EPI and GTA Sign TP400 Support Agreement for Royal Malaysian Air Force

At the signing ceremony (Source: Snecma)

EPI (Europrop International) and GTA (Global Turbine Asia) signed, in the presence of the Defense Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Bin Tun Hussein, a Letter of Intent at LIMA 2015 for a contract concerning the technical support of the TP400 turboprop engines powering the four Airbus A400M military transports ordered by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). According to the terms of this contract, GTA will provide technical support services and spare parts management on behalf of EPI. GTA will be supporting a total of 18 TP400 engines.

Malaysia, the first export customer for the Airbus A400M, took delivery of its first aircraft on March 10, 2015. But even prior to this delivery, EPI had already seconded to Malaysia an experienced technician who was part of the TP400 support crew for the French air force.

"This agreement clearly reflects the EPI commitment to deploying the resources needed to support

RMAF's new Airbus A400M (Source: RMAF)

the RMAF under the best conditions," said Ricardo Navarro, Director of In-Service Support EPI. "Furthermore, by delegating technical support responsibilities to GTA, we are helping the Malaysian aviation industry move up the skills chain, especially through our on-site technicians, who will be transmitting their skills and expertise on the TP400 engine to their counterparts at GTA."

Dato’ Nonee Radzi, the Executive Chairman of GTA added, “This agreement indicates that GTA has grown strength to strength as an engine MRO centre and is identified as an important player in the aerospace industry for the country. We are looking forward to forge strategic alliance with EPI in supporting RMAF during the Entry Into Service of their TP400 engines in Malaysia.”

Europrop International 

EPI Europrop International GmbH was created by four leading European aero-engine companies (Industria de Turbo Propulsores, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma [Safran]) to manage the TP400 engine program.

Designed to power the Airbus A400M military transport, the TP400 is the most powerful turboshaft engine in the West. It features a three-shaft configuration and will deliver maximum power output of 11,000 shaft horsepower.