7B-powered Boeing 737 aircraft has achieved 25 million engine flight hours in just six years of revenue service -- the fastest accumulation of flight hours in commercial aviation history.
The CFM56-7 is produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) and General Electric Company.
"The success of this program has been overwhelming," said Pierre Fabre, president and CEO of CFM International. "We are honored that Boeing and the airlines made us such an integral part of their Working Together Team. We've been able to develop and refine an airplane/engine combination that provides exceptional reliability and operating economics for our customers."
The first CFM56-7-powered 737-700 was delivered to launch customer Southwest Airlines in December 1997. Today, more than 1,425 aircraft are in service with airlines worldwide. The fleet, which includes 737-600/-700/ -800/ -900, has also accumulated more than 13 million engine flight cycles. The aircraft's 99.96 percent dispatch reliability rate translates to less than one departure per 2,000 flights being delayed 15 minutes or more or canceled.
In addition to the commercial 737 applications, the CFM56-7 also powers the Boeing Business Jet. The first military application, the C-40A is currently in service with the U.S. Naval Reserve. The aircraft is a modified 737-700 combination passenger and freighter airplane which was designed to replace the Navy's C-9 fleet. A second military application, the 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft, will enter service with the Australian Defense Force in 2006. The "green" aircraft was certified in 2003 in preparation for installation of radar and other electronic hardware. Boeing is scheduled to begin flight tests in mid-2004.