Company invests in local workforce development, long-term growth and approximately US$ 80 million in new LEAP engine repair shop
Petrópolis, July 13, 2026 – GE Aerospace Celma celebrates its 75th anniversary today as the company’s main aircraft engine overhaul operation in Latin America and an important part of its global services network. Today, about 25% of GE Aerospace’s internal engine maintenance work worldwide is carried out by the Brazilian operation, across its five sites in the municipalities of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, and Três Rios.
“GE Celma’s 75th anniversary is an important milestone not only for Brazil, but for our global operation,” said Mohamed Ali, president and CEO of GE Aerospace’s commercial engines business. “Brazil has established itself as a center of excellence in engineering and advanced maintenance, delivering safety and technical efficiency to our customers.”
GE Aerospace’s footprint in Rio de Janeiro state includes five operating units with close to 3,000 employees: three in Petrópolis, one in the city of Rio de Janeiro and one in Três Rios. Celma currently performs maintenance and overhaul work on engines in the CFM56, CF6 and GEnx families. The company is investing approximately US$ 80 million in a new LEAP engine repair shop in Três Rios, supporting the expansion of local repair capabilities for a new generation of commercial aircraft engines.
Talent development supporting growing footprint
The company’s workforce continues to grow, attracting new talent and helping train new generations of professionals who will carry this work forward. More than 300 students in Brazil benefit from workforce skills training programs supported by GE Aerospace donations, while around 200 GE Aerospace workers are trained annually through the apprenticeship program in Petrópolis. Since 2019, more than 750 people have completed the program, and about 70% of them have been hired.
Founded in 1951, Celma has evolved alongside commercial aviation and has become a center for engine MRO. Fully owned by GE Aerospace since 1996, Celma has expanded its role within the company’s global support network, serving airline fleets in Brazil and abroad.
The Brazilian operation serves more than 30 major customers worldwide, primarily in the United States and Europe. In addition to commercial aviation, the company also supports Brazil’s defense sector through Avio do Brasil, GE’s aviation business responsible for the overhaul and manufacture of military engines for the Brazilian Air Force.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 57,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future at www.geaerospace.com.