CHULA VISTA , A new model of jet engine could bring $1 billion worth of work to BFGoodrich Aerospace’s Southern California operations in the coming decades.
“Most of the work will be done here in Chula Vista,” company spokesman Jeff Hulewicz said last week. Some will be done in Riverside, he added.
General Electric has selected the Aerostructures Group of BFGoodrich Aerospace to provide the nacelle system for a new model of jet engine that will propel two new aircraft. The Fairchild-Dornier 928JET and the Embraer ERJ 190 jetliners are both regional models with about 100 seats. Both are still under development.
Supplying production hardware for the GE CF34-10 engine will produce in excess of $1 billion for the Aerostructures Group over 15 to 20 years, Hulewicz said.
Bud Wetzler, president of the BFGoodrich Aerostructures and Aviation Services Group in Chula Vista, called the company’s expansion into the regional jetliner market “a major strategic business thrust for the Aerostructures Group.”
BFGoodrich announced the partnership last week at England’s Farnborough Air Show.
As the prime contractor for the entire nacelle system, the Aerostructures Group will provide the inlet, fan cowl, aft core cowl, exhaust nozzle and plug, and engine build-up for the CF34-10 propulsion system, as well as product support for the entire nacelle. Middle River Aircraft Systems, a GE subsidiary, will serve as a subcontractor to the Aerostructures Group, supplying the thrust reverser.
The GE CF34-10 is the exclusive engine for both the Fairchild-Dornier and Embraer jetliners.
The 928JET, with 90 to 105 seats, will serve high-density regional market pairs, major airline operations and the charter market. Its builder, Fairchild-Dornier, is based in San Antonio.
Embraer, a Brazilian company, envisions its ERJ 190 serving the 98- to 108-passenger segment of the regional transport market.
Delivery of ground test hardware for the CF34-10 engine program will begin in late 2001 in support of the engine certification program. First delivery of flight certification units is scheduled in late 2002 to support aircraft flight tests for entry into service during early 2004.
BFGoodrich is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.
