U.S. AIR FORCE SELECTS BELAC LLC TO PROVIDE HIGH-PRESSURE TURBINE BLADES FOR F108 AIRCRAFT ENGINES
The contract is first-ever parts manufacturer approval (PMA) equipment order by the U.S. Air Force for aircraft engine hot section. It will reportedly save millions of dollars on the cost of new parts.
Posted: October 12, 2010
Chromalloy (Orangeburg, NY) announced that its joint venture company, BELAC LLC (Oldsmar, FL), has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to provide CFM56-3 Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) first-stage high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades. The one-year contract is valued at $2.6 million.
"This is the first agreement of its kind for BELAC and the U.S. Air Force for the use of PMA equipment to replace components in the critical hot 'gas path' of the aircraft engine," said Chong Yi, president of BELAC. "Our HPT blades have demonstrated quality, reliability and outstanding performance over millions of commercial flight hours. The Air Force is saving millions of dollars on the cost of new parts."
The equipment will replace worn and scrapped turbine engine blades during maintenance of the F108 aircraft engines that power the KC-135 tanker aircraft. The F108 engine is the military variant of the CFM56-2B commercial aircraft engine. "As a developer and manufacturer of FAA-approved replacement parts, we have served the airline industry for years as an alternative producer of high performance HPT blades," Yi said. "We now bring the same superior engineered and manufactured blades to the Air Force KC-135 tanker fleet."
BELAC, a joint venture company between Chromalloy, the largest stakeholder, Lufthansa Technik and United Airlines, certified its CFM56-2/3 HPT engine blade in 2002. The company has delivered a total of more than 43,000 PMA High Pressure Turbine blades to major airlines around the world. PMA replacement parts are FAA-certified to meet or exceed the performance, reliability and durability specifications of original equipment manufacturer parts for gas turbine engines. "Our parts are subject to the same FAA requirements and scrutiny as original equipment manufacturer blades — yet they cost significantly less," Yi said. "For the military or commercial aircraft operator, that cost savings translates to significantly lower maintenance costs."
Chromalloy has evolved from a gas turbine parts repair business into a leading independent supplier of advanced repairs, FAA-approved replacement parts and maintenance, repair and overhaul for gas turbines used in aviation and land-based applications. Chromalloy serves the airline, military, marine and industrial gas turbine segments with a broad range of services at locations in 15 countries around the globe. Chromalloy is authorized by the FAA and EASA and many other NAAs, and is qualified under ISO and NADCAP.
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