During a quarterly results call, the head of CFM International’s joint owner, Safran, revealed that CFM discovered a quality issue related to powdered metal at an undisclosed supplier in 2021.
The company has since completed the necessary repairs to address the problem involving a limited number of parts.
CFM GE Early Issue
This disclosure comes shortly after RTX unit Pratt & Whitney, a major competitor to CFM, ordered inspections on 1,200 engines of Airbus A320neo jets due to a similar issue with contaminated powdered metal.
Aerospace companies commonly use metal powder to create high-performance super-alloys that offer enhanced resistance to the extreme heat inside jet engines.
There is no indication of any connection between the CFM and Pratt cases. CFM, co-owned by Safran and GE Aerospace, detected a quality issue during an inspection of a rotating part in the summer of 2021.
CEO Remarks
Safran’s CEO, Olivier Andries, stated that they do not have specific details about Pratt & Whitney’s case.
The problem in CFM’s case was related to contamination of powder metal at a supplier’s facility, affecting only a limited number of batches. A thorough root cause investigation was conducted, and all necessary corrective actions were completed.
The company implemented a staggered removal program during shop-visit cycles to address the issue.
Andries emphasized that there have been no engine failures or disruptions to customers due to this quality issue.
Safran did not provide specific details regarding the cost of the fix. But mentioned that it had already been factored into its financial guidance.
CFM is the manufacturer of the LEAP engine, which is utilized in the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft series, while also competing with Pratt’s Geared Turbofan engine in the Airbus A320neo family of airplanes.
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