Safran Aircraft Engines and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance have started construction of their joint-venture facility for compressor aerofoil repair in northern France.
Work at the facility – named Airfoils Advanced Solutions and located outside Valenciennes, near the border to Belgium – will be concentrated on repair of high-pressure compressor blades and variable stator vanes in CFM International CFM56, Engine Alliance GP7200 and General Electric GE90 engines, says AFI KLM E&M.
It adds that the site is to be completed early next year, become operational in late 2018, and employ some 200-250 staff people by 2020.
AFI KLM E&M says the two partners have pledged to invest "over €20 million" ($22 million) in the site.
Safran has a 51% stake in the business, while Air France-KLM holds the remaining shares.
The facility will handle equipment from the maintenance customers of both Safran and AFI KLM E&M, and be used to develop new repair processes.
Francois Planaud, Safran's executive vice-president of services and MRO, states: "The founding of this joint venture is a major step forward in our repair capabilities for the high-pressure sections of engines."
The CFM56 is an engine option for Airbus A320ceo-family jets and the sole powerplant available for Boeing 737NGs and Classics. The GE90 exclusively powers current-generation 777s, while the GP7200 is an engine option for A380s.
Air France-KLM employs all three engine families across its fleet.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
