CFM International and ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business have signed a CFM Branded Service Agreement (CBSA) for LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines.
Under the terms of the CBSA, ST Engineering will provide the full scope of LEAP Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) services for operators worldwide.
CFM International
CFM International is a joint venture between two aviation giants, General Electric of the United States (GE Aerospace) and Safran of France. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, USA.
CFM International is best known for designing, producing, and servicing aircraft engines, particularly the CFM56 and LEAP series of engines.
These engines are used in a variety of commercial and military aircraft, including the Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and COMAC C919.
The CFM56 engine was first introduced in the 1980s and has since become one of the most popular aircraft engines in the world, with more than 30,000 units delivered to date.
The newer LEAP engine, which was introduced in 2016, features improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions than its predecessor.
ST Engineering
ST Engineering is the first provider in Asia to join the LEAP MRO network under a CBSA agreement. Comprehensive MRO services will be provided at their facility in Singapore.
ST Engineering has been a LEAP MRO network provider since 2020, providing quick turns for the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines.
The company will also add this year test cell capabilities for LEAP-1B engines. This CBSA agreement further expands their scope to provide a full range of maintenance solutions for LEAP engines to the highest standards.
“CFM is excited that ST Engineering is expanding its role within the LEAP MRO network as a CBSA provider,” said Tom Levin, VP of CFM Commercial Programs for CFM parent company GE Aerospace.
“They have significant experience in the CFM56 network and have already developed experience providing services for LEAP engines.”
“This addition to the LEAP MRO network will further strengthen the support of our CFM customers.”
“We are pleased to further strengthen the longstanding relationship that we have with CFM International through this new license agreement,” said Jeffrey Lam, Commercial Aerospace President at ST Engineering.
“With the new LEAP partnership, ST Engineering will now have an enhanced portfolio of engine MRO solutions that allows us to serve customers who transition into new-generation aircraft, as we continue in our comprehensive and dedicated support for their CFM56 engine needs.”
The LEAP engine
Given the commercial success of the LEAP engine family that entered into commercial service in 2016, demand for LEAP MRO services will grow rapidly in the coming years.
More than 5,000 LEAP engines have been delivered to customers worldwide, with more than 10,000 engines still in the backlog.
The advanced CFM LEAP engine continues to set industry standards for fuel efficiency and asset utilization and has accumulated more than 29 million engine flight hours and over 13 million cycles in commercial operation.
The fleet is providing up to 20 percent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, as well as a significant improvement in noise compared to previous generation engines.
Since its entry into service in 2016, the LEAP engine has enabled operators to save more than 20 million tons of CO2 compared to previous generation engines.
