Cathay Pacific Airways ordered three GE90-115B-powered 777-300ERs and one GEnx-2B-powered 747-8 Freighter. Cathay Pacific also signed a 15-year OnPointSM solution agreement to cover the maintenance, repair and overhaul of these engines.
This order follows the decision last week from Cathay Pacific to become Asia’s first 777X customer with orders for 21 GE9X-powered Boeing 777-9X aircraft.
Cathay Pacific ordered its first 777-300ER in 2005 and has since become the world’s second largest operator with 53 on order, 38 of which has been delivered and in operation to date.
Cathay Pacific took its first 747-8 Freighter delivery in October 2011, and with a total order now standing at 14, the airline is currently the world’s largest operator of this aircraft type.
At 115,000 pounds of thrust, the GE90-115B engine includes such performance-enhancing features as three-dimensional aerodynamic (3-D aero) compressor and wide-chord, swept composite fan blades for greater efficiency. The dual annual combustor emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons allowed by today’s international standards. More than 1,500 GE90-115B engines have been ordered by customers for their Boeing 777-300ER, 777-200LR and 777 Freighters.
Snecma of France and IHI Corporation of Japan are revenue-sharing participants in the GE90 program.
The GEnx engine family is the fastest-selling engine in GE Aviation history with more than 1,300 engines on order. Compared to GE’s CF6 engine, the GEnx engine offers up to 15 percent better fuel consumption, which translates to 15 percent less CO2. The GEnx’s innovative twin-annular pre-swirl (TAPS) combustor dramatically reduces NOx gases as much as 55 percent below today’s regulatory limits and other regulated gases as much as 90 percent. Based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust, the GEnx is the quietest engine GE produces due to the large, more efficient fan blades that operate at a slower tip speed, resulting in about 40 percent lower noise levels.
Revenue-sharing participants on the GEnx are IHI Corporation of Japan, GKN Aerospace Engine Systems of Sweden, MTU of Germany, TechSpace Aero of Belgium, Snecma (SAFRAN Group) of France and Samsung Techwin of Korea.
The GEnx and GE90-115B engines are part of GE’s “ecomagination” product portfolio—GE’s commitment to implementing innovative, cost-effective technologies that enhance the customers’ environmental and operating performance.
OnPoint solutions are customized service agreements tailored to the operational and financial needs of each customer for any size fleet. These agreements are designed to help lower the customers’ cost of ownership and maximize the use of their assets. Backed by GE’s global support network, OnPoint services may include overhaul, on wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing, integrated systems support and diagnostics and integrated systems.
Source / Author: GE
Photo: Snecma