited to line maintenance for these specific aircraft models since 2020. The new authorization permits the Kuala Lumpur-based center to conduct “C-checks”, extensive maintenance events that typically occur every eight years or 4,000 cycles, without requiring operators to fly their aircraft back to Europe or North America.

Expanding Capabilities at Subang Airport

The heavy maintenance work will be conducted at ExecuJet’s purpose-built facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport). Spanning 150,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art center was designed specifically to accommodate large-cabin business jets. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia leverages direct access to the manufacturer’s proprietary data, engineering support, and spare parts supply chain.

Ivan Lim, Regional VP Asia for ExecuJet MRO Services, emphasized the strategic value of this milestone. In a statement regarding the certification, Lim noted that the approval validates the team’s expertise and allows the facility to offer EASA operators a complete spectrum of maintenance services, from routine line tasks to complex heavy checks, directly within the Asian region.

From Line to Base Maintenance

The distinction between line and heavy maintenance is critical for operators managing long-term fleet health. While line maintenance involves routine turnaround checks and minor troubleshooting, heavy maintenance (often referred to as Base Maintenance) requires deep technical intervention. This includes stripping down the aircraft interior, performing major structural repairs, and conducting detailed systems inspections.

By securing this EASA Part-145 approval, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia completes its regulatory portfolio for the Falcon 7X and 8X, ensuring it can serve the full lifecycle needs of these tri-jet aircraft. The facility had already begun performing heavy maintenance on these models under other regulatory approvals, such as the FAA and CAAM, prior to receiving the European certification.

Strategic Implications for Business Aviation

AirPro News Analysis

This certification represents a strategic win for Malaysia’s aviation sector as it competes with neighboring Singapore to become the primary business aviation hub in Southeast Asia. For years, Singapore’s Seletar Airport has been a dominant force in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations). However, the aggressive expansion of Subang Airport, bolstered by Dassault’s direct investment in ExecuJet’s Malaysian facility, signals a shift in the regional balance of power.

For European operators, the logistical benefits are substantial. Asia is a high-traffic destination for business travel, and EASA-registered aircraft often spend extended periods in the region. Previously, a major scheduled check might have necessitated a costly and time-consuming ferry flight back to a European service center. With this certification, operators can now schedule major downtime in Kuala Lumpur, optimizing their asset utilization and reducing non-revenue flight hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What aircraft models are covered by this new certification?

The EASA certification specifically covers heavy maintenance for the Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X. These are ultra-long-range, large-cabin business jets.

What is the difference between line and heavy maintenance?

Line maintenance refers to routine, minor checks often performed on the ramp or during short stops. Heavy maintenance involves major scheduled inspections (such as C-checks), structural repairs, and extensive modifications requiring a hangar and significant downtime.

Where is the facility located?

The work is performed at ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia’s 150,000 sq. ft. facility at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) in Kuala Lumpur.

Sources

• ExecuJet MRO Services