Engines
Safran/GE progress new nacelle venture for future powerplant
Safran and General Electric are stepping up activities at their newly formed nacelle joint venture with the appointment of Steve Walters as president.

Safran and General Electric are stepping up activities at their newly formed nacelle joint venture with the appointment of Steve Walters as president. The Cincinnati-based alliance between Safran subsidiary Aircelle and GE’s Middle River Aircraft Systems business was launched in December 2008. It will focus on developing, producing and supporting nacelles for future applications of CFM International engines for next-ime generation airliners.

Aircelle chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Cojean told AIN that the new company’s main effort will be with CFM International’s flagship CFM56-5 and -7 engines that may still have further new applications, as well as with possible new powerplants, including open-rotor concepts emerging from the LEAP-X technology development program.