GE Aviation has named Cascade Aircraft Conversions an authorized service center (ASC) for its M601 and H80 engines. “With three recently announced authorized service center agreements, GE Aviation has greatly expanded its service offerings in North America,” Tom Hoferer, operations leader for GE Aviation’s Business and General Aviation Turboprops, told AIN. Smyrna Air Center and Winnipeg River Aircraft are the other two facilities that recently received the GE ASC designation. “We are also looking to add additional authorized service centers for South America to meet our customers’ M601 maintenance needs in this region,” Hoferer said. Cascade Aircraft Conversions has done more than 50 installed conversions currently operating in the agricultural aviation segment. The company holds supplemental type certificates for the M601E-11 and M601D-11 engines on Thrush Aircraft and the Air Tractor 300, 400 and 500 series of agplanes. It suggests the benefits of a conversion compared to existing piston engines include lower acquisition and maintenance costs with no nozzles, no hot-section inspections and no engine teardown required in a wire strike event. Certification testing continues on the 800-shp H80 engine, which is scheduled to enter service on the Thrush 510 later this year.