Aerospace

GE Highlights Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Testing 10 Different Engines

After completing testing on its tenth engine model running exclusively on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) since 2016, GE Aerospace achieved a significant milestone towards a more sustainable future of flight.

This confirms that the company and its joint ventures have one of the industry’s largest programmes for testing alternative fuels.

Additional engines include F414, GE9X, LEAP-1A, Passport, GEnx, HF120*, and CFM56 engines that were tested at the component, engine, or aircraft level using 100% SAF. The extensive battery of tests covers a variety of propulsion systems utilized in business and general aviation, military aviation, and domestic and international commercial aviation.

Numerous other variables were also assessed in these tests, including engine performance and the effect of 100% SAF on emissions and contrails. Approximately three-quarters of all commercial flights worldwide are powered by GE Aerospace and its joint ventures.

GE Aerospace is moving from engine system testing to engine component and sub-component level evaluations to aid in the qualification of new 100% SAFs. This includes assessing all parts affected and exposed to fuels, ranging from the fuel system of the engine to the combustor, which burns the fuel. Tests are being conducted on different types of SAF produced from different pathways to determine if there is any effect on engine operability, efficiency, durability, and emissions.

Additionally, GE Aerospace is an inaugural investor in the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund to help increase the supply of SAF.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.