Safran and business aviation: An Industry-leading Relationship Supported by the Company's U.S. Industrial Footprint

Oct. 22, 2012
Safran's U.S. industrial footprint is the most extensive outside of France, comprising 31 companies and joint ventures with nearly 7,000 employees that work at 58 locations across 22 states.

From nose-to-tail and wingtip-to-wingtip, Safran group companies – including many of their operations in the U.S. – provide equipment for a large portion of the world’s business aircraft fleet.

The group’s products for this aviation sector range from engines, nacelles, thrust reversers, landing gear and wheels & brakes to auxiliary power units, avionics, navigation systems, flight controls and wiring.

“Safran is one of the few suppliers with such a wide coverage for business aviation aircraft manufacturers, and our strategy is to remain a leader through continued innovation in such areas as more electric aircraft and integrated propulsion systems,” explained Peter Lengyel, President and CEO of Safran USA, Washington operations.  “Through Safran’s participation at this year’s NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, we are spotlighting the company’s workforce at operations across the United States that contributes to this success.”

Safran’s U.S. industrial footprint is the most extensive outside of France, comprising 31 companies and joint ventures with nearly 7,000 employees that work at 58 locations across 22 states. 

This presence includes Safran’s Snecma company, which continues its benchmark cooperation with GE in their Cincinnati, Ohio-based CFM International joint venture company, which produces the CFM56 family of jet engines – powering the business jet versions of Boeing 737s and the Airbus

A320 family and is developing the LEAP, an entirely new baseline turbofan engine family that has been already selected to power the next generation of single-aisle commercial jets including the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 MAX and the C919 aircraft of COMAC.

Snecma also has developed the Silvercrest engine to power business jets from the super-midsize to the large aircraft categories, developing 9,500-12,000 lb. of thrust.  This new-generation powerplant is designed for lower maintenance costs, lower specific fuel consumption, optimized cost-of-ownership and enhanced eco-efficiency.  The Cessna Aircraft Company has chosen Silvercrest for its new Citation Longitude business jet.

As part of its business aviation-related production and support activities, Safran is one of the world’s top manufacturers of landing gear, wheels and brakes – with its Messier-Bugatti-Dowty operation having more than 50 years experience on such aircraft as the Dassault Falcon and F7X; Bombardier’s Global family and Learjet 85, along with the Challenger 300, 600, 601, 604, 605 and 850; DAHER SOCATA’s TBM 700; and Hawker Beechcraft’s 4000 and 800XP.

Safran also is a leader in electrical wiring and integrated solutions, as its Labinal company is a supplier for Bombardier, Dassault Falcon Jet and Embraer aircraft.

Safran’s Aircelle business unit produces engine nacelles and thrust reversers for a wide variety of business jets, increasingly taking charge of the complete nacelle package’s design, production, supply and support.

Aircraft equipped by Aircelle include Airbus corporate jetliners, Dassault’s Falcon F7X; the Gulfstream GV, G250, G500 and G550, G5000; Bombardier’s Learjet 85, Challenger 300 and Global Express; along with Embraer’s 134, 145 and 450. 

Aircelle is pioneering a new generation of integrated propulsion systems through its Nexcelle joint venture with GE’s Maryland-based Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS), which is developing the nacelle package for GE’s Passport engine on the new Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000.

Safran’s SMA Engines has created the SR305-230E diesel engine for general aviation aircraft, and the company marked an important commercial breakthrough in 2012 with Cessna’s selection of this powerplant for the Turbo Skylane NXT aircraft.  Operating on Jet-A, Jet-A1, TS-1 and No. 3 fuel, the SR305-230E diesel engine is rated at 230-hp. and addresses the issue of increasingly scarce and expensive aviation gas (avgas), while consuming 30-40 percent less fuel than engines using leaded avgas. It also responds to the aviation industry’s environmental focus by operating 4 dB quieter than a gas engine, while totally eliminating lead in the exhaust.

The Safran group’s presence in flight controls, electronics, avionics, maintenance-aid systems and electronic control units for integrated landing systems and engines is covered by its Sagem business units (Sagem Avionics and Sagem Electronics), supplying aircraft that includes Airbus and Boeing business jets, Dassault Aviation’s Falcon family, along with such corporate aircraft as those from Gulfstream and Hawker. This activity also includes development of a fourth-generation FADEC (full-authority digital engine control) in a joint venture with BAE Systems for GE’s Passport engine on the Bombardier Global Express, along with the FADEC on the Snecma Silvercrest engine, as well as other applications.

Safran’s Technofan is a pioneer in the sector of high performance ventilation, with its fans, valves, air filters, hoses, heat exchangers, flow sensors, pressure sensors, and related products flying on aircraft built by Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Dassault and others.  The manufacture and repair of ram air turbines, air driven generators and ice detectors for corporate and VIP aircraft is performed by Safran’s U.S.-based Aerosource company. 

Business aviation innovation at Safran includes the e-APU from Microturbo – a new auxiliary power unit concept designed especially to meet demands of the more-electric/all-electric corporate business aircraft which will be certified for civil operation during the first semester of 2013. Microturbo has also set up a partnership with Pratt & Whitney AeroPower to develop new-generation APUs and systems, the first application being Bombardier’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets.

For its diverse range of products and services, Safran operates a comprehensive network for after-sales and customer support, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul services, with centers and facilities located in the United States and worldwide.

At the 2012 NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, the Safran group’s exhibit stand is located at Booth #2579. 

For more information, visit: www.safran-na.com