At GE, on site, online…Flexible technical training options benefit multifaceted customer base

Goal No. 1 for GE Aviation’s team of training experts: Ensure aircraft engine owner/operators have the right fix, the right tools and the right training in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) technology.

The polar opposite of “one size fits all,” GE’s customer training, tooling and facilities support operation has been expanding its diverse menu of training opportunities—at GE, regionally, on site at customers’ operations, and online via 24/7 computer-based training (CBT) modules.

Computer-based training

“Full-blown academic multi-media computer-based training can be used to enhance existing training or used as refresher or module training,” says Tim Meyers, who leads GE Aviation’s training operation. “CBT employs the latest technology—voice, video, 3-D graphics—to significantly enhance the learning experience for our customers.

“We currently offer eight comprehensive line maintenance CBT products,” says Meyers. “Because of the value CBT brings to our customers, this is a major expansion area for us. It is self-paced learning, available 24/7 from the comfort of home. We can also offer this product in a server version, which can be loaded onto a customer’s server and provide a fully supported academic line maintenance training program at the customer’s facility.

“Moving forward, we are exploring the use of other existing technologies, such as the Apple iPad*,” adds Meyers. “I think the opportunities are endless in giving our customers the latest and greatest in training over and above the traditional experience.”

Training on new engine lines

As new engine lines come on board, GE’s training team is developing programs to support the new customers’ mechanic base:

• GEnx* engine learning opportunities are in full swing, with launch customer Cargolux engaged in entry into service (EIS) training on all facets of the GEnx-2B’s maintenance.
• Training has been developed in response to GE’s 2008 acquisition of Walter Engines. GE’s Customer Technical Education Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, is now offering courses on the GE M601E turboprop engine and will serve as the North American training center for the M601* series engines, which power more than 30 applications.
• GE will have a full training engine and facility ready for EIS related to the GE Honda Aero Engines HF120* powerplant, which is currently undergoing certification testing.

Expanding global footprint

GE’s globally expanding customer base is served by two (soon to be three) fully staffed and equipped customer training centers.

• More than 4,000 customer students pass through the doors of the Customer Technical Education Center each year.
• The Aero Engine Maintenance Training Center in Guanghan City, China, opened in 1996 to serve owner/operators throughout Asia.
• Targeted to open later this year, the Advanced Technology & Research Center in Doha, Qatar (Middle East), will include six digital classrooms and 14 engine/tooling bays for hands-on technical learning.

Global outreach: new “in the field” training options

In addition to training at GE’s centers, the team brings learning opportunities to the customer on several fronts in various formats.

• “At the customer” academic courses provide OEM training at customers’ facilities that is equivalent to training offered at the GE-owned and -operated locations. In addition, GE is now making available training engines—sending them to customers with a GE instructor to conduct hands-on training at their home base. This training allows participation from a much broader scope of mechanics and other personnel without the time and travel expense.
  
  Says Meyers, “We will expand this program where we can. Seeing a customer on their own ‘playing field’ allows our instructors to respond to specific issues, adding value to the learning experience.”
• More recently, regional training events have been held in Europe and Russia, at which a GE instructor leads a face-to-face OEM academic line maintenance symposium. These events bring together students from a broad scope of GE and CFM International customers. Because these events are held regionally, customers benefit from the OEM training while minimizing time and travel expenses.
• Entry into service customers are now benefiting from GE’s new field training program, through which GE experts work along-side customer technicians as they learn about their new engines. (See accompanying story.)

On the horizon

“We are working on several projects that will further enhance our customer training options,” says Meyers. “For example, we recently kicked off a project targeted to launch by the end of the year that will create a one-stop online experience for our customers. We want to streamline our information to ensure customers know about and can easily access everything our organization has to offer.”

Two possible online enhancements are updating to a hub-like design that will bring together on one website information about all training options for each engine family and adding visual training aids, such as short “how to” training videos. Says Barbara Hill, GE’s team leader on this project, “We are in the process of collecting customer input regarding how we can build this new portal to make it work best for them.”

From the largest jet engine in the world to turboprops for crop dusters; from 24/7 online training to at-the-customer learning to customized hands-on, engine-specific instruction—GE’s customer training offerings continue to evolve to match customers’ needs.

