FARNBOROUGH, England – Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. is the latest CFM customer to become part of TRUEngine, qualifying CFM56-7B engines in its fleet for the program.
The TRUEngine designation serves as a method for identifying engines with CFM-approved content and facilitates product support of the engine system. Moreover, industry stakeholders can use the knowledge of engine content to evaluate engine value and re-marketability.
GOL has been a CFM customer since it began operations in January 2001. In the last decade it has become one of the world’s most profitable low-cost carriers. The airline currently operates more than 810 flights daily on 63 domestic Brazilian routes and 13 international destinations. Its current fleet consists of 123 CFM56-7-powered 737-700/-800 aircraft with 90 additional airplanes on order.
"To be part of the TRUEngine program is a proof of Maintenance Quality and Efficiency”, said Alberto Correnti, Maintenance & Engineering Director for GOL Airlines. “By joining the program, GOL Airlines express once more the ability for innovation. The TRUEngine program assures all CFM56 maintenance aspects incorporation that fits perfectly with the company’s commitment to fleet standardization, not limited to equipment but also, reaching the entire engine management process. The TRUEngine program provides excellence on engine maintenance and can contribute more to the company goals that are safety and intelligence managing our business”.
Since CFM launched the program in 2008, CFM has continued to enhance the program to bring added customer value. One such enhancement includes the addition of cumulative lease days that qualify customers for complimentary annual spare engine support from the CFM lease pool in the event a TRUEngine qualified engine has an unscheduled removal
“On behalf of the entire CFM team, I welcome GOL to the TRUEngine family,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International. “We have had an outstanding relationship with this airline from its inception and are pleased that they will reap the extensive benefits of the TRUEngine program as they continue to operate one of the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleets in the region.”
TRUEngine has continued to achieve broad-based industry acceptance. Currently, more than 7,000 CFM56 engines in service with nearly 75 operators worldwide have been qualified for the TRUEngine program.
The TRUEngine program is available for all CFM56 engines. To qualify, a customer submits a declared list of compliant engine serial numbers, along with engine maintenance records, to CFM for evaluation to ensure the engine content, overhaul practices, and repairs are consistent with CFM requirements for that engine model.
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Bovespa: GOLL4 and NYSE: GOL), the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, offers around 810 daily flights to 63 destinations in Brazil and 13 in South America and the Caribbean under the GOL and VARIG brands, using a young, modern fleet of Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, the safest, most efficient and most economical of their type. It also offers its clients a further 12 Brazilian destinations through agreements with local regional airlines. In addition, the SMILES loyalty program, the largest in Brazil, allows members to accumulate miles and redeem tickets to more than 560 locations around the world via flights with foreign partner airlines. The Company also operates Gollog, a logistics service which retrieves and delivers cargo and packages to and from more than 1800 cities in Brazil and eight abroad. With its portfolio of innovative products and services, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes offers the best cost-benefit ratio in the market.