EVENDALE, Ohio (June 28, 2000) Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has finalized its order for CFM56-5C4 engines to power six firm, four option Airbus Industrie A340-300 aircraft. The airline announced the aircraft purchase last December and will take delivery of the first six A340s between July 2001 and mid-2003.
CFM International (CFM), which is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States, values the firm engine orders at $120 million. SAS, which is a consortium formed by the national carriers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden more than 50 years ago, has also taken reconfirmable options for 10 additional CFM56-5C-powered aircraft. The airline placed its first direct CFM56 engine order in 1995 when it selected the CFM56-7-powered Boeing 737-600 for its short-haul fleet after an exhaustive analysis of many aircraft/engine combinations. After taking delivery of its first 737NG in September 1998, SAS has introduced 38 aircraft into its fleet, including the 737-700 and 737-800. These airplanes have logged more than 145,000 hours and 143,000 cycles to date. SAS was the launching airline for CFM56-7 engines equipped with CFM's double annular combustor. CFM is the only manufacturer in this thrust class to offer this technology, which reduces NOx emissions by up to 40 percent compared to a conventional combustor.
"Environmental factors are among SAS's top criteria when selecting new aircraft, and they played a role in the selection process which led to the A340 purchase," said Ornulf Myrvoll, senior vice president, SAS Technical Division. "The low noise and excellent fuel efficiency of the CFM56-5C4 engines which power the A340 were key factors in our decision."
The CFM56-5-powered A340 is one of the quietest aircraft in its class with a cumulative noise margin of 23 EPNdB (effective, perceived noise in decibels) below current regulations. The engines low fuel consumption also minimizes carbon dioxide emissions.
"We at CFM are already very proud of the fact that we provide the engines for SAS's short-haul fleet," said David Cook, vice president of International Sales for CFM. "This airline is a major European carrier and a key player in one of the world's largest alliances. To be selected to power its long-haul fleet as well is a major vote of confidence for our products and our people. We're looking forward to a very long, very successful relationship with SAS."
The CFM56-5C4, rated at 34,000 pounds (151 kN) thrust, is the highest thrust CFM56 engine model and is the exclusive powerplant for the long-range, four-engine A340-200 and A340-300. This fleet has logged more than 11 million flight hours to date with outstanding in-service reliability. The CFM56-5C-powered A340 has been experiencing a resurgence in orders. Last year, the fleet grew 15 percent with 31 new A340s ordered, making it the best-selling wide-body aircraft in 1999. CFM is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines. Over the past 10 years, CFM56 engines have been selected to power more than 50 percent of all commercial aircraft with a capacity of 100 passengers or more ordered in that time frame.