The Nexcelle joint venture of GE's Middle River Aircraft Systems and the Safran group's Aircelle has completed the Preliminary Design Review for its nacelle on the GE Passport engine, marking a major milestone with the integrated propulsion system that will power the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 twin-jet business aircraft.

The successful design review was held at Nexcelle's Cincinnati, Ohio headquarters, with its results announced today.

"With this milestone, Nexcelle has once again demonstrated the capability to execute on the design and development responsibility for its programs," said Nexcelle President Huntley Myrie. "Our teams also are well advanced in preparing the manufacturing and assembly infrastructure that will handle the Passport engine nacelle production."

Nexcelle's Passport nacelle incorporates the expertise of its Aircelle and Middle River Aircraft Systems parent companies, including their capabilities in composites, acoustic treatment and advanced production techniques.

Main nacelle elements include the inner and outer barrel, manufactured with composite materials for weight reduction; a fan cowl produced with composites for both weight reduction and strength; along with a target-type two-door thrust reverser and fixed aft nozzle, which are built largely with composites in a design chosen for both performance and weight reduction.

Among the advanced production techniques to be applied by Nexcelle is a robotic drilling and fastening installation for the nacelle's inlet assembly to improve productivity, quality and repeatability. The Passport's thrust reverser will be built on a moving assembly line, which applies techniques similar to those used in the automotive industry for improved production efficiency.

As part of the production preparations, tooling designs for the Passport nacelle are now being released by Nexcelle.

Aircelle will produce its Passport nacelle components at the company's facilities in France and Morocco; while Middle River Aircraft Systems' production activity is to include composite parts manufacturing and assembly in an all-new GE shared facility in the United States, which currently is taking form in Ellisville, Mississippi.