GKN Aerospace has secured a five year contract with Rolls-Royce covering fan blade repairs across multiple engine programs, an award that expands the supplier's footprint in the US engine aftermarket. As part of the agreement, GKN will add Trent 700 fan blade repair capability at its newly expanded facility in San Diego, deepening the site's role in supporting widebody engines that remain in heavy service worldwide.
The contract arrives during a stretch of steady expansion across the US maintenance, repair, and overhaul sector. The Federal Aviation Administration renewed the Part 145 Repair Station Certificate for NextGen Aviation Services following the company's relocation to Ponca City Regional Airport in Oklahoma, where a newly established 30,000 square foot operation supports business aviation, regional, and narrowbody aircraft and adds a dedicated engine hospital shop for targeted repairs.
Engine work continues to anchor MRO demand as airlines keep older aircraft flying longer and new engine deliveries lag airline growth plans. Fan blade repair is among the most specialized segments of the engine aftermarket, requiring approved processes and tooling that only a small group of suppliers can provide. The Rolls-Royce award positions GKN's San Diego operation to capture a larger share of that work as Trent powered widebody fleets cycle through shop visits over the next several years.
Source: Aerospace Manufacturing and Design - https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/latest-about-aerospace-mro-june-2026-/