CARROLLTON, Texas. -- Prime Turbines LLC has been selected by the Armada de Chile for the overhaul of two PT6A-25 turboprop engines. The engines power the Navy's fleet of Pilatus PC-7 trainer aircraft.
Prime Turbines, LLC is a subsidiary of VSE Aviation, Inc., a VSE Corporation company. Prime Turbines is a leading, independent PT6A maintenance, repair and overhaul company headquartered in Carrollton, Texas.
Chile currently operates seven PC-7s. In addition to training duty, the aircraft perform maritime interdictions. Chile originally received 10 aircraft from Switzerland in 1980 to replace aging T-34s. However, attrition losses, including one that crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 1999, has reduced that number of seven.
It is not clear if Chile will eventually overhaul engines on all seven aircraft. With all of the aircraft around the same age, it seems likely that they will all eventually need work sooner rather than later. Having already gained a contract to work on two of the aircraft, Prime Turbines is in a good place to get contracts for the rest of the work.