WASHINGTON, DC During a special ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce on 11 Feb, French Safran and U.S. General Electric (GE) marked the ...
WASHINGTON, DC
During a special ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce on 11 Feb, French Safran and U.S. General Electric (GE) marked the signing of the historic partnership agreement that formed CFM International in 1974.
The event launched a nearly year-long celebration that will culminate on September 24, 2014 – the 40th anniversary of the world’s most successful international joint venture. In 2008, both companies renewed the partnership agreement till 2040.
The original framework agreement was signed in 1974, creating CFM International as a 50/50 joint venture between the two aircraft engine manufacturers. The two companies already had a co-production agreement on GE’s CF6 turbofan engine family since 1968.
The agreement called for two parent companies to share everything equally, from design and development to production and support and marketing and sales. Final engine assembly is performed both at GE facilities in the United States and at Snecma (Safran) facilities in France.
The first CFM-powered aircraft, a DC-8 Super 70, entered commercial service on April 24, 1982 with Delta Air Lines.
Today, CFM built engines logs one million engine hours every nine days. On average, a CFM56-powered aircraft takes off every two seconds.
More than 26,000 CFM56 engines powering 30 different aircrafts have been delivered to date to more than 530 operators. The CFM56 fleet in service has logged 700 million flight hours in service powering more than 11,000 commercial and military aircraft worldwide as the most reliable engines in the air.
The advanced new LEAP engine, currently undergoing certification testing, has achieved broad-based market acceptance, with 6,000 engines ordered to date. The engine is delivering on the aggressive goals CFM set for it when the program was launched in 2008: a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency; double-digit improvements in noise and emissions; and the lowest overall cost of ownership in the industry. CFM is on track for engine certification for the U.S. FAA and European EASA in 2016 and entry into airline service in 2016.
