FARNBOROUGH - GE Aircraft Engines' CF6 aircraft engine family, which this year celebrates 25 years of industry-leading reliability and service, has introduced cost-saving technology and initiatives aimed at making the CF6 the undisputed industry leader in reducing airline operating costs.
A low-emissions combustor, for example, now in service with CF6-80C2 engines on the United Parcel Service 767-300ER freighters, burns fuel more efficiently and cleanly, reducing emissions. Many countries, particularly in Europe, are adopting the tougher standards for aircraft emissions recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and, in some cases, now tax emissions. However, since the low-emissions combustor reduces hydrocarbon emissions to 12 percent of ICAO standards, carbon monoxide emissions to 22 percent, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions to 49 percent, customers operating CF6 engines with the new combustor are spared this cost.
GE is investing in new technology for its mature CF6 line as well. For example, GE now incorporates new blade technology into its CF6-50 and CF6-80A stage one turbine blades. Cast-in tips, internal aluminide blade coatings, and new cooling technology all lower blade metal temperatures. Lower metal temperatures improve blade life, which lowers the cost of ownership even further.
Also, improvements in repair shop workscope processes allow GE to identify more effective ways to manage engine maintenance, thus improving engine reliability, time on wing, and overall customer value.
"That we continually improve the CF6 with new technologies ensures improved customer value not only now, but for years to come," said Larry Scott, CF6 program general manager. "This continual technology infusion, combined with a dedicated product support team will maintain the CF6 as the value leader for years to come."
In its 25 years of service, the CF6 family of engines has achieved remarkable levels of reliability while accumulating more than 145 million flight hours serving more than 150 airline customers worldwide. Entering service in 1984, the top-selling CF6-80C2 fleet has accumulated almost 30 million flight hours while maintaining a dispatch reliability rate of 99.95 percent. GE's CF6-80E1 high bypass turbofan engine entered revenue service in January 1994 on the Airbus Industrie A330. Since then, it has accumulated almost 80,000 total flight hours while maintaining a basic dispatch reliability rate of 99.95 percent and experiencing only one engine-caused shop visit.
Fleetwide, the earlier-version CF6-50 and CF6-80A engines continue to set standards for performance and reliability. Together accumulating more than 100,000 flight hours in a typical week, the -50 and -80A maintain basic dispatch reliability rates better than 99.9 percent (or fewer than one engine-caused delay per 1,000 departures).