News from the Safran community

On November 25, Safran Engineering Services celebrated the Bangalore site’s 20th anniversary. More than 800 people — colleagues and their families, the company’s senior managers and customers — gathered to mark the event. Safran’s first site in India, Bangalore specializes in electrical design, structural calculations, stress simulation, support for waivers, engine performance, technical documentation and software. It spearheads innovation and digital transformation. “Since my arrival, I’ve been impressed by the talent, expertise and enthusiasm of the Indian teams and their ability to nurture new ideas and turn them into actions, projects and services for Safran companies and customers like Alstom, Airbus and HAL,” says Cécile Dubrovin, President of Safran Engineering Services.

Safran Nacelles’ new MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility in Suzhou, China, started operations in September 2022, having obtained the certifications required by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Suzhou further extends the company’s network of repair stations, which already covers Europe, the Middle East, India and the Americas. With more than 5,000 square meters (54,000 sq.ft) of floorspace, the site provides MRO services for nacelles and thrust reversers for the Airbus A330ceo and A320neo as well as the latest narrowbody, the COMAC C919. This strategic facility, located in the heart of the Suzhou Free Trade Zone, just one hour from Shanghai, further enhances the NacellesLife^TM services offering with a rapid response for customers in the Asia region.

In July, Safran Aircraft Engines announced a new MRO 4.0 center for the LEAP engine in Hyderabad, India. This new facility — the largest in the network — starts operations in 2025 and will eventually offer capacity for the maintenance of 250 to 300 engines a year. It strengthens the company’s global MRO network amid a huge ramp-up of MRO activities for the LEAP. The location is strategic because of the rapid growth in air traffic in India and the significant footprint achieved by CFM⁽¹⁾, which has more than 1,800 LEAPs in service or on order in the region. The Hyderabad center is part of a rapidly expanding world-class aviation ecosystem, which includes a CFM training center. Closer to LEAP customers in India, and with a test platform supplied by Safran Test Cells⁽²⁾, the new facility will limit the need to transport engines, reducing maintenance time and the environmental impact of operations.

Safran Landing Systems began operations in Suzhou in 2002. A new plant shared with Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Nacelles was commissioned in 2008 to meet ramp-up requirements. Safran Landing Systems currently manufactures and assembles landing gear parts in Suzhou for Airbus and Boeing jetliners. To celebrate this major milestone in their history, Safran colleagues donned their best attire for a ceremony with dance and music performances, a lottery and presentation of work medals. Suzhou is fully committed to Safran’s low-carbon initiative. In late 2022, it completed the first phase of solar panel installation, with more than 25,000 square meters (270,000 sq.ft) of panels so far. Eventually, they’ll meet 10% of the site’s electricity needs and help Safran Landing Systems save 1,000 metric tons of CO₂ a year.

Established in 2016, XIESA is an MRO center jointly owned by Safran Landing Systems and China Eastern Airlines. This year, the site’s teams completed their first overhauls of Airbus A320 landing gear, having obtained the certifications required by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) late last year. The center — which already performs shop visits for Boeing 737s — has added a new string to its bow and strengthens the Safran Landing Systems MRO network in Asia. This network also includes the Singapore center dedicated to Airbus, Boeing and ATR programs. Safran Landing Systems is now better able to ensure optimal in-service fleet support for its Asian customers, providing a responsive, dependable, local solution at the right price.