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innovation programme. Already
         operational  on  many  different
         engines and aircraft systems, the
         predictive analysis programme
         identifies  failures  before  they
         occur thereby optimizing main-
         tenance  work.  The  PROGNOS
         solution has already proven
         its  effectiveness:  the  first  sys-
         tems  covered  by  ‘PROGNOS
         for Aircraft’, which earlier fea-
         tured in the top five causes of  with airlines, following the entry  power more than 1,400 (a 44
         flight  delays  and  cancellations,  into service in August 2016 of the  percent share). CFM International
         are  now  off  that  list.  AFI  KLM  LEAP-1A (Airbus A320neo) and  took in 2,870 orders and commit-
         E&M which has a global network  the 1B (Boeing 737 MAX) in May  ments for the engines in 2017 and
         of engine shops will be provide  2017. More than 610,000 flight  459 engines were delivered in the
         LEAP engine operators with  hours and 290,000 flight cycles  year (202 delivered in Q4 2017).
         shop repair and maintenance  have been accumulated by both  Production Ramp Up
         services, ranging from inspec-     engines in their first 18 months  LEAP production was impacted
         tion to shop visits at its facilities  of operation (10 months for the  in 2017 with a few quality prob-
         in Paris and Amsterdam. For the  -1B). LEAP-1A and -1B operators  lems,  however,  CFM  I  is  now
         Asia-Pacific region, LEAP-1A and  (34) are now achieving an aver-      on-track to meet production
         -1B engines will be supported  age utilisation of 10+ hours per  estimates.  “There  was  one  on
         by  SIA  Engineering  Company  day, across 140 LEAP-powered  our products, and we talk about
         Limited (SIAEC), which is CFM’s  Airbus A320neos and about 75  it,  and  there  were  also  two  on
         authorised On Site Support (OSS)  LEAP-powered Boeing 737 MAXs.  our partner’s side. These prob-
         service provider for provision of  Operators have been reporting  lems, in my opinion and based
         onwing maintenance services.       15 percent better fuel efficiency  on all the information I have, are
         Market Leader                      on both engine types. The LEAP  behind us. If you remember, we
         The  readiness  of  MRO  provid-   engine family is available in three  had a quality problem with one
         ers to undertake LEAP overhaul  variants; LEAP-1A, LEAP-1B and  supplier on the low-turbine disc.
         and maintenance is important for  LEAP-1 powering the A320 family,  We completely overcome this
         CFM International, as it seeks to  737 MAX and COMAC C919  problem and it’s behind us now.
         retain its lead in the market for  respectively.  According  to  avi-  So that’s the reason we were a
         single-aisle aircraft engines. Since  ation consultancy CAPA’s Fleet  little bit behind schedule. Today,
         its launch in 2011, approximately  Database, LEAP engines power  it’s a different story. We are really
         14,834 LEAP engines valued in  more than 1,800 Airbus A320neo  in the ramp-up, and the supply
         excess of US$206 billion have  aircraft for a 56 percent market  chain has some challenges to
         been  ordered.  More  than  500  share as compared to Pratt &  overcome in order to meet these
         LEAP engines are now operational  Whitney  has  been  selected  to  requirements,” Philippe Petitcolin
                                                                                - CEO, Director and Chairman
                                                                                of Sagem said during a Safran’s
                                                                                Q4 2017 Results - Earnings Call
                                                                                (Source: Seeking Alpha). LEAP
                                                                                production costs are now coming
                                                                                down as planned, Petitcolin says,
                                                                                adding that he is confident of a
                                                                                production increase to deliver
                                                                                1,800 LEAP engines (70 aircraft
                                                                                per month) by 2019.



        ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE                                                                 March/April 2018 | 31
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