SINGAPORE—Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL) is eyeing “tactical solutions,” such as parts swapping, to overcome supply chain constraints, as the Rolls-Royce MRO provider grapples with an influx of Trent 1000 engines.
SAESL CEO Simon Middlebrough said its facility is currently processing six engines weekly, three to four of which are Trent 1000s, which power the Boeing 787.
“It is hard work to maintain that rate at the moment given the underlying supply chain issues. What we’ve managed to do quite well with Rolls-Royce in the last two quarters is find ways around [to hold the rate],” Middlebrough told Aviation Week during the groundbreaking ceremony of a new engine shop. “It’s not optimal, but it means we’re having to do all sorts of creative swapping mitigations.”
Numerous airlines have flagged the poor reliability of the Trent 1000s, centering on longevity of the intermediate pressure turbine blades. Middlebrough believes the problem is primarily due to durability of the parts, not any systemic maintenance issues.
He is calling for the industry to participate and encourage part swapping to alleviate parts shortage.
“Ideally, you’d like every asset in an engine to be interchangeable between customers. That’s not always the case, but flexibility and swapping is going to have to be one of the tactical solutions, at least over the next 12 to 18 months,” Middlebrough said. “There are certain red lines where you can’t, but I think the industry can probably all step in and do more to enable that flexibility.”
The SAESL facility is responsible for 20% of Rolls-Royce’s global engine MRO. Although primarily serving Asia-Pacific clients such as Singapore Airlines group and All Nippon Airways, it continues to receive engines from carriers outside the region, such as those from Emirates.
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