GE to expand Winnipeg jet engine testing facility

General Electric Co. is refurbishing its airplane engine testing facility in Winnipeg with a $26-million investment that will include rebuilding a wind tunnel.

The company first opened an engine test facility at Winnipeg’s airport in 2011, but in its first years it focused mainly on cold weather conditions – certifying engines for their icing performance. Last year, an upgrade was begun to allow it to work year-round, so it can also test engines when hit by birds, dust and hail, and perform endurance testing.

Now the company is planning an even bigger upgrade that will see the wind tunnel expanded and test stands rebuilt to hold much bigger engines, including the advanced GE9X, which is currently under development. It is expected to take until 2017 to complete the upgrade, in time to bring in the powerful, fuel-efficient GE9X. The engine, which won’t enter commercial service until 2020, will be used on Boeing’s 777X planes currently being developed.

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