|
|
| | Techspace Aero seen by the GEnx engine General Manager at General Electric Aviation |
| |
|
| Since the end of 2004, Techspace Aero has got engaged with General Electric on the GEnx engine which will equip the Boeing 787 and the Boeing 747-8. Through a partnership on 5 % of the engine, Techspace Aero is responsible for the assembled booster (low pressure compressor). Tom Brisken, GEnx General Manager at General Electric Aviation, visited Techspace Aero in June 2007 to attend a Program Review which brought together all the partners on the engine (GE, IHI, Avio, Volvo, Samsung and Techspace Aero). He explained the engine assets and gave his perception of Techspace Aero’s participation. |
|  | The GEnx engine breaks all the historic records of commercial launch with 868 firm orders recorded up to date. What are the reasons for such a success? |
| Tom Brisken: I think it is all about technology. It all starts with the legacy of General Electric engines, where we have excellent records. The GEnx is built on the architecture of the GE 90, which is our latest large engine, which has proven very successful, with outstanding engine performance, much better than our competitors. On the B777, the GE 90-115B has a reliability rate of 99,97 %. Since its entry into service, there has been no in flight shut down and no aborted take off. |
| On the GEnx, we have put in new technologies: composite fan blades, the number of which has gone from 22 to 18, composite fan case, a high pressure compressor which has a pressure ratio never reached (23 :1), a combustion chamber which drastically reduces polluting releases, one stage more in the low pressure turbine with titanium-aluminide alloy blades, a high pressure turbine with better aeronautics,… And of course the booster, made by Techspace Aero which contributes to improve engine performances and to cut on weight. |
| On that subject, it is convenient to underline the fact that Techspace Aero is the only partner which met perfectly its commitments to reduce the engine weight. |
| With all those innovations, we get a 15 % reduction of fuel consumption and the engine is half as noisy as on Boeing 767. From the environmental point of view, the tests show that the NOx emissions are 58% lower to the standards. All these reasons convince the customers to choose the GEnx. They trust us to bring new improvements on the engine. The GEnx goes beyond the current regulations, particularly from an environmental point of view. The customers know that GE is very concerned about meeting their requirements and that the GEnx is a long term investment. |
| Why did you choose Techspace Aero as a partner on this program? |
| Tom Brisken: Techspace Aero has gone with GE now on many different programs such as CFM56, GE 90 and CF34. When we looked at partners, there was one other thing we had to consider, not just the technology but also the ability to produce. On this program, having a high potential with more than 320 engines a year, we needed professional players able to follow the rhythm. As soon as Techspace signed the partnership agreement, we were convinced that we could trust you. We couldn’t be happier to have selected Techspace on this program: they were the last one who signed out but the first one to deliver hardware! That is the reputation Techspace Aero has. |
| What do you think about the work performed by TA’s teams? |
| Tom Brisken: We worked very well together in a very good environment. Techspace is very firm in convictions on how to do their work, they’re very open, they listen very well. Once Techspace Aero decides to go and do it, we can account on delivery on time. |
| Techspace Aero has a culture that aims at really trying to do the very best of technology. As I see it, you are the best in the booster development for large engines. And because of that, you want a big part of the business. |
| The decision wasn’t “do we compete against Techspace”, the question was “how much on the program do you want to share out”. Now if we look in the future, it’s the beginning of a long journey together, which will last during 25 to 30 years. Of course we don’t want surprises and the engine performance will have to be improved if we want to remain competitive. We look forward for Techspace to taking the leadership role in defining what the booster tomorrow would be for the GEnx. It’s a win-win for both of us. |
| Do you have special recommendations to make to Techspace Aero for the future? |
| Tom Brisken: First of all, make sure you deliver when we need deliveries. At the end of this year, you’re delivering 1 engine a week; next year, you’re delivering 2 engines a week, and then 1 per day. No surprises, just be open with us. |
| And also look for the future improvements; don’t give up now because aviation is always a game the best technology wins. You have an outstanding engineering team and we want you to keep the state-of-the art technology. |
| So keep the foot in the accelerator! |
|
|
| | |
|
|
|