Latest news with #CFM
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing back in 'dynamic' production mode, engine supplier Safran says
PARIS (Reuters) -U.S. planemaker Boeing has returned to a more "dynamic" production profile after years of uncertainty surrounding setbacks to its 737 MAX passenger jet, the head of engine maker and key Boeing supplier Safran said on Thursday. Production of the benchmark narrow-body jet stands at almost 38 a month, the ceiling imposed by U.S. regulators after the blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines aircraft last year, Safran CEO Olivier Andries told an annual meeting. Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Quality Doug Ackerman told reporters on Tuesday the planemaker expects to stabilize 737 MAX production at 38 airplanes a month over the next couple of months. Safran co-produces the world's most-sold jet engines with GE Aerospace through their CFM International joint venture. CFM's LEAP engines power all Boeing 737 MAX and compete with Pratt & Whitney for airline contracts on the Airbus A320neo. Safran's upbeat tone on Boeing's progress towards restoring jet production contrasts with a more cautious perspective from one of the world's largest leasing firms earlier on Thursday. Boeing and Airbus have made progress, but there is "a way to go" to get a stable, predictable production cycle, SMBC Aviation Capital CEO Peter Barrett said. Safran's Andries told shareholders that demand for aftermarket services for jet engines had risen in part due to delays in production of new aircraft, caused by snags in aerospace supply chains. Airbus has said CFM is itself one of two suppliers slowing down increases in its output in the first half of the year, while CFM has said it is confident of accelerating in the second quarter. The Airbus and Boeing versions of LEAP are different sizes of engine with a broadly different set of parts. Andries said Safran was meanwhile getting encouraging results from CFM's wind-tunnel and other tests to demonstrate technology for a successor to the LEAP engine called RISE, designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 20%.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
GE Aerospace eyes further expansion in Malaysia, Asia Pacific
BEIJING: GE Aerospace plans to further expand its operations in Malaysia and across the Asia Pacific region as it strengthens its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to meet rising global aviation demand. GE Aerospace vice president of sales for Asia Pacific, Nakul Gupta, said Malaysia remains a strategic hub for the company, with its Subang facility playing a central role in both regional and global operations. "Established in 1997 as a Centre of Excellence for CFM56 engines, our Malaysia site has evolved into a critical MRO hub supporting over 50 airlines worldwide. "It now serves as the Asia Centre of Excellence for LEAP MRO services and employs over 700 skilled professionals," he told Bernama recently, adding that the provider of jet and turboprop engines is looking to grow its capacity further. The expansion is supported by the company's proprietary FLIGHT DECK operating model and is expected to generate more high-skilled jobs in Malaysia. In 2018, GE Aerospace made a significant US$80 million investment to upgrade the Subang facility, which enabled the introduction of MRO services for the CFM LEAP engine. It is the first such capability for GE Aerospace outside the United States. "As demand continues to rise, we are committed to investing in infrastructure and talent development," he said. He also noted that the company invested US$45 million in the Asia Pacific region last year, reflecting its commitment to strengthening its repair technologies and reducing turnaround times. "This regional investment forms part of GE Aerospace's US$250 million global MRO and component repair investment in 2024, contributing to a broader five-year US$1 billion commitment," he pointed out. He further said that these funds were being used to expand facilities, enhance safety measures and acquire new test cells, tooling as well as equipment across facilities in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea. Within Southeast Asia, GE Aerospace's footprint includes its Singapore facility which accounts for over 60 per cent of the company's global repair volumes and is a pioneer in using additive manufacturing technology to repair jet engine components. "Additive technology allows us to complete repairs up to 60 per cent faster and with a significantly smaller footprint, enabling quicker aircraft turnaround for our customers," Nakul said. To support increasing demand, he said the company continues to upskill its workforce in emerging aviation technologies such as automation, robotics, and additive manufacturing. On the sustainability front, he said that all GE Aerospace and CFM engines are certified to operate on approved sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends, with 10 engine models tested with 100 per cent SAF to date. "GE Aerospace also works closely with fuel producers, regulators and policymakers to accelerate SAF adoption and affordability," he added. GE Aerospace is a global provider of jet and turboprop engines as well as integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
