GE Aerospace deploys AI-enabled inspection tool for commercial aircraft
CINCINNATI- GE Aerospace in Cincinnati has started deploying a new artificial intelligence- (AI)-)-enabled tool to improve inspection accuracy and consistency for key components of narrowbody aircraft engines. GE says that this technology will help return engines to service sooner.
Trained technicians use the AI-enabled blade inspection tool to take images of turbine blades, which produce much of the engine’s thrust. The AI then guides technicians in selecting which images to review, providing more consistency to spot issues sooner and cutting inspection times in half.
"Innovation is at the core of our work and remains key in keeping engines operating safely and reliably," said Nicole Jenkins, GE Aerospace’s Chief Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Engineer. "More consistent and accurate inspections will help keep these blades healthy and the engine reliable."
The AI-enabled tool is being received by over a dozen GE Aerospace MRO facilities and customers who also service the CFM LEAP engine. The same tool has been used on the GEnx widebody aircraft engine for around three years. It has cut blade inspection times in half while improving inspection accuracy compared to standard borescope
Added Jenkins: "AI, used the right way, is proving to be a powerful tool in our work."
The deployment of the AI-enabled tool is part of GE Aerospace’s ongoing efforts to support customers while maintaining its focus on aviation safety. The company announced in 2024 that it is investing more than $1 billion in its MRO shops during the next five years.
For more than a decade, GE Aerospace has been integrating AI across its operations and is one of the top AI patent holders in the aviation industry. Today, its employees use AI to aid work – from engine monitoring and part inspections to delivering insights that enable predictive maintenance measures. Company AI-use guidelines emphasize the importance of human oversight, data integrity and transparency to ensure AI is used appropriately.
