Aviation Turkey: Today as Senior VP of GE Aerospace’s Engineering Division, two-thirds of all commercial aviation flights are powered by engines for which you are responsible. Can you tell us about your journey to this point in your career?

Mohamed Ali: I was born and raised in Egypt, and I moved to the United States to attend Cornell University, where I received my doctoral degree in theoretical and applied mechanics. I have been fortunate to have a career in a field I am passionate about — aviation. After graduating, I joined GE as a research scientist, where I found a lifelong professional home. I now serve as the senior vice president of the engineering division at GE Aerospace, where I lead the design, development, certification, and fleet services of GE Aerospace’s commercial engines. My team is responsible for supporting the fleet today, developing cutting-edge technologies for inspection and maintenance, and inventing the future of flight, with a focus on safety and reducing emissions.

Aviation Turkey: In early April 2024, transformation of iconic General Electric from an industrial conglomerate into a focused aerospace and defense company was completed. What does GE Aerospace’s new independence mean for the commercial aviation industry/market? Is the expectation that the new focus will lead to new results?

Mohamed Ali: With our installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial engines and approximately 26,000 military and defense engines around the world, and using FLIGHT DECK, our proprietary lean operating model, as our foundation, we will continue to realize our full potential in service of our customers, employees, and shareholders. At GE Aerospace, we are now building on a century of learning and will carry forth GE’s legacy of innovation. As an independent company, we have an even greater focus on living our purpose: inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. 

Aviation Turkey: What’s keeping you busy at GE Aerospace these days?

Mohamed Ali: GE Aerospace is focused on supporting our fleet of engines today and inventing the future of flight through programs like CFM RISE*, short for Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines. We also just opened a new location for the GE Aerospace Türkiye Technology Center (TTC), building on our six-decade commitment to Türkiye’s economic development and the growth of its aviation sector. The new campus houses nearly 400 highly skilled GE Aerospace engineers and technicians, deepening GE Aerospace’s existing engineering, innovation, research, and manufacturing capabilities in the country.

Aviation Turkey: At post-pandemic era, aerospace industry has been experiencing supply shortages stemming from supply chain problems as a result of which global airline fleet has not managed to keep up with demand since the global airline demand has outpaced fleet capacity development. On the other hand, as a result of supply chain shortages the number of delivered commercial airplanes by manufacturers Airbus and Boeing still way below pre-pandemic levels. To what extent was GE Aerospace affected by the supply chain problem and what measures did you implement to overcome this problem?

Mohamed Ali: FLIGHT DECK, our proprietary operating model, is key to effectively working with suppliers to improve engine deliveries and stay on top of demand. We have also deployed more than 550 engineers and supply chain resources, up 25% from last year, working with them to improve quality and delivery performance. That, combined with our more than $650 Million investment in our manufacturing facilities and supply chain this year, reflects our commitment to strengthening quality and increasing production. 

 Aviation Turkey: How is GE Aerospace addressing the future of commercial aviation? What innovative technology areas will GE Aerospace focus on in the near term? 

Mohamed Ali: At GE Aerospace, we are taking bold action to define and develop technologies for the next generation of engines, including launching key efforts to explore new engine architectures, to develop hybrid-electric capability, and to enable the use of alternative fuels. These efforts include a partnership with NASA and Boeing to develop and fly a megawatt- class hybrid electric propulsion system, as well as the joint effort within CFM International, our 50/50 joint company with Safran Aircraft Engines, to develop and fly an advanced Open Fan demonstrator and other technologies as part of CFM’s RISE program. The goal of CFM’s RISE program is to achieve at least 20% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s most efficient commercial engines. There is also a partnership between Airbus and CFM to develop a hydrogen-powered jet engine.

Aviation Turkey: Developing game-changing commercial aircraft engines requires game-changing technical capabilities. How much time, effort and money does GE Aerospace set aside on R&D annually to develop next-generation aerospace technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes?

Mohamed Ali: GE Aerospace plans to hire more than 900 engineers worldwide in 2024 including Turkey, reflecting our continued focus on innovation to support current aircraft engine programs and develop new technologies for the future of flight. In 2023, GE Aerospace spent approximately $2.3 Billion on aviation research and development, including external customer and partner funding. 

Aviation Turkey: In 2023, GE Aerospace celebrated the delivery of 3,000th GE90 Engine, in which Safran Aircraft Engines has a 23.7% stake. You are also cooperating with Safran under the Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) Program, which is looking into a suite of next-generation propulsion options, including an open fan. On the CFM RISE Program, where are you now and how are the airlines and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) responding to the prospect of an open fan?

Mohamed Ali: Progress is accelerating for the RISE technology demonstration program, with more than 250 tests completed and new research partnerships formed as technologies continue to mature on the way to full-scale Open Fan tests. The RISE program, first unveiled in 2021, is one of the aviation industry’s most comprehensive technology demonstration programs. Through the RISE program, CFM is advancing a suite of pioneering technologies, including advanced engine architectures like Open Fan, compact core, and hybrid electric systems to be compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). To test airframer integration of the Open Fan architecture, plans were previously announced with Airbus for an Open Fan flight technology demonstration.

Aviation Turkey: In September 2024, you will celebrate the 50th anniversary of your joint venture with Safran, CFM International, which is a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric, develops, produces and markets the CFM56 engine and its successor, the LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine. With approximately 24,000 engines in service CFM56 continues to outperform expectations, and analysts are predicting a peak in CFM56 engine shop visits in 2025. Are you able to handle that peak? 

Mohamed Ali: We are committed to working with our suppliers and customers to meet the aviation markets' continued strong demand for these and other leading engines from GE Aerospace and CFM International. 

