The Federal Aviation Administration granted Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 33 certification to the GE Aviation GE9X engine, meaning it is cleared for commercial flight, which will happen with the start of service for the new Boeing 777X aircraft.
Boeing expects to begin delivery of the twin-engine, wide-body 777X in 2022. GE noted it has orders and commitments for more than 600 GE9X engines.
The high-bypass turbofan engine was developed by GE Aviation from the earlier GE90 engine, with a larger fan and a higher percentage of lightweight materials (including ceramic-matrix composites), to achieve an estimated 10% greater fuel efficiency than the previous model.
The developer also explained that the new engine will offer 5% better "specific fuel consumption" (i.e., lb/hr of jet fuel used for each pound of thrust produced) than any other engine in its class. It also will operate with less smog-causing emissions than any other engine in its class, according to GE Aviation.
To gain the FAA certification, the GE9X test engines completed just under 5,000 hours and 8,000 cycles.
Eight GE9X test engines and two test spares have been produced and delivered to Seattle for Boeing’s four 777X test airplanes. Several GE9X production engines have been assembled, and GE Aviation is in the process of completing factory acceptance tests.
GE Aviation is currently conducting 3,000 cycles of additional ground testing on the GE9X engine to support Extended Operations (ETOPS) approval.
“Just as the GE90 pioneered new technology for commercial aircraft engines more than 25 years ago on the Boeing 777, the GE9X sets the new standard for engine performance and efficiency thanks to the incorporation of GE’s most advanced technologies developed over the last decade,” stated Bill Fitzgerald, GE Aviation's vice president and general manager of Commercial Engines Operation.
