GE Aerospace's AEMTC Marks 30 Years Training Engine Maintenance Technicians in Sichuan, China
Why It MattersEngine-maintenance skills are becoming a bottleneck as LEAP shop visits are projected to roughly triple by 2030, which makes local training hubs for new-generation engines strategically valuable to operators and MROs.
The Aero Engine Maintenance Training Center (AEMTC) is marking its 30th anniversary. It was China's first civil aviation engine vocational training institution of its kind and the first CFM engine training center outside the United States and France.
The center is located at CAFUC in Guanghan, Sichuan Province, and spans 7,500 square meters (80,000 square feet). It currently has 10 training engines covering nine engine models, including the CFM56-3, CFM56-5B, CFM56-7B, CF6-80C2, LEAP-1A, LEAP-1B, LEAP-1C and CF34-10A. It is described as one of the world's most complete LEAP engine training centers, and the only training center worldwide able to provide engine maintenance education for the LEAP-1C, which powers the COMAC C919, and the CF34-10A, which powers the C909.
By the end of 2025, AEMTC had trained about 17,500 technical professionals from more than 120 airlines, MROs and airframers across Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe and Africa. Since 2019, it has provided technical training for line maintenance, borescope inspection and on-wing support for LEAP engines powering the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC C919. It is now introducing AI-empowered borescope training and mixed-reality (MR) instructional methods.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) notes that LEAP engine shop visits are expected to rise from about 600–800 in 2025 to 1,800–2,000 by 2030, and to more than 5,000 by 2040.
GE Aerospace and CFM International have continued to invest in training resources, teaching aids and instructors for the center. Jayesh Shanbhag, vice president of customer experience for GE Aerospace and CFM International, said the companies remain committed to supporting AEMTC, including the future introduction of widebody engine models such as the GE90 and GE9X. CFM International is a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
