Safran Nacelles launches its NacelleLife offer with two A320neo contracts |
| Léo Barnier in Orlando |
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25 APR 2018 | 731 words
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© L. Barnier / Le Journal de l'Aviation - all rights reserved |
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Safran Nacelles has wasted no time in signing its first NacelleLife contracts. After announcing the launch of its new maintenance services offer at the MRO Americas show in Orlando (Florida) on 10th April, the French equipment provider signed two agreements the very next day. The first contract was signed with the Icelandic low cost airline WOW Air, and the second with the Mexican carrier Interjet. These two contracts cover nacelle support for their Airbus A320neo fleets.
The launch of NacelleLife is the final step in the advanced reorganisation of the Safran Nacelles maintenance services offer. While this conversion was already under way, it is the first time that contracts have been signed under this branding. The equipment provider is planning to respond to changes in the market and its customer base with the introduction of A320neos and A330neos. This is all set against a backdrop of an extremely quick change in pace. This offer still covers all of its nacelles, such as those on the A330, the A380 or the Superjet 100.
"We are entering somewhat of a new era, with the management of complete nacelles on A320neo and A330neo engines", explains Olivier Savin, vice-president Customer support and services at Safran Nacelles. "It was important for us to offer the most complete range of services and support". He defines three objectives in setting up NacelleLife.
The first is to adapt to new customer profiles - which are increasingly varied in terms of fleet management and maintenance - with the arrival of the A320neo, by proposing the most customised offer possible to each of them. The second is to cover the whole lifetime of the nacelle and not just commissioning and major services. The final objective is to take account of all of the specific features of the nacelle, which is both an aerostructure and a complex piece of equipment with several functions: engine protection, acoustic barrier, thrust reversal, link between the pylon and the engine and so on.
Safran Nacelles signed with Interjet immediately after its contract with WOW Air. © L. Barnier / Le Journal de l'Aviation - all rights reserved
An offer which is intended to be flexible
Safran Nacelles has therefore decided to construct a services offer which is segmented according to the seven stages in the life of an engine: preparation for entry into service, entry into service, fleet and operations management, scheduled maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, optimised maintenance operations, as well as return and transition. Around ten standard offers have been defined for each of these stages, details Olivier Savin, while specifying that each contract will have its own specific features.
WOW Air has therefore opted for a five-year agreement which will cover maintenance and repair for the nacelles on its A320neo and its A321neo, as well as access to spare parts. For its part, Interjet preferred to only choose the maintenance and spare parts supply offer for its A320neo and A321neo fleet - which should number around forty aircraft in time - also for five years.
Olivier Savin explains that the offer runs from minimum service to complete coverage with a flight-hour contract. "We take a different approach to engine manufacturers", he declares. "We wanted to offer customers freedom and so avoid a contractual framework which was too restrictive". He hopes to extend the share of his customers who are covered by a services contract from around 30% at the moment to 40% over the coming years.
Finally, NacelleLife is intended to be supported by technological innovation with the development of new tools such as Presto for diagnostics on composite materials after overheating or JetLife, a virtual documentation management solution, featuring service and asset bulletins.
This solution enables detailed engine monitoring and configuration management. On "mature" engines, it also enables predictive maintenance services based on feedback to be provided. Safran Nacelles is creating databases which list the events inherent to the operational lifetime of a nacelle according to its use in order to build and optimise maintenance decisions as a result.
JetLife is one of the new solutions provided by Safran Nacelles. © Safran Nacelles / A. Daste
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Léo Barnier
Specialized journalist
Industry & Technology, Equipments, MRO
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