Canadian air carrier WestJet is the launch customer for StandardAero’s latest expansion. The contract calls for the MRO to work on the CFM56-7B engines for the airline’s 81 Boeing Next Generation 737s; the number of airplanes is expected to reach 135 by 2016. The exclusive 12-year OnPoint contract is valued at more than $850 million. StandardAero, which is to become a GE-designated fulfillment center for the CFM56-7B, broke ground last week for a 27,000-sq-ft expansion to its recently added 80,000-sq-ft Winnipeg Plant 6 facility. It is scheduled to enter service in June 2010. The company will integrate the CFM56-7B and the pre-existing GE CF34-1, -3 and -8 processes, saving significant floor space, manpower and overhead. The facility will also include a 50,000-pound-thrust, 5,400-sq-ft test cell. During the ceremony Rob Mionis, president and CEO of StandardAero, congratulated his employees and said, “It is because of your commitment and quality of work that we were able to secure a contract when we had no place to do the work and no experience with the engine. That is the level of faith GE and WestJet have in your ability.”