LE BOURGET - GE Aircraft Engines' GE90 engine, the world's largest and most powerful jet engine, has demonstrated outstanding performance in its first 20 months of revenue service powering the Boeing 777.
In logging more than 30,000 revenue flight hours in service, the Boeing 777-200, powered by the GE90-85B derated to 76,000 pounds thrust, and the 777-200 IGW (Increased Gross Weight), powered by the GE90-92B derated to 90,000 pounds thrust, have experienced no in-flight shutdowns, and have maintained an industry-leading 99.97 percent dispatch reliability rate. Dispatch reliability is based on the number of flights delayed for 15 minutes or more, or canceled, for any engine-caused reason.
Besides terrific reliability, the GE90 also offers airline customers specific noise, fuel burn, and emissions advantages. "The quietness of the GE90 allows for twice as many takeoffs and landings as competing engines at noise-restricted airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London," said Russ Sparks, GE90 Project manager. "The value of the GE90 is obvious. Besides the lowest noise signature, the GE90 has also demonstrated the lowest emissions and lowest specific fuel consumption of any engine in its thrust class. The GE90 has also proven that it is extremely reliable and easy to maintain. These are all valuable assets to airline customers."
The GE90 was initially certified at 85,000 pounds takeoff thrust in February 1995 and entered service with launch customer British Airways in November 1995 on the Boeing 777-200. The first GE90 growth engine, the GE90-92B, was certified at 92,000 pounds takeoff thrust by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in July 1996 and entered service on the Boeing 777-200 IGW aircraft in February 1997. The -92B was the first engine to power the 777-200 IGW in revenue service.
In addition to the twelve GE90-powered Boeing 777 aircraft of British Airways, China Southern also operates six GE90-powered Boeing 777-200 and -200 IGW aircraft. GE90-powered Boeing 777s have also been ordered by Air France, Continental Airlines, Kuwait Airways, GE Capital Aviation Services, International Lease Finance Corporation, Lauda Air, and Saudi Arabian Airlines. These engine orders are valued at more than $3 billion.