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CFM56-7B Fleet Logs 20 Million Engine Flight
Hours
LE BOURGET – June 16, 2003 –The worldwide
fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft has achieved 10 million
aircraft flight hours (20 million engine flight hours) in a record
five years of revenue service. This represents the fastest accumulation
of flight hours in commercial aviation history.
The CFM56-7 is produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company
between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric Company.
“The success of this program has been overwhelming,”
said Pierre Fabre, president and CEO of CFM International. “We
are honored that Boeing and the airlines made us such an integral
part of this team, continuing to put their confidence in our people
and our product. Through the Working Together Team, we’ve
been able to develop and refine an airplane/engine combination that
provides exceptional reliability and operating economics for our
customers.”
The first CFM56-7-powered 737-700 was delivered to launch customer
Southwest Airlines in December 1997. Today, more than 1,200 aircraft
are in service with airlines worldwide. The fleet, which includes
737-600/-700/ -800/ -900 aircraft, has also accumulated more than
10 million engine flight cycles. The aircraft’s 99.96 percent
dispatch reliability rate translates to fewer than one departure
per 2,000 flights being delayed 15 minutes or more or canceled.
In addition to the commercial 737 applications, the CFM56-7 also
powers the Boeing Business Jet. The first military application,
the C-40A, is currently in service with the U.S. Naval Reserve.
The aircraft is a modified 737-700 combination passenger and freighter
airplane which was designed to replace the Navy's C-9 fleet. A second
military application, the Boeing Airborne Early Warning & Control
(AEW&C), will enter service with the Australian Defense Force
in 2006. The Turkish Air Force has also ordered four AEW&Cs.
The “green” aircraft was certified earlier this year
in prepartion for installation of radar and other electronic hardware.
According to Boeing, flight tests are scheduled for late 2003.
# # #
For further information, contact:
Jamie Jewell
33.1.41.57.55.51
jamie.jewell@ae.ge.com
U.S.: 513.243.6890
Rick Kennedy
33.1.41.57.60.02
rick.l.kennedy@ae.ge.com
U.S.: 513.243.3372
Vincent Chappard
33.1. 41.57.55.30
vincent.chappard@snecma.fr
Paris: 33.1.40.60.80.18
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