Aviation Turkey: In early 2023, CFM International disclosed that LEAP engines operated in hot and dusty conditions, notably India and the Middle East, were still experiencing premature degradation of components including fuel nozzles and high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades, reducing time on wing. The issue was first revealed in 2021 via a series of airworthiness directives. Can you elaborate on the current status of ongoing efforts focusing on to fix LEAP durability issue? When do you expect to reach CFM56 levels of durability with LEAP Engines?

Mohamed Ali: We are committed to working with our customers to ensure the reliability and durability of our engines, wherever and whenever they operate. As we work continuously to improve our engine durability and efficiency, we recently announced durability upgrades will be flowing into the CFM LEAP-1A this year and the -1B version in 2025.

Aviation Turkey: The electrification of aircraft systems has seen a continuous upward trend in recent years and the CFM RISE Program also includes the development of advanced engine architectures such as the open fan along with advanced thermal management, combustion, and hybrid-electric technology. What can you tell us about GE’s focus on electrification in commercial aviation? Do you believe that Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion technology will grow beyond regional aircraft sizes, particularly with hybridization?

Mohamed Ali: We see a more electric future of flight and our engineering teams are advancing multiple programs including hybrid electric technology along with the RISE program’s Open Fan technology to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Specifically, we recently announced an update on the development of a hybrid electric demonstrator engine with NASA that will embed electric motor/generators in a high-bypass commercial turbofan to supplement power during different phases of operation. This will help optimize engine performance by creating a system that can work with or without energy storage like batteries. This could help accelerate the introduction of hybrid electric technologies for commercial aviation prior to energy storage solutions being fully matured. A Passport engine is being modified with hybrid electric components for testing through NASA’s Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project.     

Aviation Turkey: There is a lot of talk about reducing fuel consumption and the noise impact of turbofan engines how are you working to make your engines more sustainable? What is the goal for GE Aerospace in this matter?

Mohamed Ali: GE Aerospace is developing breakthrough technologies for the future of flight, such as advanced new engine architectures like Open Fan, hybrid electric propulsion, and hydrogen fuel combustion. The aviation industry’s ambition, which GE Aerospace supports, is to reach net-zero CO2 emissions from commercial flight by 2050. Growing adoption and availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is also significant to reaching net-zero. All GE Aerospace and CFM International engines can operate on approved SAF blends today. RISE program technologies are also being validated to meet the most stringent non-CO2 and noise emission requirements.

Aviation Turkey: In recent years we are seeing some big changes in the aviation industry, including the widespread use of sustainable aviation fuels. Do you believe that biofuels/sustainable aviation fuels will have an important role to play in commercial aviation?

Mohamed Ali: All GE Aerospace and CFM International engines in service today can operate with approved SAF blends. That’s because all approved SAF available today is considered drop-in. Drop-in SAF means the fuel meets current petroleum-based jet fuel requirements. It can be substituted for fossil-based jet fuel without any modifications to engines and airframes, and is therefore compatible with the existing commercial fleet, as well as with other parts of the fuel distribution and storage infrastructure. Currently, SAF approved for use is a blend of petroleum-based Jet A or Jet A-1 fuel and a SAF component with a maximum blend limit of 50%. One of GE Aerospace’s fuel experts chairs an international task force to develop standardized industry specifications supporting adoption of 100% drop-in SAF, which does not require blending with conventional jet fuel. Drop-in 100% SAF is not yet qualified by ASTM International, an organization that develops technical standards.

Aviation Turkey: Focusing on Türkiye now, can you elaborate on the current status of your cooperation with both THY and other Turkish airline operators? How many orders have you secured so far for the GE Aerospace turbofan engines from Turkish airline operators and how many of them have been delivered so far to end users? 

Mohamed Ali: We support every major commercial airline in Türkiye, as well as all US-allied defense organizations. It has been our honor to support the country’s vision to become a leader in the global aviation industry for nearly 60 years. We currently have more than 2,300 defense and commercial engines in service in Türkiye, and we look forward to continuing to grow with the needs of the market. Turkish airline operators are important customers for GE Aerospace, so we are pleased to have strong, long-standing relationships with them. We are in ongoing discussions about the possibility of our engines being selected to power their next-generation aircraft orders.

Aviation Turkey: How do you see Türkiye's position in GE Aerospace’s future business projection? Can you elaborate on your short and long-term objectives, your vision for Türkiye?  How do you see the commercial airplanes market developing in Türkiye and how does GE Aerospace provide support services in country?

Mohamed Ali: Our vision for Türkiye is anchored in leveraging its highly skilled workforce and robust infrastructure to drive innovation. Our investment in the Türkiye Technology Center reflects our confidence in the Turkish aerospace sector and the exceptional talent available in the country. This center will not only drive local innovation but also contribute to our larger global efforts to invent the future of flight and support safe and efficient air travel worldwide. By leveraging the TUBITAK Pre-Specified R&D Laboratories Support Program, we aim to drive advancements in more sustainable propulsion technologies through our CFM RISE engine program. The commercial airplane market in Türkiye is poised for significant growth, driven by increasing demand for air travel, the fleet expansion efforts made by local airlines, and the country’s strategic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia. With this growing demand, we anticipate a rising need for advanced, fuel-efficient engines and robust maintenance and support services. 

Aviation Turkey: Can you elaborate on your collaboration with TURKISH TECHNIC and local airline operators in MRO & Overhaul and Repairs services for the commercial aircraft engines?

Mohamed Ali: TURKISH TECHNIC partner to provide regional on-wing repair services for GE90, CF6, GEnx and CFM56 engines, helping reduce time on the ground and maintenance costs for airlines.

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