Page 30 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015 Online Magazine
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FUTURE MRO
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FEATURE FUTURE MRO
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Calm Before the Storm
Airlines are closely monitoring the MRO costs for new generation aero-engines
By Atul Chandra
ThE NEW GENERATION Of COMMERCIAL versions of earlier products. “The new
jetliners feature airframes, engines engines bring value for money for airlines
and systems that offer cutting-edge and we should have reduction in fuel
technology and offer incredible levels of burn,” says Fabrice Bregier President &
efficiency, performance, reliability and CEO Airbus. The new aero-engines are
safety. They are also extremely expensive on-track to deliver the promised double-
to design and develop, with long gestation digit improvements in fuel efficiency but
periods and while airframers such as will also be far more environmentally
Boeing, Airbus and Embraer chose to friendly and are expected to be cheaper to
ABOvE: Airlines are upgrade and overhaul their existing maintain.
searching for answers to designs; the majority of the risk was taken The decision by airframers to offload
reducing the cost of engine up in new engine developments such as a large portion of the risk in new aircraft
MRO as a result of lack
of competition amongst CFM International’s Leading Edge Aviation development, especially with regards to
engine offerings for new Propulsion (LEAP), Pratt & Whitney (P&W) aero-engines, has resulted in many new
generation jetliners Geared Turbofan (GTF) and General generation aircraft types being offered
Electric GE9X. Making moderate changes with only a sole engine option. While
OPPOSITE PAGE: OEM
business practices are to the airframe is a cheaper and faster this ensures a guaranteed market for
driving up costs by blocking way for getting newer airplanes into the the engine manufacturer and a strong
new maintenance, repair market but the improvements demanded business case to proceed with new engine
and overhaul service by airlines for improved fuel efficiency development; the absence of competition
operators from entering
the market, according to and reduced emissions have meant that in this sector now has airlines worried that
industry body IATA the engines are anything but upgraded engine maintenance, repair and overhaul
30 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM
