EVENDALE, OHIO-- GE Aviation was recognized with the Corporate Award for Balance at the 37th Annual Lindbergh Award Celebration and Dinner, which took place last week at SUN 'n FUN during the 2011 International Fly-In & Expo. The Foundation's Corporate Award for Balance is an honor bestowed on organizations whose concern for the environment and dedication to improving quality of life are demonstrated through their business practices.
"GE Aviation's technological innovations have produced tremendous gains in fuel efficiency," observed Larry Williams, Lindbergh Foundation Chairman and CEO of BRS Aerospace. "Their dedication to research and technology that reduce fuel consumption, noise and emissions is exemplary, and certainly worthy of Lindbergh Foundation recognition," he added. "GE's work is an excellent model for other manufacturers to follow."
"GE Aviation is committed to developing new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance," said David Joyce, president and CEO, GE Aviation. "We are honored to receive the Lindbergh Corporate Award for Balance recognizing our accomplishments in this important area."
Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO, GE Aviation Systems, accepted the award for GE Aviation, and discussed how the award is a validation of ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide commitment to help customers meet their environmental and operational challenges. The ecomagination program, which now has 110 products in the portfolio, is based on GE's belief that solving environmental problems is good business around the world. It represents a pledge by the company to continually improve operations and invest in research and development that will produce more innovative ecomagination products. For GE Aviation, ecomagination represents the company's business strategy to address global aviation issues through technology and innovation, while helping airlines and other customers improve operational performance.
GE Aviation has several offerings in GE's ecomagination product portfolio, focused on improving an aircraft's fuel efficiency and reducing emissions:
- The GEnx engine, which will soon enter commercial service on the Boeing 787 and 747-8 programs, has been designed to improve fuel efficiency by 15% versus the engine it replaces, translating to 15% less CO2.
- The TrueCourse Flight Management System is a hardware and software avionics systems that allows aircraft to fly a more direct and precise path when landing, resulting in lower fuel consumption along with lower emissions and noise impact.
- GE's Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Services help aircraft operators achieve consistent economic and environmental benefits through the implementation of an advanced form of navigation.
- OnPointSM Fuel and Carbon Solutions help customers identify and track operation improvements that could reduce their fuel spend by an average of three percent.
- The GE90-115B engine powering the Boeing 777 is designed to be more fuel-efficient than its closest competitor, enabling it to use 18 percent less fuel per seat.
- CFM56 Tech Insertion aircraft engines produce on average 28 percent fewer NOx emissions than the engine lines they replace, the base CFM56-5B/P and -7B engines.
About The Lindbergh Foundation The Lindbergh Foundation is a public nonprofit organization, based in Anoka, Minnesota, which focuses on technological breakthroughs to address significant aviationenvironmental issues. The Lindbergh Foundation also values individual initiative and accomplishments. Its programs are devoted to supporting, honoring, and educating individuals, through three major programs: the annual Lindbergh Award, presented to individuals for significant contributions toward balancing nature and scientific innovation in their work; the Lindbergh Grants program, which provides grants in amounts up to $10,580 (the cost of building the Spirit of St. Louis in 1927) for research or education projects that will make important contributions to the technology/environment balance; and a variety of educational events and publications centered on the balance theme.
About SUN 'n FUN SUN 'n FUN, a not-for-profit organization based in Lakeland, Florida, is best known for its annual International Fly-In and Expo. The Fly-In event is the primary source of funding for an expanding menu of year-round, aviation-oriented education programs offered by SUN 'n FUN and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Florida Air Museum (FAM). For more information, access the SUN 'n FUN and FAM website at http://www.sun-n-fun.org or call (863) 644-2431.
About ecomagination GE is driving a global transformation with a focus on innovation and R&D investment. From its inception in 2005, more than 90 ecomagination-approved products have been brought to market with revenues reaching $18 billion in 2009. With $5 billion invested in R&D its first five years, GE committed to doubling its ecomagination investment and collaborating with partners to accelerate a new era of innovation. The company will invest $10 billion in R&D over the next five years and double operational energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.
About GE Aviation GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.
Photo caption: (left to right) Sean D. Tucker, aerobatic pilot; Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO, GE Aviation Systems; Larry Williams, Lindbergh Foundation chairman and CEO, CEO of BRS Aerospace