Airlines

Safran delivers LEAP-1A propulsion systems to China

After Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany), and Mobile (Alabama, USA), Tianjin serves as Safran’s fourth nacelle integration location. It symbolizes Safran’s ambition to be as near as possible to its aircraft manufacturer clients in order to support the expansion of the Chinese market and is situated in the Tianjin Free Zone next to Airbus’ A320neo Final Assembly Line.

First A320neo assembled in Tianjin delivered to AirAsia(Opens in a new browser tab)

With a total surface area of 5,000m2 (53,820ft2), the new Tianjin site is intended to consolidate all nacelle integration operations on Airbus A320neo’s CFM International* LEAP-1A engines: assembly of engine equipment (Engine Build Up – EBU) and nacelle components (air inlet, engine cowl, thrust reverser and exhaust nozzle), painting, buy off by Airbus and the airlines, then delivery to Airbus’ FAL and support for on wing integration. The site will employ between 15 and 20 qualified employees and will deliver 90 propulsion system units per year from 2024.

The Tianjin plant is outfitted with a “Flex Line” workshop, allowing operations to be carried out either in a “Pulse Line” mode or as a fixed station according to Airbus‘ demands. This builds on the expertise of Safran Nacelles’ existing integration locations. Therefore, some engines can be directed there without slowing down the output of other propulsion systems in a secondary flow zone intended for FAL support activities.

Airbus starts A321 aircraft production in China’s Tianjin(Opens in a new browser tab)

The chief executive officer of Safran Nacelles, Vincent Caro, said that this new facility “is a showpiece of Safran Nacelles’ know-how in the integration of propulsion systems. In terms of industrial organization and skills, it gains from network of integration sites’ best practices.

Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.