CHICAGO, the USA and PARIS, France (BulgarianMilitary.com) – On 13th February 2019 Boeing and Safran announced its 50-50 joint venture named Initium Aerospace established to design, build and service Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), learned BulgarianMilitary.com

From its Latin roots, initium means “to start” or “the beginning” and this is what an Auxiliary Power Unit is and does when it provides the power to start the main aircraft engines and systems on the ground and, if needed, in flight.

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Initium Aerospace will combine the best technologies and services of both companies, including Boeing’s customer and airplane knowledge and Safran’s experience designing and producing complex propulsion systems so that to offer a more competitive APU in the marketplace.

An auxiliary power unit is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are typical for large aircraft, naval ships and some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115 V alternating current (AC) at 400 Hz (rather than 50/60 Hz in mains supply), to run the electrical systems of the aircraft; others can produce 28 V direct current (DC). APUs can provide power through single- or three-phase systems.

The initial Initium Aerospace team involves employees from the two parent companies and is led by Etienne Boisseau, CEO of Initium Aerospace. The works will be started in San Diego, California, where the team is focused on the next-generation APU design.

Stan Deal, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Global Services, commented, “This is an exciting milestone as we bring together the best of both companies to design and build an advanced APU that will create more lifecycle value for our customers. This is further proof that Boeing is making strategic investments that strengthen our vertical capabilities and continue to expand our services portfolio.”

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The establishment of Initium Aerospace follows the regulatory and antitrust approvals received by the joint venture in November 2018, after a reached agreement in June the same year.

The Chief Executive Office of Safran, Philippe Petitcolin, said, “I would like to congratulate everybody at Boeing and Safran who contributed to the creation of this new joint venture. Initium Aerospace is swiftly capitalizing on the vast expertise of both partners to provide state-of-the-art APUs and innovative solutions to customers. Safran is proud and totally invested in supporting Boeing’s growth and operators expectations. We look forward to presenting the first demonstrator engine to the market.”

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Source: Boeing, Wikipedia