The Civil Aviation Administration of China and the China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Corporation have together placed a $130 million order for CFM56-5B4 engines to power 13 new Airbus Industrie A320 aircraft.
The CFM56-5B4 is produced by CFM International (CFMI), a 50/50 joint company of Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States.
The A320s, which are scheduled for delivery between 1997 and 2000, will be divided between China Northwest, which will get 10 new planes, and Zhejiang Airlines, which will operate the three remaining aircraft. The A320s will be the first introduction of CFM56-powered aircraft into either fleet.
The CFM56-5B, rated at 27,000 pounds thrust for this application, is offered at five thrust ratings ranging from 22,000 pounds to 32,000 pounds for the Airbus A319, A320, and A321. The engine entered service in July 1994 and has performed exceptionally well in operational service. The CFM56-5B has logged more than 219,000 flight hours with no in-flight shutdowns, has a 99.9 dispatch reliability rate, and is the most economical of the A320 powerplants to operate due to its leading reliability and low maintenance costs.