EVENDALE, Ohio - With more than 4,000 CF34 engines powering regional aircraft, GE Aviation expects the engine fleet to exceed 8,600 by 2018 - based on the strong demand being forecast for GE-powered regional aircraft.
(With 1,400 CF34 engines powering Bombardier Challenger business jets, the total CF34 fleet for regional and business aircraft is expected to reach 11,000 engines by 2018.)
In 2008, GE will deliver nearly 500 CF34 engines for regional aircraft, with the delivery rate growing more than 20 percent annually. Based on today's order book, CF34 deliveries for regional aircraft will exceed 700 engines in 2010.
CF34 engines power regional aircraft in the 50-to-120-passenger range, with an airline customer base that has grown from 24 airlines to 82 airlines in seven years.
"The growing CF34 installed base in service fuels our aggressive technology investments to further enhance this fleet's high reliability and low operating costs," said Chuck Nugent, general manager for CF34 programs. "GE is not taking its leadership role in regional aircraft for granted."
GE has already invested more than $2 billion in development programs to establish its CF34 engine family, comprised of six basic engine models and 13 variants to power an array of Bombardier, Embraer, and AVIC1 regional aircraft.
As GE develops CF34 variants, the company feeds these improvements into earlier models. As an example, since the first CF34-8 engine entered service on 70-passenger Bombardier jets in 2001, several CF34-8 technology improvements have been incorporated into existing models, and also led to new engine models, such as the CF34-8C5A2 to be introduced in 2009 for the CRJ1000. It will feature a new first-stage, high-pressure turbine nozzle and other enhancements for durability targeted to deliver up to 12 percent lower engine maintenance costs.
Also, GE is involved in technology development for a new centerline CF34 engine to power next-generation regional aircraft. This future engine will derive advanced materials and designs from the highly popular GEnx engine for the Boeing 787 and 747-8, as well as engine core durability advances being developed by GE for CFM International* to meet the same high-cycle operation of next-generation narrow-body aircraft. GE is developing and maturing technologies to meet these requirements for a time frame of 2015 and beyond.
Highlights of GE's CF34 engine family for the regional jet market:
CF34-10E: Approaching three years in service powering the EMBRAER 190/195. More than 300 -10E engines (20,000-pound thrust rating) are in airline service. Advanced technologies in the -10E engine have led to a 7 percent reduction in specific fuel consumption, 15 percent longer time on wing, and 23 percent fewer life-limited parts. Planned technology improvements this year and in 2009 are expected to further improve fuel consumption by another 1 percent.
CF34-10A: Selected for China AVIC 1's 90-passenger ARJ21-700, which held its official rollout ceremony in December 2007. Based on the -10E engine, the CF34-10A engine (18,000 pounds thrust) first ran in ground tests in late 2007. The ARJ21 flight test is scheduled to begin this year.
CF34-8: The CF34-8 family has more than 1,350 engines in service powering the Bombardier CRJ700 with the CF34-8C1 and -8C5B1 engines (13,800 pounds of thrust), the CRJ900 with the CF34-8C5 engine (14,500 pounds of thrust), and the EMBRAER 170/175 with the CF34-8E5 (14,500 pounds of thrust). The CF34-8C1 has incorporated technology from the -8C5 version to create a common engine for the CRJ700 and CRJ900. To date, 95 percent of the CRJ700 fleet is under contract for this upgrade. The CF34-8C5A2 variant (14,510 pounds of thrust) enters service on the CRJ1000 in 2009.
CF34-3: Powering the Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200, the CF34-3A1 and -3B1 engines (9,000 pound thrust class) have accumulated more than 35 million flight hours. An upgrade package is being sold to convert the CF34-3A1 to a CF34-3B1 to improve fuel burn and climb thrust capability.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
*CFM International is a 50/50 of Snecma (SAFRAN) and General Electric Company.