At the 3rd China International Import Expo Safran reaffirms its commitment to a greener and long-term development in the Chinese aviation market

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Safran marked its participation to the 3^rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) with a number of smart production and aero engine deals, reaffirming its commitment to a greener and long-term development in the Chinese aviation market. Besides, at the International Aviation Supply Chain (IASC) Leadership Summit, Philippe Bardol, Safran General Delegate for China and CEO of Safran China, shared his vision on the transformative recovery of the international aviation supply chain and revealed Safran’s strategy and actions to make air transport more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible.

CFM International Aero Engine Deals

At the expo, CFM International, the 50/50 joint-venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE, signed a series of orders and service agreements with Chinese airlines and aircraft manufacturers.

• China Eastern Airlines and CFM International have signed a 12-year Rate-Per-Flight-Hour services agreement for the LEAP-1A engines that power the airline's fleet of 36 A320neo aircraft and has ordered six spares engines to support its operation. This agreement adds to a previous LEAP-1A engines order placed by China Eastern in 2017 to power 70 A320neo aircraft. The airline is currently operating 41 LEAP-Powered A320neo from this batch.

• Zhejiang Loong Air has signed a 12-year Rate-Per-Flight-Hour services agreement with CFM International for the LEAP-1A engines powering the airline’s leased fleet of 19 Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft. Additionally, the deal includes an order for four spare LEAP-1A engines. This adds to the long-term Service Agreement signed last year at Paris Air Show to cover 36 A320neo powered by LEAP-1A engines. Loong Air has already taken delivery of 21 LEAP-1A-powered A320neo.

• MTU Maintenance Zhuhai purchased materials from CFM.

The first LEAP-1A powered Airbus A320neo entered into service with Zhejiang Loong Air in June 2018. Since then and until October 2020, the fleet in country has grown to 150 LEAP-1A powered A320neo delivered to nine airlines in Greater China. In addition to the high-level of asset utilization, LEAP-1A engines are also providing outstanding fuel efficiency, low noise, and low emissions. According to the latest statistics, LEAP-1A flight hours accumulated daily have now surpassed those of the CFM56 fleet operating in China. Notably, the LEAP-1A engine operating in China has logged one million flight hours with zero in flight shutdown.

Relocation of Aircraft Engines Guiyang in Guiyang for a 4.0 Factory and “Green” Facility

As part of the economic and trade exchange activities of Guizhou Province, on Nov 6th, witnessed by Philippe Bardol, Zhang Jianjun, Director of Guiyang National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee, and Jean-Pierre Denis, General Manager of Safran Aircraft Engines Guiyang, signed a project investment agreement of the company, aiming to build an industrial plant near the city of Guiyang.

With a total investment of approximately USD30 million, Safran Aircraft Engines Guiyang, currently located in Guiyang National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone with around 140 employees, shall build a new 70-mu plant in Shawen Industrial Park from 2020 to 2023, in order to relocate its current plant which is also in the city. Under the project investment agreement, Guiyang National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee will provide special subsidies for the project and Safran Aircraft Engines Guiyang will conduct the project investment and construction. As the only entity of Safran in Guizhou, Safran Aircraft Engines Guiyang adopts advanced casting processes to produce low-pressure turbine blades, vanes and seals for CFM56 and now LEAP engines. The CFM56 engine is by far the world's best-selling commercial aircraft engine, and its successor, the LEAP engine, is the fastest-growing engine in the commercial aviation history.

Jean-Pierre Denis: “The new plant will be able to produce four models of casting for CFM engines and five models of castings for LEAP engines. After the capacity expansion, new products and processes shall be introduced, while five LEAP engine models shall be added, increasing the market share of the current LEAP engine models.”

The factory will be designed in accordance to the highest industrial standards, as part of Safran’s strategic development for industry 4.0, with digital solutions such as connected tools and machines or intelligent data use. Those new processes will significantly improve operational performance in terms of cycle, cost and product quality, considering a more comfortable office environment for the employees. At the same time, the plant will be built under Safran's "low-carbon manufacturing" requirements, such as energy and water use optimization (thermic insulation, lighting, water recycling…).

“In Safran, we take a committed and ambitious stance on reducing the carbon footprint of our production methods, through our low-carbon projects. The Guiyang project demonstrates once again our commitment to a greener development in China.” said Philippe Bardol.

Safran Participated to the 3rd International Aviation Supply Chain (IASC) Leadership Summit

Safran’s participation to the 3^rd International Aviation Supply Chain (IASC) Summit shed light on the future of the industry in need of recovery from the current crisis. During a panel discussion on Nov 6 afternoon, representing Safran, Philippe Bardol, together with panelists from Airbus, COMAC, Thales, Textron and Collins Aerospace, held discussions over hot issues happening in the aircraft supply chain.

From Safran’s measures in supporting our key suppliers to developing new sourcing for a lean and healthy recovery, passing by our innovative pursuits in engine development, smart production deployment in France as in China, and predictive maintenance solutions, etc., Philippe Bardol emphasized the value of China in Safran’s global supply chain and the importance of international cooperation of which Safran has always been at the forefront.