Safran CEO cautious on supply chain once Boeing grounding lifted

The head of French jet engine maker Safran has voiced caution over the ability of aerospace supply chains to ramp up quickly after the return to service of the Boeing 737 MAX, which has been grounded for months following two fatal accidents. Safran co-produces the LEAP engine for the MAX through its CFM International joint venture with General Electric. Once the jet returns to service - the timing of which is in the hands of regulators - Boeing plans to reach a previously targeted production level of 57 aircraft a month by end-2020 from its current rate of 42, down from 52 before the grounding. It has not offered further details on how fast output would rise. Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin noted planemakers like Boeing typically alter production in incremental steps of 5 aircraft a month. “It is usually recommended to go up by 5 a month every 6 months, otherwise you can lose everyone (suppliers),” he said. He declined to comment directly on Boeing production plans, but his comments suggest the planemaker may not find it easy to reach 57 a month until 2021, even if the MAX is ungrounded this year.<br/>