Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

By using additive manufacturing&nbsp;(commonly referred to as "3D printing"), GE Aviation has eliminated 845 parts for its Advanced Turboprop Engine (ATP), which will power Textron Aviation’s Denali turboprop single, GE Aviation president and CEO David Joyce said yesterday during a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2016-09-06/ge-eyes-digital-future-additive-manufacturing-play">company investor call on additive manufacturing</a>. Parent company GE also announced on the call it has acquired two suppliers of additive manufacturing equipment—Arcam and SLM Solutions Group—for $1.4 billion.

 


Joyce noted that using additive manufacturing for the ATP engine “represents an elimination of thousands of machining features and inspections, and hundreds of quality plants and procurement contracts.” The ATP will have no structural castings, as well as a “significant” weight benefit, he added.

 


GE Aviation has been working with the FAA “to make sure that everything we’re doing we can verify for certification,” Joyce said. “Additive-manufactured parts will meet the same FAA standards as any other parts, whether they are forged, welded or machined substractively or additively.”

 


Meanwhile, GE Aviation is using a one-piece, additive-manufactured turbine frame assembly for one of its jet engine development programs as an example of "enterprise productivity." With additive manufacturing, “the frame assembly can be created in one design file produced by eight engineers, manufactured and inspected using one additive machine and will be repaired at one source with access to all designs and manufacturing information linked through Predix,” GE’s additive manufacturing design software system. With conventional assembly, that would require 40 different data systems, 300 individual parts designed by 60 engineers and manufactured at more than 50 facilities.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Additive Manufacturing To Eliminate 845 Parts on GE's ATP Turboprop

Using additive “represents an elimination of thousands of machining features and inspections, and hundreds of quality plants and procure contracts."

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

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Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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New facilities represent an investment of more than $1 billion

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Ampaire Scores FAA G-1 for Hybrid-electric Propulsion System

FAA approves first G-1 certification basis for a hybrid-electric aircraft powertrain

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