IndiGo's reliance on Pratt & Whitney engines continues to decline amid shift to CFM-powered fleet
IndiGo, India's largest carrier, was the first to induct the A320neo in the country. The aircraft arrived in March 2016, already delayed from its expected induction date. GoAir soon followed with its own induction. No sooner had they started flying than issues emerged, including warnings that required planes to turn around and land, as well as instances of in-flight engine shutdowns. These aircraft were powered by Pratt & Whitney's next-generation technology called GTF, or Geared Turbofan. Operations stabilised over time, aided by limited flying during the pandemic, until the powder metal issue surfaced. Pratt & Whitney identified defects in the powder metal used to manufacture high-pressure turbine and compressor discs in some of their geared turbofan engines. This affected airlines globally, particularly those operating the A320neo family fleet. While IndiGo experienced groundings, Go First ceased operations, blaming the engine manufacturer and initiating litigation in courts in the United States. Over the last few quarters, IndiGo has slowly but steadily phased out Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft as part of its lease-end timelines with lessors. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) updated its fleet data as of April 30, showing that IndiGo operates a fleet of 411 aircraft. This includes three freighters, 48 ATR 72-600s, and 26 A320ceos. The remaining 360 aircraft belong to the A320neo family, comprising 97 A320neos powered by Pratt & Whitney and CFM. The A321neo fleet includes 24 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney, while the remaining 116 are powered by CFM. Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft now account for less than 30 per cent of IndiGo's total fleet and represent 33.6 per cent of the A320 family fleet as of the end of April. At one point, the airline had as many as 70–80 aircraft grounded, but has since seen a gradual return to service for many of them. According to its most recent guidance, the number of grounded aircraft was expected to reduce to the mid-40s after April. The exact figure may be disclosed in the management commentary following its quarterly results. The results for Q4 FY25 and the full-year FY25 are expected to be announced before the end of June. The shift to CFM-powered aircraft reflects the airline's preference for CFM engines over Pratt & Whitney for its subsequent orders. IndiGo chose CFM as the engine supplier for its next batch of Airbus aircraft ordered in 2019, following its initial A320neo order in 2011 Even as IndiGo continues to invest in newer aircraft and moves toward a fully CFM-powered A320neo family fleet, the airline has, in the past, renewed leases on Pratt & Whitney-powered planes to tide over aircraft shortages. Some of these planes have been seen flying in non-standard IndiGo livery, bearing only the name and not the full branding. The move to CFM has also been driven by a calibrated delivery schedule favouring A321neo aircraft over the A320neo. IndiGo now operates 194 A320neo and 140 A321neo aircraft. The A321neo, with 232 seats, offers 24.73% more seating capacity per flight than the A320neo. Over the past few years, the airline has significantly expanded its order book. As of the end of April 2025, IndiGo has 791 A321neo and 449 A320neo aircraft on order. A total of 916 aircraft are yet to be delivered from its firm order book, which also includes 30 A350s. The airline has confirmed that it has been receiving compensation from Pratt & Whitney but has remained silent on the extent of the compensation, citing contractual obligations. It classifies this compensation as Income from Operations in its balance sheet. As the number of grounded aircraft declines, the airline has several options: it could retire Pratt & Whitney-powered planes at the end of their lease, or extend the leases for a short duration to account for delays in deliveries from Airbus. This would also help facilitate the return of all damp-leased narrowbody aircraft, depending on how the cost dynamics play out. Last year, Pratt & Whitney introduced the GTF Advantage, the next iteration of its geared turbofan technology. The company claims the new engine offers cost and revenue benefits through lower fuel consumption, resulting in higher payload capacity and extended range. Pratt & Whitney says the engine will deliver 4–8 per cent more takeoff thrust, enabling improved performance in both areas. IndiGo has yet to announce its choice of engine for the 500-aircraft order it placed at the Paris Air Show in 2023. Deliveries are set to begin in the early next decade, giving the airline time to decide. Will Pratt & Whitney be in contention again, or will CFM have a clear path to securing the deal? Business decisions are driven by objectivity and cost, and if Pratt & Whitney can deliver on its promises, it might stage a comeback in Indian aviation deals after a period of decline.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Economic Development Survey For Local Businesses
