A Warwick-based aerospace specialist that once maintained engines for the late Queen’s Flight has achieved a world first with the launch of a multi-million-pound aircraft engine test facility featuring advanced digital capability.
CFS Aero has unveiled a new auxiliary power unit (APU) test cell that is one of only nine such facilities worldwide and the only one to offer fully integrated digital technology.
Significant step forward in transparency and efficiency
The system allows customers to view live engine test runs remotely while accessing real-time performance data and diagnostics, marking a significant step forward in transparency and efficiency within the sector.
The facility has been developed with the support of a £1.5 million loan from Frontier Development Capital and enables CFS Aero to expand into APU repair and certification.
APUs are small auxiliary engines used to start an aircraft’s main engines and supply electrical power and air when the aircraft is on the ground.
The company expects the new capability to drive significant growth, with plans to double its 35-strong workforce over the next four years.
Founded in 2012, CFS Aero was created when entrepreneurs Jon Freedman and David Newhouse acquired the assets of a failed aerospace business and retained a small core team.
Frontier Development Capital first invested in the business in 2013 and has since supported multiple expansion phases, including relocation from Coventry Airport to its current Warwick site.
CFS Aero serves customers around the world
CFS Aero now operates internationally, with additional facilities at Hawarden Airport near Chester and in Los Angeles, serving customers around the world.
In 2020, the company secured the rights to repair Honeywell ALF502 and LF507 engines, which power BAE 146 and RJ Avro aircraft widely used for cargo, passenger transport and aerial firefighting in North America.
The firm was previously subcontracted to support the Queen’s Flight and has received BAE Systems’ Gold Standard Supplier Recognition Award.
Its new APU test cell focuses on units commonly used in Airbus A220 and A320 aircraft, as well as the Boeing 737.
Gareth Sheridan, Chief Operating Officer of CFS Aero, said: “CFS has earned a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and rapid turn-around times.
“The addition of our new APU Test Cell allows us to bring those same values into a new market.
“We’re taking a measured approach to growth, focusing initially on a small group of key customers, so we can ensure every unit that leaves our facility meets the highest standards of performance and customer satisfaction.”
