MRO & Manufacturing
Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering Launch Abu Dhabi MRO JV
Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering form a joint venture to open a nacelle MRO facility in Abu Dhabi by Q1 2027.

Collins Aerospace and Etihad Airways Engineering LLC announced a joint venture on July 21, 2026, to establish a dedicated nacelle and thrust reverser maintenance facility in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The agreement, formalized during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, will double the Middle East maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) footprint for Collins Aerospace, an RTX Corporation business. According to the company’s press release, the partnership targets the growing regional and international demand for widebody aftermarket support, specifically for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets.
Expanding Middle East MRO capabilities
Collins Aerospace will relocate its existing United Arab Emirates nacelle operations to the new site. The joint venture will occupy a 3,250-square-meter dedicated facility within Etihad Engineering’s broader 550,000-square-meter aviation maintenance center adjacent to Zayed International Airport (AUH). Operations at the new site are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
PJ Titone, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Structures for Collins Aerospace, stated that co-locating with Etihad Engineering’s heavy maintenance facility allows the company to deliver enhanced service levels to the region’s aviation market.
“This joint venture expands our global MRO footprint and supports the rising number of commercial aircraft equipped with Collins nacelles helping carriers across the region reduce costs and improve turnaround times,” Titone said.
Building on prior agreements
The formal joint venture follows a preliminary agreement signed on March 1, 2023, when the two organizations initially outlined plans to establish a nacelle center of excellence in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways Engineering operates as part of the Abu Dhabi Aviation group.
Mahmood Al Hameli, Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Aviation, noted the strategic fit of the partnership. He stated the new capability aligns with the group’s long-term commitment to organic growth through capability enhancement and the development of local expertise.
AirPro News analysis
We view this joint venture as a logical consolidation of widebody maintenance infrastructure in the Middle-East. The region serves as a primary global hub for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 operations, driven by major carriers operating high-utilization schedules. By embedding original equipment manufacturer (OEM) nacelle capabilities directly within a major airline-affiliated MRO provider, both Collins Aerospace and Etihad Engineering position themselves to capture a larger share of the widebody aftermarket. Financial terms and specific ownership stakes for the joint venture have not been disclosed.
Sources: RTX
Photo Credit: RTX
MRO & Manufacturing
GE Aerospace Acquires CPP for $11.75 Billion
GE Aerospace agrees to buy Consolidated Precision Products for $11.75B to secure engine casting supply and expand production capacity.

GE Aerospace has signed an agreement to acquire Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for $11.75 billion in a move designed to vertically integrate a critical supplier and alleviate persistent supply chain bottlenecks in engine castings.
Announced on September 08, 2026, the transaction will see GE Aerospace finance the purchase with $7 billion in cash and the remainder in new debt. The acquisitions of the Cleveland-based manufacturer, backed by private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners, is expected to close in the second half of 2027 subject to regulatory approvals.
Securing the aerospace supply chain
The aerospace and defense sector faces severe supply chain constraints. Castings and forgings have emerged as a primary chokepoint, limiting the production of commercial engines, military equipment, and aftermarket spare parts. According to reporting by Aviation Week, engine manufacturers have struggled to ramp up production to meet surging demand across these sectors.
CPP manufactures highly engineered castings that support major GE Aerospace engine programs, including the LEAP, GEnx, T700, F110, and F404. GE Aerospace has been a customer of CPP for more than 15 years.
In a press release issued on September 08, 2026, GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. stated that investing in mission-critical casting capacity is necessary to support simultaneous demand across commercial, aftermarket, and defense markets.
“By combining GE Aerospace’s technology capabilities and FLIGHT DECK with CPP’s manufacturing experience, we expect to expand capacity, improve performance and accelerate new engine technologies for the current fleet and next-generation platforms,” Culp said.
Financial structure and operational integration
The $11.75 billion purchase price represents a valuation multiple of approximately 18 times CPP’s expected 2027 EBITDA, factoring in expected net synergies. According to a GE Aerospace 8-K filing cited by Stock Titan, the company anticipates approximately $200 million in net synergies from the acquisition. Without these synergies, the valuation multiple stands at approximately 26 times EBITDA.
CPP operates more than 20 facilities worldwide and employs approximately 6,600 people. GE Aerospace plans to implement its proprietary lean operating model, known as FLIGHT DECK, across CPP’s manufacturing footprint. The goal is to drive process and quality improvements to support higher output.
James Stewart, CEO of CPP, noted the long-standing relationship between the two companies. Speaking to Aviation Week, Stewart said the manufacturer is excited to strengthen the partnerships and that GE Aerospace has shown strong enthusiasm for supporting CPP’s continued growth.
AirPro News analysis
We view this $11.75 billion acquisition as a definitive shift in how tier-one aerospace manufacturers manage supply chain risk. For years, the industry relied on a distributed network of specialized suppliers. However, the post-pandemic reality of constrained castings and forgings capacity has forced original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to take direct control of their most critical inputs.
Airlines are battling engine-wear issues that reduce aircraft availability between scheduled shop visits. As noted by The Wall Street Journal, CPP produces advanced airfoil technology that helps keep engine surfaces cooler, directly improving efficiency and durability. By bringing CPP in-house, GE Aerospace secures its own production lines while gaining tighter control over the development of next-generation airfoil technologies required for hotter, more efficient future engine designs.
Sources: GE Aerospace
Photo Credit: GE Aerospace
MRO & Manufacturing
Marshall Aerospace Sale to Aurelius Group Announced
Marshall Group agrees to sell Marshall Aerospace to Aurelius Group, with deal completion targeted for late September 2026.

