Vector Aerospace Completes First Successful PT6A-140 Engine Test at South African Facility

Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, announces that it has successfully completed its first, full engine test on the Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-140 turboprop at its facility in South Africa.  The PT6A-140 powers the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX and is also offered as an upgrade for earlier models of the 208 Caravan family.

Vector’s South African facility, located at the Lanseria International Airport, was appointed a designated overhaul facility (DOF) for the PT6A-140 in July 2014.  The location is also a P&WC distributor and designated overhaul facility (DDOF) for other models in the PT6A engine family, including the PT6A-114/114A variants used on previous versions of the Caravan.

"We consider the successful completion of this engine test to be a major milestone and achievement for our South African facility,” says Jeff Poirier, president of Vector's Engine Services-Atlantic division. “We want operators of PT6A-140-powered Cessna 208 Caravans to know that we are more than ready to perform complete overhauls on their engines. Our South African facility is truly the preferred shop in the region to get the work done.”

Vector’s South African facility has full hot section exchange kits, fuel nozzles and a complete line of accessories available.  It also offers engine overhaul service, testing, and inspections for sudden stop and lightning strike events. 

Operators in Africa also benefit from the support of Vector’s mobile repair team (MRT), which is composed of 150 dedicated employees specifically focused on MRT operations globally. The MRT operation is designed around a ‘Quick Turn-Around’ and ‘Travel Ready’ philosophy to support customers' needs 24/7.  The majority of team members are licensed A&P technicians who have either worked in a service center or as an MRT in their careers and who on average benefit from 30+ years of experience in their field.