300 powered by the advanced CFM56-5C/P entered service with Swiss International Airlines in November 2003, and South African Airways is on schedule to take delivery of the first -5C/P-powered Airbus A340 Enhanced later this month.
The CFM56-5C, which powers the Airbus A340-200, A340300, and A340 Enhanced, is produced by CFM International (CFM). CFM, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) and General Electric Company, is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.
South African Airways launched the CFM56-5C/P program in early 2002 with an order for six aircraft. Swiss International Airlines has ordered 12 airplanes. The engine was developed for both the A340 Enhanced aircraft and as an upgrade package for current CFM56-5C4 operators. CFM sees a potential market for 500 engines/upgrade kits.
The -5C/P incorporates the advanced 3-D aerodynamic technology originally developed for the CFM56-5B/P, 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 1 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption and a 13° C improvement in exhaust gas temperature (EGT). This added margin will translate to 10 percent lower maintenance costs through longer time on wing.
Upgrade kits, which will be available by mid-2004, are 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. CFM completed back-to-back engine tests with an overhauled CFM56-5C engine to verify the benefits of the upgrade kit for current A340 operators.
The engine maintains the CFM56-5C noise signature, which is the quietest in its class. The CFM56-5C-powered A340 meets all current noise regulations with a cumulative margin of 23 EPNdB (effective perceived noise in decibels). The CFM56-5C/P becomes the production configuration in 2004.