Successful Partnership:
In the early 1970s, the head owners of GE Aviation and Snecma (Safran), Gerhard Neumann and Rene Ravaud, shared the vision of an international joint venture between their companies. GE was established as a major producer of commercial jet engines after their huge hit with their CF6 turbofan. This success prompted an agreement with Snecma which linked them up in both financial and manufacturing. They both wanted to gain a share of the short-to-medium range of aircrafts market. In 1974, this partnership between the two companies formed CFM international and work subsequently began on the new CFM56 turbofan engine. Today, this engine is so reliable that they can go for as long as 25,000 hours with just the standard routine maintenance.
Business of GE Aviation before Acquisition:
Before these two companies merged, GE Aviation was a division of the General Electric Company. They are known as the world-leading manufacturer of commercial and military jet engines and parts as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. They have more than 38,000 employees worldwide in 50 different locations. This company had some very important firsts in the aviation industry, including America’s first jet engine, the first turbojet engines to power flights at two and three times the speed of sound, and the world’s first high-bypass turbofan engine to enter service. Today, GE Aviation produces jet engines for a broad range of military and commercial aircraft as well as aero derivative gas turbines.
About Snecma before Acquisition:
Snecma was a Saffron company that also makes engines for commercial and military aircraft. This company benefited from the three synergies of Saffron which included Aerospace Propulsion, Defense, and Security. Saffron employs over 55,000 people in more than 30 different countries. Back during the world wars, France had an independent source of engines for both their military aircraft and aircraft that was exported to other countries all due to Snecma. Today Snecma holds positions in both aeronautics and space fields.
Partnership Advantages:
The partnership of Snecma and GE Aviation had its full advantages, which included their shared customer-focused goals, equal participation in all activities, a simple structure for efficient decision making, response to customer needs and introduction the right products at the best time, environmentally friendly technology, and worldwide support in the industry.
CFM56 engines have been chosen as the engine to power more than half of all commercial aircraft ordered because of its high reliability and low costs. CFM’s product line includes the following six most sought-after engines:
- This powered the Airbus’ entry into the single-aisle market. It maintains reliability above 99.9%.
- This engine was designed specifically for the Boeing 737 second-generation aircrafts. There are upgrade kits for this engine which extends its life and reduces maintenance.
- This engine is the “granddaddy” of the engine family. It has been the most popular engine as it flew on the re-engine Boeing 707 aircraft back in 1982 and was chosen to re-engine KC-135 tankers for the USAF.
- This will be the exclusive power plant for the Boeing 737 MAX family of single-aisle aircraft.
AFR Enterprises is the First-rate Distributor of CFM International’s Products:
AFR Enterprises, is a leading distributor of all CFM International’s products, specializing in all engine parts. Please contact AFR Enterprises today at sales@afrenterprises.com and one of our experienced sales representatives will be ready to assist you.
We Hope that You Will Visit Us again the Next Time You Need Aviation and Electronic Parts and Make Us Your Strategic Purchasing Partner.
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