GE Aerospace Pumps Money Into MRO

While MRO capacity for legacy engines continues to struggle to meet high demand, GE Aerospace is putting plans in place to ensure adequate support for the CFM Leap engine, for which it is a joint venture partner with Safran Aircraft Engines.

The OEM plans to invest $1 billion over five years in its global MRO facilities across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

A quarter of that will be spent this year, with $64 million earmarked for its five MRO facilities in the USA, $55 million for its single site in South America (Brazil), $60 million for its seven sites in Europe and $45 million for four sites in Asia-Pacific.

While the investment will support wide- and narrowbody engines, GE said the major portion would be for the CFM Leap line, of which 3,300 aircraft powered by the engines are in service and 10,000 engines are on order.

These investments will help GE Aerospace create capacity to meet growth in both the widebody and narrowbody installed base by adding additional engine test cells and equipment. The funding also will add new technology, including enhanced inspection techniques, to reduce turnaround times for customers as well as expand component repair capability within its overhaul shops.

This week Bain & Co. identified engine maintenance capacity as a major bottleneck for the global aviation system, advising that providers invest in new technologies and processes to cut turnaround times.

A major part of GE’s MRO funding this year provides for construction of a new Services Technology Acceleration Center (STAC) near Cincinnati, Ohio. Opening in September 2024, STAC will help accelerate the deployment of innovative services approaches, including inspection technologies that detect emerging issues sooner and reduce airplane downtime for customers.