Flying Safely Across Continents
Few people realize that parts for engines of Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, CFM International and GE Aviation used throughout the globe are all produced and repaired in CEE. It is an industry that is much regulated and very safety focused.
The GE Aviation plant in Veresegyház (Hungary) ships repaired engine components directly to KLM, ANA, Lufthansa, Evergreen, and other airlines across the globe. In order to deliver products to our customers we are currently required to have five different regulatory certificates from aviation authorities and soon we will need an additional one to deliver parts to airlines in Brazil.
Mike Sims, leader of the Structures and Machining Center of Excellence at GE Aviation Plant Veresegyház (Hungary)
Many countries honor regulatory certificates from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in the United States or the European Union’s EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). Several countries, however, have chosen to create their own regulatory agencies to control products being shipped into their country. So in addition to our FAA and EASA certifications, we are also required to obtain certificates from CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China), DCAT (Department of Civil Aviation Thailand), and TCCA (Transport Canada Civil Aviation).
Pál Nyíri checking pipe cells
In order to obtain and maintain such certificates, we need to have procedures in place to ensure we comply with all the regulations of the authorities. Also, each regulatory body has oversight of the procedures related to their certification. We need to have specific employee training programs, which need to be approved by the regulatory body. Some employees in certain positions in the plant, for example those performing the final certification, are required to be able to read and write in English. Finally, each regulatory agency audits our plant every one or two years to ensure compliance.
Our industry is highly regulated, which in my mind is a good thing. We have to be very safety focused, because people’s lives depend on what we do. This is how GE works in a factory helping our customer airlines to move people around the world.
