Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL) today celebrated the official opening of its Component Repair Centre of Excellence - Phase V - a 13,500 square metre expansion to its existing engine repair and overhaul facility.

HAESL has invested US$ 50 million in the new Phase V expansion to meet the rapid growth in worldwide demand for component repair capability. This is in response to the predicted growth in the aviation industry over the next decade and beyond. It will also expand Hong Kong's capabilities as a regional aviation hub to serve the fast-growing aviation market in China.

Mr Christopher Pratt, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO), was guest of honour at the ceremony and formally opened the facility. Mr Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer of HAECO and Mr Tony Wood, Chairman of HAESL and President Gas Turbine Services, Rolls-Royce plc jointly officiated the event, which was attended by HAESL staff and over 100 guests.

Mr Pratt said, "I am very pleased to open this new facility, which marks a significant enhancement to Hong Kong's offering as a global service centre for the aerospace engineering industry and reinforces its position as an aviation hub for the Asia Pacific region."

Mr Wood said, "We are delighted to celebrate this significant milestone with our partners. The new facility represents a major investment in Hong Kong and allows us to deliver the highest quality repair and maintenance services to our customers. HAESL has provided airlines with an outstanding service for almost 15 years and will continue to do so in the future."

Mr Tim Blackburn, HAESL's Director & General Manager said, "This expansion will enable HAESL to enhance significantly our services and set world-leading standards as a global Centre of Excellence for component repair. This new, state-of-the-art facility, and the expansion of our highly-skilled workforce, will ideally position us to take advantage of a period of unparalleled growth for the aviation industry in Asia and beyond."

HAESL, a joint venture between HAECO, Rolls-Royce and SIA Engineering Company, will mark several other major milestones in 2011, as the business celebrates 15 years of successful operations with its expansion to employ over 1,000 staff and completes the overhaul of its 2,500th aero engine.

The new facility expands HAESL's capacity and enhances its service to customers in terms of productivity and turnaround time. The expansion features five of HAESL's six Rolls-Royce Global Repair Services' Centres of Excellence (CoE) for component repair, all under one roof. At the same time, HAESL has also reorganised and expanded Phase II, an existing 20,000 square metre component repair facility.

Guest of Honour Mr Christopher Pratt, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited and HAECO unveiled the plaque commemorating opening of HAESL's Phase V - Component Repair Centre of Excellence.

Mr Christopher Pratt, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited and HAECO, Mr Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer of HAECO, Mr Tony Wood, Chairman of HAESL and President Gas Turbine Services, Rolls-Royce plc and other guests attended the opening ceremony.

About Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL)

Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL) provides world-class aero engine and component repair services to many of the world's most respected airlines that have chosen Rolls-Royce RB211 and Trent engines to power their fleet of Airbus and Boeing Aircraft.

HAESL is a joint venture between Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) (45%), Rolls-Royce (45%) and SIA Engineering Company (10%), HAESL combines the strength and experience of two of Asia's most successful aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul companies with a world-leading name in the development and manufacture of gas turbine engines.

HAESL started operations in 1997, initially taking over HAECO's own engine overhaul operations, and is now a leading repair and overhaul facility for Rolls-Royce's range of RB211 and Trent aero engines. Located at Tseung Kwan O, in Hong Kong's New Territories, HAESL employs over 980 staff and operates from an advanced US$150 million facility.

HAESL is also equipped with one of the largest test cells in Asia - capable of testing engines generating up to 130,000 pounds of thrust.

The company has significant component repair capability on components from the engines that it overhauls - and has developed six Centres of Excellence (CoE) supporting fan blade, turbine blade, HP/IP bearing support, honeycomb, seal fin and engine mount repairs on components from Rolls-Royce engines.