Safran Nacelles has created an MRO Centre of Excellence at the company's Pont-Audemer facility in France's Normandy region. Expanding on the existing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industrial resources in Pont-Audemer's current facilities, the new centre is designed for customers using jet engine nacelles produced by the company for business jets, regional airliners and mainline jetliners.

The responsibilities of the new centre include: managing the global network of Safran Nacelles' MRO facilities; serving as the operational reference in terms of repair procedures and industrialization; overseeing the company's MRO-related research and technology activities; as well as advancing its overall competence in repair methods and engineering.

The MRO Centre of Excellence's expertise covers complete engine nacelle systems, including complex structural repairs, line replaceable units (LRUs), engine subassemblies, outlet guide vanes (OGV) and on-site support.

The new MRO organization builds on Safran Nacelles' expertise as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) offering worldwide support the complete nacelle system it supplies for the Airbus A320neo.

Jean-Hugues Cousin has been named Managing Director of the new centre. He has the additional responsibility for leading the company's global MRO network – which includes the Pont-Audemer facility, along with Safran Nacelles Services Americas in Indianapolis, and Dubai-based Aerostructures Middle East Services (AMES), a joint venture of Safran Nacelles and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance.