The Belgium-based subsidiary of Safran Aircraft Engines has opened a new CFM International Leap engine repair shop in Brussels.
Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels' new facility near Brussels Airport will focus on quick-turn services for both Leap 1A and 1B engines initially.
During an opening ceremony held June 11, Safran confirmed it has invested approximately €24 million ($25.7 million) in the 91,500 ft.2 workshop. The site started operating earlier this year and, long-term, will target around 120 shop visits annually.
“This new site is a vital link in our global MRO network, helping to support the growing fleet of Leap engines around the world while reducing our environmental footprint,” says Safran Aircraft Engines CEO Jean Paul Alary.
By 2027, the facility will ramp up to include module maintenance on the engine types. Nicolas Potier, vice president of support and services at Safran Aircraft Engines, says the operation has already started working on extending these services.
“We’re already working on an extension which will allow us to switch the maintenance of Leap engine modules to the new workshop by the end of the decade, the aim being to reach a capacity of more 1,200 modules per year,” he says. “This activity is currently handled by our historic facility.”
Potier adds that over the next three years, it plans to ramp up staff in Brussels by more than 220 people, bringing total staff to around 470 by 2027.
Safran Aircraft Engines signed the initial agreement with Brussels Airport to develop new engine maintenance capabilities three years ago. The engine maker, a partner in the Leap engine joint venture with GE Aerospace, has held a presence in the Belgian capital for around 25 years, where it has primarily focused on CFM56 repairs.
Safran’s Brussels operation was first certified for the Leap 1A—which powers Airbus A320neo aircraft—in 2016. The OEM has been building up its network of Leap certified shops as it looks to meet future demand for the engine type.
Last year, it confirmed plans to grow its Leap network to 20 shops both in its in-house network and through third-party facilities.
