Atlantic Airways, the national airline of the Faroe Islands, has selected the CFM56-5B engine to power the Airbus A319 the airline ordered in 2008. Atlantic Airways placed a firm order with CFM on the first day of the 2009 Le Bourget Air Show. The airline is scheduled to take delivery in 2011.
Atlantic Airways, which was established in 1987, plans to operate its new aircraft on regular flights between Faroe Islands and Denmark, as well as other European countries. The engines will be the advanced CFM56-5B Tech Insertion configuration.
"We chose the CFM56-5B as we believe this product provides us the best overall solution when you take into account reliability, performance economics and environment," said Mr. Magni Arge, president and CEO of Atlantic Airways.
"We are very pleased to welcome Atlantic Airways as a new CFM customers especially in current economic environment," said Claude Poulain, vice president of sales for CFM International. "Our commitment is to provide the high quality product and world-class support that Atlantic Airways is counting on."
Tech Insertion engines will bring significant operational benefits for Atlantic Airways. Over the engine's life cycle, CFM56 Tech Insertion will provide the airline better specific fuel consumption, which translates to better fuel burn and, as a result, lower CO2 emissions. The engine also meets the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection standards (CAEP /6) that took effect in early 2008.
Tech Insertion will also result in longer time on wing through an equivalent 15 - 20° C additional exhaust gas temperature margin; between 5 and 15 percent lower maintenance costs (depending on the thrust rating) through enhanced durability. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor, the combustor, and the high- and low-pressure turbines.
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) and General Electric Company.