US GE Aerospace to Invest 1.4 Trillion Won Over 5 Years in Aircraft Engine MRO

LEAP Engine Maintenance Capability Enhancement Goal
Reducing Maintenance Time by Introducing Advanced Technology

U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer GE Aerospace announced on the 24th that it plans to invest $1 billion (approximately 1.4 trillion KRW) over the next five years to expand its global aircraft engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and parts repair facilities.

Through this investment, GE Aerospace aims to reduce aircraft engine maintenance time and strengthen parts repair capabilities at maintenance centers by building additional engine testing facilities and introducing advanced technologies.

A significant portion of this investment will focus on supporting the LEAP engine produced by CFM, a joint venture between GE and French defense company Safran. Currently, more than 3,300 aircraft are operating with LEAP engines, and the order backlog for this model has exceeded 10,000 units.

Aircraft equipped with CFM's LEAP engine. CFM is a 50-50 joint venture (JV) between GE Aerospace and France's Safran Aircraft Engines, and LEAP is CFM's registered trademark. [Image source=GE Aerospace]

Russell Stokes, President and CEO of GE Aerospace’s Commercial Engine and Services division, stated, "We are enhancing the capabilities needed to maintain safety and reliability in response to increasing air travel demand," adding, "This investment will further strengthen the company’s long-standing commitment to safety, quality, and on-time delivery for our customers and air travelers."

This year’s major MRO funding will support the newly constructed Service Technology Acceleration Center (STAC) near Cincinnati, Ohio, which is scheduled to open in September. STAC will accelerate the establishment of innovative service systems, including inspection technologies that quickly detect issues and reduce aircraft downtime.

In the first year of the five-year investment plan, $250 million will be allocated to global regional repair and maintenance facilities. The funds will be used for global facility expansion, new equipment, tooling, and safety enhancements. Key investment regions include the U.S. ($65 million), Brazil ($55 million), and Europe and the Middle East ($60 million). Additionally, $45 million will be invested in four Asia-Pacific countries: South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

GE Aerospace’s MRO facilities support the operation of more than 40,000 commercial aircraft engines. Customer services include engine disassembly and reassembly, maintenance, repair, inspection, and testing.

GE Aerospace, a division of U.S.-based General Electric (GE), is responsible for designing, manufacturing, and maintaining aircraft engines and related systems. It has supplied approximately 44,000 commercial aircraft engines and about 26,000 military aircraft engines worldwide.