Chromalloy Granted FAA Approval For CFM56 Turbine Blade

The FAA has granted parts manufacturer approval (PMA) to Chromalloy’s CFM56 high-pressure turbine stage 1 blade—the latest step in the engine parts specialist’s move to help satisfy demand for harder-to-find narrowbody engine components.

Chromalloy, which manufactures the part, expects to ship “a few dozen shipsets” in the coming months, President Chris Celtruda tells Aviation Week. Production ramp-up will be measured “due to the complexity of this part and our commitment to the highest quality standards,” he adds, and is expected to reach the “hundreds” of shipsets for full-year 2026. Demand for the high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades is strong, with all anticipated 2025 production and some 2026 shipsets sold out.

The company invested seven years and more than $100 million in the part’s design, development and certification. It also added capability to its Tampa Bay, Florida-area smelting, forging, machining and coating operations as part of the ramp-up.

“The CFM56 HPT Blade PMA is entirely produced at Chromalloy’s state-of-the-art facilities, where each part is cast, machined, and coated,” says Vijay Jayachandran, the company's executive vice president of engine parts and programs.

“Our vertically integrated strategy reduces lead times, makes our operations more resilient, and ensures parts are available on demand to our valued customers.”

The blade, which fits the original CFM56-5 and -7 80-blade turbine disk, is the third of five planned CFM56 PMA parts developed under a joint venture with FTAI Aviation. It has approvals for HPT stage 1 vane and a low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 1 nozzle guide vane. Still to come are LPT stage 1 and stage 2 blades.

The CFM56 blade approval “underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value to midlife engine customers,” Celtruda adds. “We remain focused on expanding our portfolio of turbine restoration solutions, with continued investment in [designated engineering representative] repairs and PMA innovations across numerous engine centerlines deployed in the commercial aviation market.”

Forecasts, including Aviation Week’s latest MRO outlook, see demand for about 3,000 annual CFM56 shop visits through the end of the decade. While the majority will be for newer CFM56 variants—the Tech Insertion and current-generation performance improvement program (PIP) designs—as many as 40% are expected to be original CFM56-5/-7 engine designs that debuted on the prior-generation Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG families more than 30 years ago.

GE Aerospace is ramping up CFM56 blade production at its plant in Greenville, South Carolina, to satisfy demand for the newer variants, many of which have yet to see their initial shop visits. But that effort is focused on the PIP and Tech Insertion blades—a reflection of the anticipated demand.

While material demand for newer CFM56s remains strong, many older narrowbodies are staying in service to fill gaps created by new-aircraft delivery and durability issues. A historically below-average retirement rate means used serviceable material is scarce.

The combination creates opportunities for alternative approaches, including PMAs and module swaps in lieu of full overhauls.

Chromalloy, with its CFM56 and V2500 PMAs and partnership with module swap specialist FTAI, is taking advantage.