7B engines in the Tech Insertion configuration entered service on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 in May 2007 and certification of the CFM56-5B variant on the Airbus A320 family is anticipated in July 2007.
CFM International (CFM) is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) and General Electric Company. CFM is the world's leading aircraft engine manufacturer, with more than 17,000 engines delivered to date.
Tech Insertion becomes the production standard for the CFM56-7B and CFM56-5B in 2007. Both engines were jointly certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2006 and completed exhaustive flight test programs on the Boeing 737 (CFM56-7B) and Airbus A320 (CFM56-5B) aircraft.
In 2008, CFM will offer a full core upgrade for the nearly 8,000 CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines currently in service, in addition to sub-kits for the high-pressure compressor and the high- and low-pressure turbines.
Over the engine's life cycle, CFM56 Tech Insertion will provide operators with longer time on wing through an equivalent 15 - 20° C additional exhaust gas temperature margin; lower maintenance costs by between five and 12 percent depending on the thrust rating through enhanced durability; and reduce specific fuel consumption by up to 1 percent, which translates to better fuel burn. The engine will also meet the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection emissions standards (CAEP /6) scheduled to take effect in 2008. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor, the combustor, and the high- and low-pressure turbines. The new configuration is designated by a "/3" on the engine name place (i.e. CFM56-7B27/3)