GE Aerospace is beginning a three-year project to expand its West Jefferson, N.C., aircraft engine parts operation by more than 35,000 sq. ft to meet rising demand for engines to power narrow-body aircraft. The nearly $53-million investment will also cover the cost of new equipment, and result in 40 new jobs there.
Among the personnel roles GE will be filling are apprentice machinists and inspectors, as well as engineers.
GE noted that the investment is being supplemented by $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, cash-grant program administered by the state and supplied to local governments, to assist with job-creating projects.
The same plant is among those listed by GE Aerospace in March when it outlined 2025 projects valued at nearly $1 billion for its U.S. manufacturing operations. The $13-million program announced earlier this year was directed at increasing production of engine components for narrow- and wide-body commercial jets, as well as military aircraft. New manufacturing equipment identified with that investment includes precision machines, 3D printers, and other specialized capabilities.
Regarding narrow-body aircraft engines, the West Jefferson plant products critical components for the CFM LEAP engines, including rotating parts, blisks, high-pressure turbines, and spools.
CFM LEAP engines are high-bypass turbofan engines, a product of the CFM International joint-venture, which unites GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft – though each partner manufactures the engines independently.
The GE Aerospace output is mainly the LEAP-1B variant for Boeing’s narrow-body 737 MAX jets.
The 737 MAX twin-engine commercial jets are available in two variants, with two more variants pending certification. It is Boeing’s most-in-demand model, with 4,312 on backlog. That indicates more 8,600 LEAP-1B engines to be manufactured by GE Aerospace.
“West Jefferson will now have an even bigger role to play in building the future of flight for GE Aerospace. This expansion is good news for the community, and it is good news for our customers, who are eager to have our engines power their aircraft,” stated Dylan Gerding, the GE Aerospace site leader there.
