Snecma

Snecma S.A.

Type	Private
Industry	Aerospace & Defence
Founded	1945
Headquarters	Courcouronnes, France
Key people	Pierre Fabre (CEO)
Products	Commercial & military aero engines Space propulsion
Net income	€ 4.211 billion (2010)
Employees	12,400 (2010)
Parent	SAFRAN S.A.
Website	http://www.snecma.com

Snecma is a world-class manufacturer of aircraft- and rocket engines. Alone or in partnership, Snecma designs, develops, produces and markets engines for civil and military aircraft, launch vehicles and satellites. The company also offers a complete range of engine support services to airlines, armed forces and other operators. Snecma is a subsidiary of the SAFRAN Group.

Snecma used to be an acronym for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (in English, "National Company for the Design and Construction of Aviation Engines") until April 27^th 2004.

History

Snecma was formed in 1945 when the large French aero engine firm Gnome & Rhône was nationalized.

1960s

In 1961, Snecma and Bristol Siddeley agreed to a joint venture to produce the power plant for the Concorde, which would become the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593. the main body of the engine came from the Bristol Olympus with the refinements being the addition of the variable intakes necessary for supersonic flight.

In 1968, Snecma took control of Hispano-Suiza, Socata and Bugatti. Snecma valued Bugatti's automobile background (turbochargers and engines). In a subsequent reorganisation, all aero-engine maintenance services would be grouped as Sochata-Snecma.

1970s

In 1970, Messier and Snecma agreed to merge their landing gear businesses. The following year, Messier-Hispano was formed in which Snecma held a stake. Snecma took full control of Messier-Hispano in 1973.

In 1977, the landing gear business was further consolidated by the creation of Messier-Hispano-Bugatti (later renamed Messier-Bugatti).

Snecma and General Electric (GE) created a joint venture in 1974, CFM International, beginning a long term relationship which continues today. Testing of FADEC, a joint development of the two companies, began in 1985.

1990s

In 1990, Snecma announced its participation in the General Electric GE90 engine programme.

Messier-Dowty was formed in 1994 following the merger of the landing gear businesses of Snecma (Messier) and the British TI Group (Dowty).

In 1997 Snecma acquired 100 per cent of Société Européenne de Propulsion.

In 1998, Snecma took full control of Messier-Dowty.

In 1999, Snecma Services was created to consolidate all maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations (including Sochata-Snecma).

In 2000, Snecma became a holding company and the propulsion business was reformed as Snecma Moteurs. Later in the year Snecma acquired Labinal, along with its Turbomeca and Microturbo subsidiaries.

In 2001, Hurel-Hispano (now renamed and known as Aircelle) was created to consolidate the group's engine nacelle and thrust reverser businesses.

In 2005, Snecma merged with Sagem to form SAFRAN. Snecma was divided, with the company's subsidiaries contributing to the propulsion and equipment divisions of the new group. Snecma moteurs was then renamed Snecma.

Products

CFM International CFM56 powering several airliners.

M88 used on the Dassault Rafale.

Vulcain II, main engine of the Ariane 5 launcher.

The company's major civil aircraft engine is the CFM International CFM56. Produced by a partnership between Snecma and General Electric, CFM56s power more than 4,900 aircraft around the world.

Snecma is also the main partner for the General Electric CF6-80 and GE90 programs. Snecma recently increased its presence in the high-thrust turbofan segment by joining the Engine Alliance GP7000 program managed by the Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. This engine is one of two options available to power the Airbus A380.

The company has entered into the PowerJet partnership with NPO Saturn of Russia to provide SaM146 engines for the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Commercial engines

• CFM International CFM56 (50%)
• CFM International LEAP-X (50%) (under development)
• PowerJet SaM146 (50%)
• General Electric GE90 (23.5%)
• General Electric CF6 (10-20% share of production, depending on engine model)
• Engine Alliance GP7000 (10%)
• Snecma Silvercrest (under development)

Military engines

• SNECMA Atar
• SNECMA M53
• SNECMA M88
• EuroProp TP400-D6 (under development) (28%)
• SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac

Space engines

• Viking
• HM7B
• PPS-1350
• Vinci (under development)
• Vulcain

Sites

• Courcouronnes: Headquarters
• Évry-Corbeil
• Gennevilliers
• Istres
• Guiana Space Centre
• Le Creusot
• Vernon
• Melun Villaroche Aerodrome
• Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
• Brussels

References

• Gunston, Bill (2006). World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines, 5th Edition. Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-4479-X. 

External links

• Snecma official website

Video clips

• Snecma YouTube channel