GKN Aerospace nacelle

UK-based GKN Aerospace is set to establish a new facility to support the nacelle systems integration process for Honeywell’s HTF7000 series engine powered business jetliners.

Located adjacent to the Honeywell operation in Phoenix, Arizona, the 24,000ft² facility will allow GKN Aerospace to handle podding of Honeywell’s engines for the Bombardier CL300 and CL350, Gulfstream G280 and Embraer 450/ Embraer 500 business jets.

The facility is expected to begin operations in third quarter of this year and become fully operationa by the year-end, creating around 50 jobs.

GKN Aerospace stated that the facility will be capable of assembling 28 complete power systems a month.

GKN Aerospace is establishing the facility in order to support the $750m lifetime contract, which was secured in 2008 from Honeywell Engines for nacelle systems for the HTF7000 series turbofan engines.

Since then, the full nacelle/engine integration process has been carried out at the company’s manufacturing facilities for the nacelle in St Louis, Missouri; and Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

Under the contract, GKN Aerospace is responsible for the design adaptation of the nacelle, its manufacture and full integration with the engine, and delivering the complete HTF7500E propulsion system podded into the nacelle to the customer’s assembly line.

"Our new operation will allow us to cut transport costs, reduce cycle times and extend the flexibility of the service we offer Honeywell and their aircraft prime customers."

GKN Aerospace Europe and special products CEO Phil Swash said that the company has been working closely with Honeywell since the launch of HTF7000 engine programme in 1990s.

"These engines have now been selected to power several different aircraft and so the time is right to establish a more geographically and logistically efficient location for the integration process," Swash said.

"Our new operation will allow us to cut transport costs, reduce cycle times and extend the flexibility of the service we offer Honeywell and their aircraft prime customers."

GKN Aerospace is a supplier of nacelle systems globally and is one of the leading three suppliers of engine products to the global aerospace market.

Image: GKN Aerospace nacelle for Honeywell’s HTF7000 engines. Photo: courtesy of GKN Aerospace.

Defence Technology