Last Wednesday, MTU Maintenance cut the ribbon on its expanded overhaul shop at AllianceTexas in north Fort Worth, inducting the first CFM LEAP‑1B engine to move through the new line. The induction for Brazilian carrier GOL officially launches LEAP overhaul work at the site and marks the start of full disassembly, assembly and test activity in the Dallas‑Fort Worth area. The upgraded facility targets next‑generation engine programs and a steadily growing local workforce.
Investment And Operations Takeoff
MTU says it invested $120 million to modernize the 43,000‑square‑metre facility, and the first engine’s induction signals the start of its Premier MRO services in North America. In a company release, MTU quoted GOL chief operating officer Albert Pérez as saying, “We are proud to continue our long‑standing partnership with MTU as we celebrate this milestone today.” According to MTU Aero Engines, the Fort Worth site already runs a training academy to prepare new technicians for LEAP work.
Shop Capabilities And Throughput Plans
The shop includes a 100,000‑pound‑thrust test cell and offers LEAP‑1A and LEAP‑1B overhauls with in‑house repairs, positioning the location as a full DAT (disassembly, assembly and test) facility. Aviation Week reports that MTU plans to overhaul about 10 LEAP engines this year and aims to grow to roughly 240 shop visits annually once both the LEAP and GEnx programs are fully operational. The site currently employs just over 200 people and is targeting more than 1,200 employees at full scale, per Aviation Week.
AllianceTexas Location And Jobs
MTU occupies a 462,000‑square‑foot building at 2100 Eagle Parkway in AllianceTexas under a long‑term lease, and Hillwood says the existing engine test‑cell infrastructure was a major draw. Hillwood also reports that MTU relocated parts of its operation to the site in 2023 and expects to create more than 1,200 jobs as the shop ramps up. The facility sits in a growing cluster of MRO operations in north Fort Worth that developers say is attracting aerospace investment, according to Hillwood.
Customer Ties And What’s Next
GOL, the launch customer, was the first South American airline to introduce the LEAP‑1B, and its inducted engine is the first to be processed at Fort Worth, underscoring the airline’s long relationship with MTU. As reported by AviTrader, MTU and GOL have partnered for more than two decades, and MTU says it will later introduce GE Aerospace GEnx services at the Fort Worth hub. The move broadens MTU’s North American footprint alongside its LEAP support sites in Hannover and Zhuhai, according to MTU Aero Engines.
What To Expect Locally
Company recruiters and local officials say the expansion will provide a steady pipeline of skilled jobs as MTU trains technicians for engine‑level roles. Aviation Week notes the site’s 14‑week training program and reports that the company expects to reach full ramp‑up over the coming years, with more shop visits and hires on the horizon. For the Fort Worth area, the opening cements AllianceTexas’s growing role as an MRO cluster for engine and airframe work, according to Aviation Week.
