GE Aerospace Expands AI-Based Inspection Tool for Narrowbody Engines

GE Aerospace has begun deploying an AI-enabled inspection tool aimed at improving accuracy and efficiency in assessing turbine blades in narrowbody aircraft engines. The technology is expected to reduce inspection times and enhance consistency in identifying potential issues, according to a press release issued by the company.

The AI-driven Blade Inspection Tool captures images of turbine blades, which are critical for engine thrust production. The system then guides technicians in selecting images for review, standardizing the inspection process and reducing the time required for assessments. The company states that the tool has been in use for around three years on GEnx widebody engines, where it has cut inspection times in half compared to traditional borescope inspections.

GE Aerospace is rolling out the tool across more than a dozen of its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, as well as to customers servicing CFM International’s LEAP engine. CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

The deployment is part of GE Aerospace’s broader investment in its MRO operations, with the company announcing in 2024 a commitment to invest over $1 billion in these facilities over five years. The company has been integrating AI into its operations for more than a decade, utilizing it for engine monitoring, part inspections, and predictive maintenance.