CFM56 Upgrade Sales Surpass $730 Million

July 17, 2006

FARNBOROUGH July 17, 2006 CFM International has received orders for a total of more than 580 advanced CFM56-3 and CFM56-5C/P upgrade kits at a value of more than $730 million at list price.

CFM56 engines are produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) and General Electric Company.

The CFM56-3 Advanced upgrade kit features three-dimensional high-pressure compressor (HPC) aerodynamics (3-D aero) and new high-pressure turbine hardware. The upgrade is installed during normal overhaul and provides significant benefits, including: up to a 1.6 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption, as well as up to 20( C additional exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margin.

The upgrade also improves post-overhaul time on wing by as much 1,500 to 2,000 hours. Turbine improvements include new nozzle and shroud materials, a new blade coating, and improved cooling. These changes extend component life and lower scrap rates and repair costs by as much as 50 percent.

CFM also offers two additional CFM56-3 kit options to provide customers more flexibility in managing maintenance costs. The Enhanced Performance kit includes the 3-D aero HPC blades and vanes and provides increased exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margin that translates to longer time on wing, depending on airline operations. The Enhanced Durability kit reduces scrap rate by as much as 50 percent, thus reducing maintenance costs.

The CFM56-5C/P upgrade for current Airbus A340-300 operators incorporates the advanced 3-D aerodynamic technology originally developed for the CFM56-5B/P powerplant for the A320 family, including the high-pressure compressor and high-pressure turbine design. Additional improvements have also been incorporated into the high-pressure turbine to enhance durability. Overall, the CFM56-5C/P provides operators a one percent improvement in specific fuel consumption and up to a 18 degrees C improvement in EGT margin, translating to as much as 10 percent lower maintenance costs through longer time on wing.

These upgrade kits are also installed at normal overhaul and include the compressor and high-pressure turbine, in addition to low-pressure turbine hardware. Upgraded engines are fully interchangeable and intermixable with current engines and are virtually transparent in the cockpit.

Jamie Jewell



Mobile:
+1 513.885.2282

jamie.jewell@ge.com

Charles Soret



Mobile:
+33 (0)6.31.60.96.79

charles.soret@safrangroup.com

Perry Bradley



Mobile:
+1 513 375 2597

perry.bradley@ge.com

Talal Ahmed Almahmood


+973 173 3819


talal.almahmood@gulfair.com