HYDERABAD, INDIA -- GE Aviation and India's national carrier Air India have signed a GE Branded Services Agreement (GBSA) under which GE Aviation will provide technical support as Air India offers maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for the GEnx-1B engine and further advances its plans to become a global MRO service provider.
Under the GBSA, Air India will be licensed to perform maintenance and overhaul work on the GEnx-1B engine. GE will provide Air India with assistance on overhaul workscoping and component repair licenses, comprehensive material support and training.
The GEnx-1B engine will power Boeing's 787 aircraft. Air India has 27 GEnx-1B-powered Boeing 787 aircraft ordered.
Air India has been overhauling jet engines for more than four decades. During this time, Air India has handled various jet engine models and has acquired expertise in overhauling jet engines at low cost while maintaining high standards of quality. The facility not only caters to the entire widebody aircraft of Air India consistently, but also carries out third party work for customers situated all across the globe.
"Air India envisages a state-of-the-art facility catering to GE90 and GEnx engines, including a new engine test facility. Our strong collaboration with GE will enhance the visibility of the facility in the world and will result in India becoming one of the major engine MRO players. Further, advanced repair technology will also come to the country by way of this agreement," said Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India."
"GE Aviation is excited to work with Air India as it expands its MRO capabilities to the GEnx-1B engine," said Tom Gentile, president and chief executive officer of GE Aviation Services. "Air India will offer OEM material and overhaul support to GEnx-1B engine customers in the region to help them keep their engines in top condition."
With about 1,300 engines sold to date, the GEnx is the fastest-selling engine in GE's history Based on the proven architecture of the GE90, the GEnx engine will succeed GE's CF6 engine. Compared to the CF6 engine, the GEnx engine will offer 15 percent improved fuel efficiency, which translates to 15 percent less CO2. The engine achieves these improvements with aerodynamic advancements that enable higher pressures and improved energy extraction from a more compact core architecture that has significantly fewer parts.
The GEnx's innovative twin-annular pre-swirl, TAPS, combustor will dramatically reduce NOx gases as much as 60 percent below today's regulatory limits and other regulated gases as much as 90 percent. Based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust, the GEnx will be the quietest engine GE has produced due to the large, more efficient fan blades that operate at a slower tip speed, resulting in about 30 percent lower noise levels. The GEnx will be the world's only jet engine with both a front fan case and fan blades made of carbon fiber composites. Using the same material on the fan case and fan blades enables more precise thermal matching, further enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. Learn more about the GEnx engine by visiting: http://www.ge.com/news/genx_video.html.
IHI of Japan, Avio SpA. of Italy, Volvo Aero of Sweden, MTU of Germany, TechSpace Aero of Belgium, Snecma (SAFRAN Group) of France and Samsung Techwin of Korea are revenue-sharing participants in the GEnx program.
Air India is the pioneer airline in India and has been in operation since 1932. The airline operated its first international flight in June 1948. Air India, which is inducting new aircraft to modernize its fleet and expand operations, has 159 aircraft, including the state-of-the-art Boeing 777s, Airbus A321s, Airbus A319sand Boeing 737-800 in its fleet. Boeing 787 aircraft are expected to join the fleet in 2011. Air India flies to 62 destinations in India and 51 destinations around the world. Air India has a strong technical base and its engineering facility includes maintenance of aircraft, overhaul of engines, repair and overhaul of components, accessories and avionics. Thus the airline can provide all technical support to its fleet. Air India has well-trained, skilled technical manpower to carry out all complex tasks connected with civil aviation maintenance. For information on Air India, log on to www.airindia.in.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as avionics, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.