Safran Aims to Certify New LEAP-1B Engine Blade Kit for Boeing 737 MAX This Year

Safran Aims for 2025 Certification of LEAP-1B Engine Blade Kit for Boeing 737 MAX

Safran is targeting certification in 2025 for a new high-pressure turbine (HPT) blade durability kit designed for the CFM International LEAP-1B engine, the exclusive powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX. This upgrade, which follows the recent approval of a similar kit for the LEAP-1A engines powering the Airbus A320neo family, is expected to significantly extend the engine’s time-on-wing, potentially doubling it.

Certification and Market Outlook

During Safran’s Q4 2024 earnings call on February 14, CEO Olivier Andries confirmed the company’s expectation to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for the LEAP-1B HPT blade kit within the year. He stated, “We expect the certification of the new blade to occur within the year, within 2025.” The new blade kit is engineered to enhance engine service intervals, particularly under demanding operational conditions. However, Safran executives have cautioned that ongoing supply chain challenges may constrain the immediate market impact of the upgrade, even after certification. Industry analysts are closely monitoring potential competitor responses and broader market dynamics as the certification process advances.

Safran has not provided updates on the reverse bleed system (RBS) for the LEAP-1B engine, another durability enhancement that was first certified for the LEAP-1A in April 2024. The RBS, which has been retrofitted on LEAP-1A engines since mid-2024, reduces carbon build-up on fuel nozzles and is expected to decrease maintenance requirements by limiting the need for on-wing fuel nozzle replacements. The FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the RBS in 2023. CFM International projects that once fully implemented, fuel nozzle replacements will generally only be necessary during major shop visits.

Progress with LEAP-1A and Industry Implications

The LEAP-1A HPT blade kit received FAA and EASA certification on December 9, 2024. Safran reports that the kit, which includes a new stage 1 blade, stage 1 nozzle, and forward inner nozzle support, is now being introduced through both maintenance shop visits and new engine deliveries. While it is still early to quantify the full operational impact, Andries expressed confidence that the upgrade will double time-on-wing, based on extensive endurance testing.

Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International, highlighted that the new hardware fulfills the manufacturer’s commitment to match the durability and service intervals of the legacy CFM56 engine, which powered previous generations of the 737 and other major aircraft types. The LEAP-1A engine, which also powers the newly delivered A321XLR to Iberia, competes directly with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G on the A320neo family.

These durability upgrades to the LEAP-1 engine family mark a significant advancement in CFM International’s efforts to improve engine reliability and reduce maintenance costs for airline operators. By extending time-on-wing and minimizing unscheduled maintenance, these enhancements are expected to deliver substantial operational savings and strengthen the LEAP engine family’s competitive position in the commercial aviation market.