Aviation

Safran Group makes big-ticket announcements on defence production in India.

As per source In addition to a significant joint venture with state-run aerospace behemoth HAL, French defence company Safran Group on Tuesday announced the establishment of a production plant in Hyderabad to create parts and components for advanced aviation engines with an investment of Euro 36 million. It was announced that following a meeting between Safran CEO Olivier Andries and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that the joint venture in Bengaluru will manufacture helicopter engines and that the French business will also establish an MRO facility for Indian and foreign commercial aircraft.

The LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines used in aircraft by both Indian and international commercial airlines will be serviced at the MRO facility that will be built in Hyderabad with foreign direct investment of USD 150 million. The Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH), a medium-lift helicopter currently being developed by HAL, will reportedly use the helicopter engines to be built under the joint venture.

One of the top original equipment manufacturers of advanced aviation engines for combat and commercial jets is Safran. The MRO facility would initially be able to overhaul more than 250 engines annually, according to the defence ministry.

The CEO also gave Rajnath Singh a briefing on their intention to launch Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Electrical and Power India Private Limited, both of which will be located in Hyderabad, as well as Safran-HAL Aircraft Engines, a joint venture, in Bengaluru, this week, according to a statement from the defence ministry.

The production of rigid pipes for aviation engines, particularly helicopter engines, is the focus of the joint venture between Safran and HAL. The joint venture anticipates hiring 160 new highly qualified employees announced by the ministry, and “The CEO of Safran outlined his company’s long-term goal in co-development and co-production of advanced jet engines and transfer of technology in accordance with existing policy of the government of India.

Singh was briefed by Andries about Safran’s technological capabilities outside of aeroplane engines. India’s strategic alliance with France is extremely important to India, the defence minister noted it.
He invited to Safran for additional co-development and co-production projects in India that would support the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.

You may benefit from all of India’s competitive advantages, such as its lower costs and abundance of skilled labour, he continued Both nations can aid in each other’s capabilities development, according to the defence minister.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.