Aircraft

GE Aviation has petitioned the US FAA to expand its production certificate for engines to include the installation of certain equipment that is generally attached by airframers after the engines are delivered.

The request, to be published in tomorrow's Federal Register, will allow the company to "manufacture, find airworthy and deliver to customers a complete propulsion system", a company spokeswoman tells Flightglobal.

As an example, GE under the expanded authority would be able to install the engine's fire protection loop at the factory before delivery, says the spokeswoman. By the same token, the fire loop could be kept with engines removed from aircraft, speeding up change outs.

GE says customers had asked for the expanded service.