“You have people who will be in-demand by the very suppliers we work with,” he said.
The cuts come even as the backlog of engine orders remain at historically high levels and is not due to a decline in business. And following the reductions, GE will still employ more than 3,000 engineers in the area, Kennedy added.
“Significant effort has been made to move as many engineers as possible to other positions at GE Aviation and other GE businesses. Also, GE Aviation has offered voluntary early retirement to several hundred eligible engineers,” Kennedy said. “Through this effort, GE Aviation has been able to reduce the number of involuntarily job reductions among its U.S. engineers to 307, involving 238 reductions in Greater Cincinnati and 69 at other sites across various states.”
Including engineers as well as manufacturing and other positions, approximately 9,000 people work at GE Aviation locations in Southwest Ohio, according to the Evendale-based aerospace manufacturer, which is one of the region’s largest employers. Currently GE is West Chester’s largest employer, according to the township.
Engines powering the HondaJet and business aircraft have recently entered service. Also, the all new commercial jet engine LEAP will be delivered to the first airline customer in 2016.
LEAP is a product of GE Aviation’s joint venture with French company Snecma (a division of Safran) called CFM International. It will be the first commercial jet engine to contain an additively manufactured part in a critical area as well as materials made from ceramic matrix composites, company officials say. The new technologies mean the engine will be lighter than traditional materials and able to withstand hotter temperatures, which will improve fuel efficiency about 15 percent over CFM’s existing engine, according to the company.
Meanwhile, development work continues for the GE9X engine, the sole jet engine supplier selected for Boeing's 777X plane set to make its debut around 2020.
Workers at EPISCenter conduct research for GE Aviation’s electrical power business.
Annual jet engine deliveries for commercial and military products have grown from 3,000 in 2010 to about 3,700 in 2015, with more engines on order, according to GE. Sales including engine programs, maintenance services and electrical products grew 9 percent in 2014 from the year before to nearly $24 billion.
About the Author