Safran’s Enhanced Global Jet Engine Nacelle Support Network is Highlighted at the MRO Americas Exhibition
Orlando, Florida, USA, April 26, 2017 Safran Nacelles has augmented its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in response to the significant growth of the company’s jet engine nacelle systems and components utilized on airliners, regional aircraft and business jets worldwide.
Its Safran Nacelles Services Americas operation in Indianapolis, Indiana has received tooling, documentation and training for composite and metallic MRO work on A320neo (New Engine Option) nacelles, benefitting from the Safran Nacelles parent company’s role as the nacelle system Tier 1 supplier. According to Michael Robinson, the General Manager at Safran Nacelles Services Americas, this covers both on-condition and service-related MRO support.
As a result, Safran Nacelles Services Americas is now ready to support nacelles that equip Airbus A320neo single-aisle family jetliners powered by CFM International* LEAP-1A turbofan engines. The U.S. facility also has introduced MRO skills for the nacelles on widebody Airbus A330s with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, and its capabilities are to be further broadened for the new A330neo version, equipped with nacelles from Safran Nacelles on the aircraft’s two Rolls-Royce 7000 turbofan engines.
Safran Nacelles supplies Airbus with the complete LEAP-1A nacelle system, which is being manufactured and delivered for the twin-engine A320neo in one of the most rapid production rate rampups in civil aviation history. The number of aircraft operating in Safran Nacelles Services Americas’ area of responsibility – covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America – was approximately 20 in 2016, and will increase into the triple digits beginning next year.
Safran Nacelles’ MRO competencies have expanded into the domain of propulsion systems with the ability to repair outlet guide vanes (OGVs) on the CFM International CFM56 engine family powering Airbus A320ceo (Current Engine Option) airliners. “This service offers a highly cost-effective solution when compared to replacing the OGVs,” Robinson said.
The Indianapolis operation is backed by Safran Nacelles’ MRO Center of Excellence in Pont Audemer, France, which manages the global network of Safran Nacelles’ MRO facilities and serves as the operational reference in terms of repair procedures and industrialization. This Center of Excellence also oversees the company’s MRO-related research and technology activities, and is responsible for advancing overall know-how in repair methods and engineering.