Contact: Tim Meyers tim.meyers@ge.com

GE Aviation recognized as a Boeing ‘Supplier of the Year’

The Boeing Company has named GE Aviation Commercial Engines Operations as a "Supplier of the Year" in the Propulsion category. The award was announced at an April 13 event held in Seattle, Washington. GE received the recognition based on its work with the CF6-80C2-powered Boeing 767* and GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777* aircraft.

GE Aviation was one of 14 companies honored for exceptional commitment to excellence in their work with Boeing. "Every supplier—small and large—is critical to our success, and it's important to recognize these 14 suppliers for demonstrating industry-leading standards of quality, efficiency and performance," said Ray Conner, Boeing enterprise leader of Supplier Management and vice president and general manager of Supplier Chain Management and Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"Boeing is a highly valued customer for GE Aviation," said Chip Blankenship, vice president and general manager of Commercial Engine Operations at GE Aviation. "Being recognized as a Boeing Supplier of the Year is a great honor that is shared by every employee at our business."

GE Aviation, Services—Wales celebrates GE90-115B engine overhaul milestone

On Friday, June 18, 2010, GE Aviation’s engine services operation in Nantgarw, Wales, held a ceremony commemorating its 115th overhaul of the GE90-115B engine.

Guest of honor was Owen Smith, Pontypridd’s new Member of Parliament, who applauded the efforts of the Wales team in servicing the world’s largest and most powerful aircraft engine. GE leaders in attendance included Tony Aiello, general manager, GE90 engine program, and Adrian Button, managing director of GE’s engine services in Wales.

It’s been six years since the first GE90-115B engine entered service, and GE–Wales has now performed 115 overhauls. As the engine’s installed fleet matures, the next 115 overhauls will be performed in just an 18-month timeframe.

The Wales facility also offers overhaul, repair and maintenance services on the family of CFM56* engines and the GP7200 engine*.

Contact: Geraint Evans geraint.h.evans@ge.com

GEnx-2B-powered Boeing 747-8 Freighter makes maiden flight

On February 8, 2010, four GEnx-2B engines powered Boeing’s 747-8 Freighter (747-8F) on its successful first flight, a culmination of nearly five years of GEnx* engine design, development and testing.

With GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8F will be 16% more fuel efficient than its predecessor, the 747-400 Freighter, resulting in an equivalent 16% reduction in carbon emissions. The GEnx-2B engine achieves these improvements with aerodynamic advancements that enable higher pressures and improved energy extraction from a more compact core architecture that has significantly fewer parts than engines in the same thrust range that have preceded it.

Boeing reports that firm orders for the GEnx-2B-powered 747-8F have been placed by leading cargo operators worldwide. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air have all placed firm orders for the aircraft.

The 747-8F is targeted to enter service late this year with a 4th quarter delivery to launch customer Luxembourg-based Cargolux. The 747-8 Intercontinental passenger version will enter service with launch customer Lufthansa in 2011.

Contact: Jonathan Swetnam jonathan.swetnam@ge.com

Component repair highlights

New repair development is focused on improving customers’ cost of ownership and increasing engines’ time on wing. Following are recently released CF6* and CFM56* repairs:

CF6-80C2/-80E1 high-pressure compressor (HPC) blade (stages 6-10 and 14) dual corner weld (DCW) repair: This repair restores chord width, trailing edge (TE) thickness and blade length through weld buildup at the airfoil’s leading edge, TE and tip. This new process is a one-time repair for any blades that may have previously undergone chord restoration or DCW repair. DCW is focused on parts that are non-repairable because, due to erosion and wear, their trailing edge thickness measures under the minimum limit.

CFM56-3/-5A/-5B/-5BP/-7B HPC blades (stages 1-3) serviceable limit extension for dovetail cracks: Previous requirements in the CFM56 engine shop manual state that serviceable limits for dovetail cracks are: (a) For dovetail cracks less than 0.100", scrap the individual blade; (b) For dovetail cracks exceeding 0.100", the entire stage will be scrapped. GE has further revised the acceptance criteria as follows: For dovetail cracks of any size, only the individual blade will be scrapped. GE Aviation, Services – ATI will re-inspect customers’ blades that were previously scrapped as part of the entire stage and apply the new inspection requirements.

Contact: Scott Welsh scott.welsh@ge.com