The Thames-Coromandel District Council's Economic Development team wants to hear from you. We're inviting businesses across our district to take part in the Economic Development Survey for Local Businesses, open from Thursday 1 May to midnight, Saturday 31 May 2025. Be in to win: Complete the survey and go in the draw to win a free business advertising package on CFM. This survey is an opportunity for you to share: Whether or not your business feels supported by Council Your current business sentiment Ideas on how we can better support local businesses over the long term Your feedback will help shape future Council decisions and guide our ongoing work to strengthen the local economy. Results from this survey will be included in reports to Council, including Long Term Plan reporting, where we track key performance measures. We encourage a representative from your organisation to complete the survey. The survey takes just 5-10 minutes to complete. Complete the survey here Find out more Please feel free to share this survey with other businesses in the district—your input is valuable in shaping a stronger future for our business community. By completing the survey, you'll go in the draw to win a free business advertising package on CFM.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Safran says China to exempt jet engines and parts from tariffs
By Tim Hepher, Brenda Goh PARIS (Reuters) -China has decided to grant exemptions from import tariffs for some aircraft parts, including jet engines, the head of French engine maker Safran said on Friday. "We learned last night that China has taken the decision not to tax engines or landing gear or nacelles (engine housings), in other words a certain number of aerospace equipment parts," CEO Olivier Andries told reporters on a first-quarter results call. "It demonstrates that the situation is very fluid," he said, adding that finished aircraft were not included in the decision. China is considering exempting some U.S. imports from its 125% tariffs and is asking businesses to identify goods that could be eligible, business groups in China said on Friday. The possible dispensation is the latest sign the world's two largest economies are prepared to try to calm a trade war that has seen Boeing repatriate some undelivered jets and threaten to sell jets locked out of China to other airlines. Together with GE Aerospace, Safran co-produces LEAP jet engines for best-selling Boeing and Airbus narrow-body jets, as well as China's COMAC C919 jetliner. Factories are based in France and the United States and GE and Safran are responsible for different parts of the engine, which is the sole powerplant available on the Boeing 737 MAX and competes with U.S.-based Pratt & Whitney on the Airbus A320neo. EXEMPTION LIST Andries did not say whether Safran had received the positive signal on tariffs directly from Chinese authorities. CFM has been present in the country since 1985 and its customers include state airlines and national aerospace champion COMAC. A list of 131 categories of products eligible for exemptions was circulating widely on social media and among businesses and trade groups in China on Friday. Reuters could not verify the list, whose items ranged from vaccines and chemicals to jet engines. A waiver for engines and parts would lift some uncertainty over the availability of spares and services needed for China's carriers to keep their fleets in the air. Parts for repairs are already in high demand due to shortages of new planes driven by snags in the supply chain. One Western industry official said Chinese airlines were understood to be requesting carve-outs or exemptions for some imports. Chinese officials could not be reached for comment. European planemaker Airbus also relies on supplies of CFM engines and competing models from Pratt & Whitney for the assembly of some of its jets in the port city of Tianjin. Airbus was not immediately available for comment. Finally, China's own domestic passenger jet, the C919, relies on CFM engines and other Western parts though China has embarked on efforts to develop a home-grown alternative engine. Suppliers of significant parts for China's first fully developed passenger jet include RTX unit Collins Aerospace, Honeywell and half a dozen other mainly U.S. suppliers. None of the companies responded to requests for comments. Sign in to access your portfolio
