Delta Opens Jet Engine Test Cell

Delta officially opened its new state-of-the-art jet engine test cell at the airline's TechOps facility in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday. The test cell is capable of running a mounted, stationary engine at full power with 150,000 pounds of thrust, allowing it to test engines more powerful than anything yet built. According to Delta, it is the first cell built by a U.S. airline in more than 20 years and is currently the largest in the world, measuring 48 feet tall, with a 66-foot inlet section and an exhaust section measuring 78 feet.

"This new test cell is not only great for the future of Delta, but for our future aircraft maintenance technicians and engineers," said Delta TechOps Senior Vice President Don Mitacek. "The quality of work and expertise of our people are the reason why we are able to confidently invest so heavily in our future."

Delta TechOps also opened a new 127,000-square-foot engine repair shop last August. The airline says the new facility will allow it to perform maintenance on engines with more sophisticated technologies, including the powerplants found on its Airbus A350s and forthcoming A330-900neo aircraft.