Safran Landing Systems

Safran Landing Systems
Name	Safran Landing Systems
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	2005
Headquarters	Paris
Products	Aircraft landing gear, wheels, brakes, wheels and carbon brakes, landing gear components, nacelle support equipment
Parent	Safran

Safran Landing Systems is a major aerospace supplier specializing in aircraft landing gear, wheels, brakes and associated systems. The company serves commercial, regional, business and military aircraft programs and partners with airframe manufacturers, airlines and defense organizations. It operates within the global supply chains that include original equipment manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, and collaborates with research institutes and certification authorities.

History

Safran Landing Systems traces its corporate lineage through a sequence of mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations involving legacy firms such as Messier-Dowty, Goodrich Corporation, Snecma, and Sagem. The entity emerged amid the consolidation of the European aerospace industry alongside major players like Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace, and United Technologies Corporation. Over decades the company supported programs introduced at events such as the Paris Air Show and the Farnborough Airshow and contributed components to airframes first flown by Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 Next Generation, Airbus A380, and military platforms like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Joint ventures and partnerships included collaborations with Alten, Thales Group, and suppliers in the Aerospace Valley cluster.

Products and Services

The product portfolio spans main and nose landing gear, oleo struts, torque links, wheels, carbon and steel brakes, brake control systems, actuation systems, steering systems, and integrated landing gear health monitoring. Offerings connect to systems on aircraft developed by Bombardier Aerospace, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, COMAC, and Antonov. Services include maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), upgrades, on-wing support, spares provisioning, logistics, and digital services that interface with platforms such as Skywise and fleet operators including Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa. The company supplies parts for regional turboprops like the ATR 72 and business jets such as the Gulfstream G650 and Dassault Falcon series.

Major Programs and Customers

Major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers comprise Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier, COMAC, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. Military and government customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and air forces such as the United States Air Force and French Air and Space Force. The company has long-term supplier roles on flagship programs including the Airbus A350 XWB, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A320neo family, and regional platforms like the Embraer E-Jet E2. Airline and leasing customers include Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Air France–KLM, and lessors such as Avolon and SMBC Aviation Capital.

Research, Development and Innovation

R&D efforts focus on weight reduction, materials science, fatigue life, corrosion protection, predictive maintenance, and digital twins. Research collaborations and funded projects have involved institutions such as CERN-adjacent technology centers, universities like MIT, Imperial College London, TU Delft, and European research programs affiliated with EASA initiatives. Innovation themes include the adoption of composite materials seen in programs with Carbon Revolution-type suppliers, development of electric taxiing and brake-by-wire technologies compatible with initiatives by NASA and Clean Sky. The company participates in standards and working groups with SAE International, RTCA, Inc., and aerospace clusters in Île-de-France and Occitanie.

Manufacturing and Global Facilities

Manufacturing footprint includes sites across France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, Poland, India, China, and Morocco. Facilities encompass forging, machining, heat treatment, surface treatment, assembly, test rigs, and MRO centers. The supplier network features partnerships with tier suppliers such as MTU Aero Engines for parts, subcontractors in the Pratt & Whitney supply chain, and logistics partners like DHL and Kuehne + Nagel. Test capabilities include full-scale rig testing used on programs validated in collaboration with certification bodies like EASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Safety, Certification and Regulatory Compliance

Certification activity involves compliance with airworthiness authorities including EASA, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), and national military certification agencies. The company adheres to standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, and contributes to industry committees with organizations like RTCA, Inc. and SAE International. Safety management systems integrate practices aligned with ICAO recommendations and cooperative audits with OEM customers including Airbus and Boeing. Incident investigation and corrective action processes coordinate with agencies like the National Transportation Safety Board when required.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

The company is a business unit within the Safran group, which itself is listed and governed under French corporate law with major stakeholders including institutional investors and entities involved in European aerospace. Governance aligns with practices seen in multinational aerospace conglomerates such as Thales Group and Airbus SE, and financial reporting follows standards used by companies on Euronext Paris. Executive leadership engages with trade associations including GIFAS and participates in international forums such as the Paris Air Show and the Aerospace Industries Association.

Category:Aerospace companies