Specific Fuel Consumption Improvement Noted
The Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric
and Pratt & Whitney, celebrated completion of its 100th GP7200
engine on Thursday with employees and partners at a ceremony in
Middletown, CT. The GP7200 powers Airbus' A380 aircraft, and the
100th engine is destined for an Air France airplane.
"We are so proud of this partnership," said Engine Alliance
President Mary Ellen Jones, speaking at the ceremony held at EA
partner Pratt & Whitney's assembly and test facility. "One
hundred engines is a significant milestone, but it is only the
beginning for an engine that has met or exceeded our customers'
expectations."
Jones told the audience that in recognition of the GP7200's
demonstrated fuel performance on the A380, Airbus recently revised
the performance handbook, or "Orange Book" to reflect a 0.5%
Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) improvement for the GP7200-powered
aircraft. The Orange Book is frequently used by prospective
aircraft purchasers as a predictor of aircraft performance. This
improvement substantiates the GP7200's total competitive fuel burn
advantage of at least 1%.
"With the best fuel performance on the A380 and outstanding
reliability, the GP7200 is providing significant value for our
customers," noted Jones. Nearing two years in revenue service,
GP7200 engine's dispatch reliability rating is 99.9%.
There are 14 GP7200-powered A380s in service. EA launch customer
Emirates began operating the aircraft in August 2008 and received
its eleventh A380 on July 2. Emirates is Airbus' largest A380
customer with orders for 90 of the super-jumbo aircraft. Air France
entered service with the GP7200-powered A380 in late 2009 and has
three A380s in its fleet to date. Other GP7200 customers include
Korean Air, Etihad Airways, Air Austral and International Lease
Finance Corporation (ILFC).
GP7200 Engine
The GP7200 is the result of innovations to the combined
technologies of its member companies' most successful wide body
engines: the GE90 and the PW4000. The GP7200 utilizes the lessons
learned from more than 25 million flight hours of successful
operation with these legacy engines and incorporates new technology
to produce the quietest, most fuel efficient engine for the A380.
The GP7200 is certified at 76,500 pounds (340 kN) of thrust, but
has the capability to produce more than 81,500 pounds (363 kN). Its
emissions are well below current and anticipated regulations.
The GP7200 is manufactured at GE and Pratt & Whitney, with
GE manufacturing the high pressure compressor, combustor and high
pressure turbine. Pratt & Whitney is responsible for the fan
module, low pressure compressor and low pressure turbine. Final
engine assembly is conducted at Pratt & Whitney's Engine Center
in Middletown, Connecticut. GP7200 Engine Program participants
include SNECMA (France), Techspace Aero (Belgium) and MTU Aero
Engines (Germany).