Air Turbine Start System for the Next Generation of Large Commercial Aerospace Engines

The criterion for the GE-90 engine, including all controls and accessories, was to achieve a robust design with Early ETOPs certification. The start requirements of this engine dictated a starter in the 310Kw/1440N-m range that would fit in a 33-cm long by 25-cm wide envelope and weigh less than 24.5 Kg. These requirements made it necessary to develop a new start system for this application. A multi-company Integrated Product Development (IPD) team was formed to identify reliability drivers and develop design improvements. The team achieved the program's objectives and pioneered many new features to meet the goals.