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How next-generation durability upgrades and inspection technology are redefining engine maintenance economics.
In October 2025, GE Aerospace unveiled a new phase in its quest to enhance engine reliability and reduce maintenance downtime. Building on lessons from its GEnx platform, GE announced the rollout of durability-upgrade kits and AI-enabled remote visual inspection (RVI) tools for the CFM LEAP and GE9X engines. The initiative aims to significantly extend time on wing (TOW), improve inspection accuracy, and reduce turnaround times (TAT) across global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) networks.
At the core of this transformation is a renewed emphasis on inspection precision and system integration—and Instrument Technology, Inc. (ITI) is proud to contribute to this effort.
The Challenge: Durability in the New Generation of Jet Engines
As reported by The Air Current and GE Aerospace’s own briefings, modern high-bypass engines such as the LEAP and GE9X deliver remarkable efficiency, yet operate under extreme thermal and particulate stress. These conditions can accelerate wear on turbine components, reducing service life and inflating maintenance costs.
To counter this, GE Aerospace is introducing durability kits—hardware and software updates designed to improve component robustness and extend service intervals. Complementing those physical upgrades are advanced inspection systems that use high-resolution imaging and artificial intelligence to detect microscopic wear patterns before they compromise performance.
The Role of Remote Visual Inspection (RVI)
The Blade Inspection Tool (BIT) program, first developed for the GEnx engine, has proven that precision inspection can halve inspection times—cutting a typical 3-hour procedure to about 90 minutes—while improving consistency and data quality. GE Aerospace is now extending this capability to its LEAP and GE9X fleets.
These systems depend on specialized remote visual inspection kits—high-tolerance assemblies that integrate optics, electronics, and mechanical interfaces precisely aligned with engine borescope ports and AI image-capture requirements.
ITI’s Contribution: Design and Manufacturing Excellence
ITI Aerospace, a division of Instrument Technology, Inc., has been selected by GE Aerospace to design and manufacture the next generation of RVI kits that will support the LEAP and GE9X engine inspection programs.
With more than 55 years of optical-mechanical design and vertically integrated manufacturing, ITI is delivering:
This partnership underscores ITI’s capability to bridge design innovation and manufacturing discipline in support of aerospace customers worldwide.
Why It Matters
Every additional hour an engine remains on wing translates to greater fleet efficiency, lower maintenance cost, and reduced emissions. Achieving that outcome depends on seeing more, faster, and with greater confidence—the very goal of next-generation RVI systems.
As GE Aerospace modernizes its inspection toolset, ITI’s mission is clear: to supply the hardware foundation that enables this digital transformation in maintenance and reliability.
About ITI Aerospace
ITI Aerospace designs and manufactures remote visual inspection systems and kits for aircraft engines, rotors, and landing-gear assemblies. A veteran-owned small business, ITI provides contract design, precision machining, cleanroom assembly, and turnkey system delivery from its Massachusetts headquarters. Its customers include major aerospace OEMs and MRO providers committed to advancing inspection accuracy, durability, and operational readiness.
Contact ITI Aerospace
Learn how ITI can support your next inspection or engine-maintenance initiative.
