Safran Nacelles steps up its maintenance, repair and overhaul activities in the U.S.

April 9, 2019

Safran Nacelles U.S.-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business continues to expand, reflecting the company’s growing role as an original equipment manufacturer for complete nacelle systems and thrust reversers.

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Safran Nacelles Services Americas has significantly broadened its MRO portfolio – building on the core business of repairing company-built thrust reversers on regional airliners and business jets.

As part of this evolution, Safran Nacelles Services Americas added MRO capabilities on A320neo and A330neo nacelles, for which its Safran Nacelles parent company has complete responsibility for the nacelle systems’ design, manufacture and integration.

Composite and metallic repairs for LEAP-1A engines

The A320neo MRO work is performed on jetliners with the CFM International* LEAP-1A engine, and includes repair of the nacelle system’s composite and metallic components. The A320neo is one of the industry’s best-selling single-aisle jetliners, with the number of in-service aircraft increasing rapidly.

For the A330neo and its very large-sized nacelle, Safran Nacelles Services Americas is ready to provide MRO services after this jetliner’s service entry in late 2018 powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 engines. The company already has performed work in support of ground tests and certification for the thrust reverser, including an inspection at Indianapolis following a 300-cycle thrust reverser deployment test, according to Michael Robinson, the General Manager at Safran Nacelles Services Americas.

Safran Nacelles Services Americas is ready to add another element to its portfolio: the thrust reverser for GE Aviation’s Passport engine, which powers the Bombardier Global 7500 business jet. The Passport nacelle system is supplied by the Nexcelle joint venture of Safran Nacelles and Middle River Aircraft Systems, and it is equipped with Safran Nacelles’ target-type thrust reverser. The company supported ground tests of the Passport powerplant at GE Aviation’s Peebles, Ohio facility, as well as pre-delivery checkout of podded engines that are shipped from Peebles to Bombardier’s Global 7500 assembly line in Canada.

MRO services for regional airliners and business jets

The core business for Safran Nacelles Services Americas began with nacelle maintenance, repair and overhaul on Embraer ERJ135 and ERJ145 regional airliners, equipped with Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engines; along with the Embraer E170 and E175, which utilize GE CF34-8E powerplants. Another area of activity has been MRO work on business jet engine types that include the Rolls-Royce BR710 for Bombardier's twin-engine Global 5000/6000 and the Gulfstream G550.

Also included in the portfolio are business jet nacelles for the Honeywell HTF7000 on Bombardier's twin-engine Challenger 300/350, the Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Gulfstream G280; as well as Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW307 for the Dassault Falcon 7X.

The geographic area of responsibility for Safran Nacelles Services Americas covers the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the company currently has a staff of 14 persons. The headcount is expected to expand, increasing to 20 by 2022. 

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.