LE BOURGET June 16, 2003 The worldwide fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft has achieved 10 million aircraft flight hours (20 million engine flight hours) in a record five years of revenue service. This represents 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) of France 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 this team, continuing to put their confidence in our people and our product. Through the 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 1,300 aircraft are in service with airlines worldwide. The fleet, which includes 737-600/-700/ -800/ -900 aircraft, has also accumulated more than 10 million engine flight cycles. The aircraft's 99.96 percent dispatch reliability rate translates to fewer 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 Boeing Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), will enter service with the Australian Defense Force in 2006. The Turkish Air Force has also ordered four AEW&Cs. The "green" aircraft was certified earlier this year in prepartion for installation of radar and other electronic hardware. According to Boeing, flight tests are scheduled for late 2003.