Abella has nearly 40 years of aeronautical experience in jet engines, nacelles, aerostructures, aircraft systems, powerplant integration and program management.
This expertise will be applied as Nexcelle pursues its development of nacelle systems for next-generation integrated propulsion systems that equip commercial airliners and business jets.
In particular, Abella will oversee Nexcelle's ramp up of production and initial hardware delivery for the company's two current program wins: the nacelle systems for CFM International's LEAP-1C integrated propulsion system on COMAC's C919 airliner and the GE Passport engine for Bombardier's Global 7000 and Global 8000 twin-jet business aircraft.
Prior to his appointment, Abella was the Director of Programs at Nexcelle.
Previously, Abella was the A380 Nacelle Program Director at Aircelle, with overall program management responsibility for nacelles that equip both engine options on the Airbus double-deck jetliner: Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 and the Engine Alliance GP7200. He also was Plant and Operations Director at Aircelle's nacelle integration and podding facility in Toulouse, France, with additional responsibility as the company interface for Airbus.
Other positions held during Abella's industry career included the Operations General Manager with Snecma (Safran) in Toulouse for CFM56 engines, as well as the Paris-based program manager for CFM56-5C powerplants used on the Airbus A340 jetliner.
Abella is a graduated Mechanical Engineer from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées in Lyon, France, and has pursued diversified management and training courses in both France and the U.S. He also is a certified private pilot.
In his new role as Nexcelle's president, Abella succeeds Huntley Myrie, who was appointed to an expanded role to manage Nacelles Products across GE Aviation, including GE Aviation's Middle River Aircraft Systems.
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