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CFM56-5B Certified on Airbus A318; Frontier
Set to Take Delivery July 1
LE BOURGET – June 16, 2003 – The European
Joint Airworthiness Authorities have certified the CFM56-5B-powered
Airbus A318. Certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administation
is expected in June, paving the way for Frontier Airlines to take
delivery of its first airplane in July 2003. The CFM56-5B is a member
of the CFM56 engine family produced by CFM International (CFM),
a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General
Electric Company. With more than 13,500 engines in service, CFM
is the world's leading aircraft engine supplier.
In 2002, CFM certified two new thrust ratings for the A318: the
CFM56-5B8, rated at 21,600 pounds (96 kN) thrust, and the CFM56-5B9,
rated at 23,300 pounds (103.5 kN) thrust. No hardware changes were
required for these new ratings.
Air France is scheduled to begin taking delivery of its A318s in
October of this year. In addition to the Air France (15 firm, 10
option) and Frontier (five firm, five option) orders, GE Capital
Aviation Services has 30 CFM56-5B-powered A318s on order and will
receive its first airplane in 2004.
The CFM56-5B engines for the A318 are the same as those powering
the Airbus A319/ A320/A321. As the only engine that can power every
model of the A320 family with the same bill of materials, the CFM56-5B
provides airlines a distinct commonality advantage, in addition
to the lowest cost of operation on this application.
The CFM56-5 continues to be the engine of choice for the Airbus
A320 family, having been selected to power 57 percent of all A320
family aircraft ordered to date. The high reliability, long on-wing
life, and low maintenance costs of the CFM56 engine family make
these engines extremely popular with leasing companies. One of the
primary factors behind the engine’s broad-based market acceptance
has been its simple, rugged architecture, which gives it the highest
reliability, durability, and repairability in its class.
# # #
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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