Marshall Group has entered into an agreement to sell its Marshall Aerospace subsidiary to European private equity firm Aurelius Group, resolving long-standing uncertainty over the maintenance and engineering provider’s future following the loss of its primary military contract and the impending closure of its historic airfield.
The planned acquisition, announced on September 2, 2026, marks a major transition for the Cambridge-based aviation firm. According to Cambridge News, the transaction is currently undergoing review by the UK government under the National Security and Investment Act. The deal also requires approval from Marshall Group shareholders and Austrian antitrust regulators, with a filing submitted to the Austrian Federal Competition Authority on the day of the announcement. Completion is targeted for late September 2026.
Operational pressures and relocation challenges
The sale follows a period of significant disruption for Marshall Aerospace. The company’s core business was heavily impacted when the UK Royal Air Force retired its fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in favor of the Airbus A400M, as reported by Aviation Week.
Compounding the loss of the maintenance work, Marshall Aerospace faced an impending deadline to vacate its long-time headquarters. On June 3, 2026, Marshall Group sold the 700-acre Cambridge East site, which includes Cambridge City Airport (CBG), for housing development. AeroMorning reported that the company is required to vacate the premises by mid-2029.
Initial plans to relocate the aerospace division to Cranfield University in Bedford were previously abandoned. A company spokesperson told Cambridge News that the proposed move was deemed unaffordable, with AeroMorning estimating the relocation costs at £100 million.
Corporate restructuring and regulatory steps
The divestment of Marshall Aerospace aligns with a broader restructuring strategy by its parent company. Following several years of financial losses, Marshall Group has systematically sold off non-core assets over the past 18 months, including its Advanced Composites, Land Systems, and Fleet Solutions divisions, along with its automotive retail arm in 2022.
A spokesperson for Marshall Aerospace stated that the group had been exploring options to secure a stable future for the aerospace division’s personnel and operations. The spokesperson noted that Aurelius Group is positioned to support the business through its next development phase.
The specific acquiring entity is AURELIUS Investment Lux Alpha S.Ã .r.l. The Austrian Federal Competition Authority confirmed receipt of the merger control filing on September 2, 2026, a necessary step before the transaction can close.
AirPro News analysis
We view the sale of Marshall Aerospace to Aurelius Group as a necessary resolution to a compounding series of operational hurdles. The simultaneous loss of the domestic Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules sustainment contract and the loss of a physical operating base created an untenable capital requirement for the family-owned Marshall Group. By transferring ownership to a private equity firm, the aerospace division gains access to the capital required to fund a new facility before the mid-2029 eviction deadline at Cambridge City Airport (CBG). Aurelius will now bear the burden of securing a new operating location while attempting to diversify the maintenance provider’s customer base beyond legacy UK defense contracts.
Sources: Cambridge News
Photo Credit: Marshall Aerospace
MRO & Manufacturing
Bombardier Defends US Footprint After Trump Ban Threat
Bombardier cites $2.5B in annual U.S. supplier spending after Trump threatened to ban its aircraft sales in America.

Bombardier Inc. has publicly detailed its multi-billion-dollar economic footprint in the United States following a September 7, 2026, social media declaration by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to ban the Canadian manufacturer’s aircraft sales in the country.
The corporate defense, issued via an official press release, arrived hours before a new round of Canadian retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods took effect on September 8, 2026. The timing underscores the increasing vulnerability of highly integrated cross-border aerospace supply chains to ongoing political and trade disputes.
Defending the U.S. manufacturing footprint
In its September 7 statement, Bombardier emphasized its reliance on and contribution to the American aerospace sector. The manufacturer reported spending over $2.5 billion annually with U.S. suppliers. This supply chain encompasses approximately 2,800 American companies spread across 47 states.
Bombardier noted it maintains a direct employment presence in more than 20 U.S. states and is actively expanding its footprint, with plans to inaugurate a new facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, later in the year.
“The American aerospace industry is a clear winner on trade and exports. Bombardier is a strong contributor to the sector, creating tens of thousands of jobs across the United States,” the company stated.
The manufacturer also highlighted that its aircraft rely heavily on U.S. technology, noting they are built with American-made components including engines, avionics, and other key systems.
Escalating cross-border trade tensions
The Bombardier statement was a direct response to President Trump, who utilized the Truth Social platform on September 7 to demand the company shift its manufacturing to U.S. soil. According to reporting by Forbes, the president threatened to halt the company’s access to the American market, writing, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES.”
Trump asserted that the manufacturer must build domestically and stop treating the U.S. like a “piggybank,” estimating that over 50% of Bombardier’s revenue originates from American buyers.
This confrontation follows earlier aerospace-related trade friction. Earlier in 2026, Trump accused the Canadian government of intentionally delaying the certification of U.S.-manufactured Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation jets to protect Bombardier’s domestic market share. Transport Canada subsequently certified the Gulfstream aircraft in February 2026. Canadian officials maintained that the timeline was dictated by standard regulatory compliance and safety reviews rather than political interference.
AirPro News analysis
While political rhetoric regarding cross-border aerospace trade is escalating, the practical execution of a unilateral ban on Bombardier aircraft sales in the United States faces significant structural hurdles. Aircraft certification and operational approval in the U.S. fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA evaluates aircraft based on strict safety, design, and airworthiness standards. Currently, there is no established regulatory mechanism that allows the executive branch to decertify or ban a foreign-manufactured aircraft solely on the basis of trade policy or manufacturing location.
We also note that the highly integrated nature of aerospace manufacturing complicates any targeted trade restrictions. Because Bombardier sources over $2.5 billion in components from U.S. suppliers, any restriction on Bombardier airframes would directly impact the revenue of the American companies providing the engines, avionics, and subsystems for those aircraft.
Sources: Bombardier, Forbes
Photo Credit: Bombardier
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