CFM International and Vietjet signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on September 10, 2026, to evaluate the feasibility of establishing domestic MRO capabilities for CFM LEAP engines in Vietnam.

The agreement was formalized in Paris during an official visit by Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam. According to a press release from CFM International, the engine Manufacturers will propose a consulting framework to advise the Airlines on the technical, infrastructure, and workforce requirements necessary to support a local MRO facility.

Developing local aerospace expertise

The initiative aligns with the Vietnamese government’s broader strategy to cultivate high-value aerospace services and integrate the country more deeply into the global aviation supply chain.

CFM International President and CEO Gaël Meheust stated that the company intends to leverage its global experience to provide a comprehensive evaluation supporting this vision.

“Vietnam represents one of the most dynamic aviation markets in the world, and we are pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Vietjet by evaluating engine maintenance capabilities in the country,” Meheust said.

Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thanh Son emphasized that a robust aviation sector requires deep technical expertise alongside a modern fleet. Aviation Week reported that Son views the collaboration with CFM as a foundational step in building a complete aviation ecosystem within Vietnam.

“Our work with CFM is an important part of VietJet’s ambition to build a more complete aviation ecosystem in Vietnam,” Son said.

He added that the initiative is expected to establish maintenance capabilities for next-generation engines, cultivate local engineering talent, and allow the country to assume a larger role in the global aviation value chain.

Supporting rapid fleet expansion

The push for domestic MRO capabilities follows Vietjet’s aggressive fleet growth strategy. The airline currently holds Orders for 200 Boeing 737-8 aircraft, all of which will be powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines.

Securing reliable maintenance channels is critical for the carrier’s long-term operational stability. Vietjet operates a diversified next-generation fleet. While the Boeing 737-8 order relies on CFM International, the airline’s Airbus A320neo family aircraft are equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines.

AirPro News analysis

We view Vietjet’s move to explore domestic MRO capabilities as a strategic hedge against ongoing global supply chain and maintenance bottlenecks. The global MRO network for next-generation engines remains heavily constrained by parts shortages and extended turnaround times. By developing local infrastructure, Vietjet could eventually secure greater control over its maintenance schedules and reduce out-of-service times for its growing Boeing 737-8 fleet.

This LOI also signals Vietnam’s ambition to transition from a rapidly growing consumer of commercial aviation products to a participant in the aerospace aftermarket. Establishing a certified LEAP engine MRO facility would require significant capital investment and regulatory approvals, but it would position Vietnam as a regional maintenance hub in Southeast Asia.

Sources: CFM International

StandardAero (NYSE: SARO) officially opened a 70,000-square-foot expansion at its Winnipeg, Manitoba, facility on September 3, 2026, increasing the site’s footprint by 40 percent to support growing engine maintenance demand.

The expansion significantly boosts the company’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity for GE Aerospace CF34 and CFM International CFM56 turbofan engines. According to a company press release, the project was supported by both provincial and federal government investments aimed at strengthening domestic aerospace capabilities and military readiness.

Expanding capacity for high-demand turbofans

The new facility targets two of the most widely used engine families in commercial and regional aviation. StandardAero will utilize the space to service the GE Aerospace CF34-3 and CF34-8, as well as the CFM International CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B.

These powerplants are equipped on a vast array of global fleets. The CF34 variants power regional and business aircraft including the Embraer E170 and E175, the MHIRJ CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900, and the Bombardier Challenger 600 and 850. The CFM56 engines power the Boeing 737 NG and Airbus A320ceo families, along with military derivatives such as the Boeing P-8A Poseidon.

StandardAero has operated as a GE-Branded Service Agreement partner for the CF34 since 2001 and holds a CFM International General Support License Agreement for the CFM56 dating back to 2009. Peter Wheatley, Vice President and General Manager of CF34/CFM56 for StandardAero, stated that demand for high-quality support for these engine types continues to grow.

“By combining additional capacity with world-class equipment, talent and processes, we are delivering on our commitment to deliver operational excellence. Backed by a highly skilled workforce and a strong foundation of long-term customer commitments, this facility positions us to deliver even greater value, responsiveness and reliability,” Wheatley said.

Government investment and regional footprint

The Winnipeg expansion represents a collaborative investment between StandardAero and Canadian government entities. The company broke ground on the project on November 10, 2025, backed by a $3 million contribution from the Manitoba provincial government.

On April 24, 2026, the Canadian federal government announced an additional $8 million in funding for the Winnipeg campus. This allocation was part of a broader $19.5 million regional defense investment initiative designed to create jobs and enhance dual-use aerospace MRO capacity for both commercial and military applications.

