Our History

Aircelle benefits from its long-time ties to the aviation and industrial sectors, with a company history that includes the design, development and production of airframes, aerostructures and components.

The following timeline provides some of Aircelle’s highlights, beginning with the company’s 1896 origins in the French city of Le Havre:

Firing range at Le Havre

1896

 The Schneider Frères & Cie industrial factory complex is developed at Le Havre for the production of armament.

1937

 The manufacturing workshops at Le Havre become a government arsenal.

1947

 The Avions Hurel-Dubois company is created. French aircraft designer Maurice Hurel pursues the development of aircraft equipped with a large wingspan, providing the advantage of low wing loading and reduced drag.

1948

 Flight evaluations are performed with the single-engine Hurel-Dubois HD-10 testbed aircraft, which has a wingspan of 12 meters and an aspect ratio of 30.

The HD-34 at Meudon

1957

 First flight of the Hurel-Dubois HD-34, a twin-engine aircraft with a 45.30-meter wingspan and an operational ceiling of 8,000 meters. A total of nine HD-34s are built at the Meudon aerodrome near Paris, of which eight are used by the French National Geographic Institute (IGN) for topographic survey flights.

1963

 The arsenal at Le Havre comes under the management responsibility of Snecma Normandie. Its activities are diversified into the manufacture and repair of mechanical parts for the aviation and defense sectors.

Four-door thrust reverser

1977

 Company activities are brought under the control of Hispano-Suiza (a Snecma subsidiary). Development and production is concentrated on aviation products, including the first engine nacelle components such as thrust reversers.

1979

 Creation of the Société Lorraine de Construction Aéronautique (SLCA) is the start of the Hurel-Dubois group’s development.

U.K. thrust reverser assembly

1989

 Hurel-Dubois purchases the aerostructures division of U.K.-based Lucas Aerospace, which becomes Hurel-Dubois U.K. Ltd.

1993

 The Colomiers, France facility becomes operational for integration of nacelles and their engines. This facility is located adjacent to the Airbus A330/A340 final assembly line at Toulouse/Blagnac Airport.

1997

 The Le Havre facility is made a subsidiary and becomes Hispano-Suiza Aerostructures.

The first A340-500/600 nacelle

1998

 Creation of the Aircelle company - a 50/50 joint venture between Hispano-Suiza Aerostructures and Airbus. The company focuses on the development of large engine nacelles for the Airbus product line, beginning with those for the A340-500/600’s Rolls-Royce Trent powerplant.

2000

 Hurel-Dubois is purchased by Snecma. A program milestone is marked during the year with initial nacelle delivery for the A340-500/600.

2001

 A new leader in the engine nacelle and aerostructures business is born through the merger of Hispano-Suiza Aerostructures and Hurel-Dubois as the new Hurel-Hispano company. Hurel-Hispano operates within the Snecma Group’s Equipment Branch and employs 2,500 persons.

Trent 900 preparation at Colomiers

2002

 Hurel-Hispano acquires Airbus’ 50 percent share in Aircelle, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary that has nacelle supplier responsibility for the Airbus A340-500/600 (Trent engine), the A318 (PW6000) and the A380 (GP7200 and Trent 900). This consolidation bolsters the company’s ability to offer complete nacelle packages worldwide, ranging from design, development and integration, to full aftermarket support for airlines and distribution of spare parts.

2003

 The Colomiers facility is expanded in preparation for the A380 engine podding activity, and its covered surface more than doubles to a total of 13,500 sq. meters. This expansion includes a large new engine build-up and podding area for A380 engines, along with a large paint facility that is specifically sized to accommodate the massive size of this airliner’s powerplants. Also during the year, Hurel-Hispano begins the deliveries of initial components for both the A380 and Dassault F7X business jet.

2004

 Hurel-Hispano inaugurates the new Pont-Audemer facility, which is entirely dedicated to nacelle repair. The inauguration also provides the occasion to announce the signature of a new engine nacelle agreement between Boeing and Hurel-Hispano.

The A380 with Aircelle nacelles

2005

 Snecma and Sagem merge their activities in a new company named SAFRAN; Hurel-Hispano changes its name to Aircelle and is integrated in the SAFRAN Group’s Aerospace Equipment branch. Major Aircelle program milestones during the year include the A380’s first flight, equipped with Aircelle’s nacelles; and the expansion of Aircelle’s maintenance network into the United States through an agreement with ExpressJet Services.

2006

 Aircelle inaugurates its new Aircelle Maroc affiliate in Casablanca.