StandardAero currently employs 1,500 workers across eight facilities in Winnipeg, a city where the company has maintained a presence for 115 years. Russell Ford, Chairman and CEO of StandardAero, noted that the expansion underscores the company’s deep roots in the region. He added that increasing capacity to support CF34 and CFM56 operators invests in the long-term success of their customers while reinforcing Winnipeg’s role as a key hub within their global network.

AirPro News analysis

The CFM56 remains the most ubiquitous commercial aircraft engine in the world. As Airlines extend the operational lives of their Boeing 737 NG and Airbus A320ceo fleets due to ongoing delivery delays for new-generation aircraft, MRO demand for the CFM56 is reaching unprecedented levels. Similarly, the CF34 continues to dominate the regional jet market, requiring sustained maintenance support as regional carriers maximize fleet utilization.

StandardAero’s dual-use focus, highlighted by the recent federal defense funding, also positions the company to secure long-term military contracts for platforms like the P-8A Poseidon. We view this 70,000-square-foot expansion as a necessary capacity injection into a highly constrained global engine MRO supply chain, ensuring StandardAero can capture the surging demand for legacy engine overhauls over the next decade.

Sources: StandardAero

Deutsche Aircraft has completed the initial Test-Flights phase for its new landing gear system, logging five development flights and over 15 hours of combined ground and flight testing on a legacy D328 testbed.

Announced in a September 8, 2026, press release, the milestone follows the successful execution of Low-Speed Taxi (LST) and High-Speed Taxi (HST) evaluations at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Wessling, Germany. The testing campaign, which commenced on August 5, 2026, serves as a critical certification step for the upcoming D328eco, a 40-seat regional turboprop designed for up to 100 percent SAF compatibility.

Strategic shift in engineering authority

The landing gear certification program represents a broader strategic shift for Deutsche Aircraft. The Original Equipment OEM recently transitioned to a new landing gear supplier and acquired the full Intellectual Property (IP) rights for the system. This move transfers engineering authority directly to Deutsche Aircraft, reducing reliance on third-party suppliers.

By bringing the system under direct engineering control, the manufacturer aims to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and ensure long-term spare parts availability. The new landing gear architecture will be harmonized across both the legacy D328 fleet and the new D328eco Commercial-Aircraft.

“The results provide strong validation of the landing gear system and enable us to move into the next phase of flight testing as we continue the Certification process. Bringing this critical system under our direct control allows us to deliver greater reliability, resilience and long-term support for our operators,” stated Nico Neumann, Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Aircraft.

Testing envelope and upcoming milestones

To isolate and validate the landing gear system independently of the new airframe, Deutsche Aircraft is utilizing a legacy D328 aircraft as a dedicated flying testbed. This approach allows the engineering team to gather data across the full operational envelope before the D328eco prototype takes to the air.

“Using a legacy D328 as a dedicated flying testbed has enabled us to efficiently validate the landing gear system across the full operational envelope, from structural ground testing to taxi operations and flight testing,” said Aaron Tsang, Head of Design Organization and Vice President of Engineering at Deutsche Aircraft. “The results provide valuable data while demonstrating the effectiveness of our development and certification approach for the D328eco programme.”

With the initial flight testing phase complete, the certification campaign will advance to specialized performance assessments. According to reporting by Air Data News, the next phase will evaluate braking and stopping distances, steering and ground handling, and crosswind performance. The testing will also include operations on unpaved surfaces, including grass, gravel, and sand runways.

The first test aircraft for the D328eco program, designated TAC 1, rolled out at the company’s Oberpfaffenhofen facility in May 2025. The First-Flight of the actual D328eco prototype is targeted for the second half of 2026.

AirPro News analysis

We view Deutsche Aircraft’s decision to secure the IP rights for its landing gear as a highly pragmatic move that addresses a historical pain point in regional aviation. Landing gear systems are maintenance-intensive, and regional operators frequently cite third-party supply chain delays and spare parts shortages as primary drivers of aircraft downtime.

By bringing engineering authority in-house, Deutsche Aircraft is insulating the D328eco program from external supplier volatility. Harmonizing the gear across both the legacy D328 and the new D328eco also creates immediate scale for parts production. For regional airlines evaluating fleet renewal options, guaranteed lifecycle support and simplified Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) logistics are often just as critical as the aircraft’s fuel burn or payload specifications.

Sources: Deutsche Aircraft Press Release