CF34 Turbofan Engine Achieves Three Million Flight Hour Milestone in Airline Service

March 29, 1999

LYNN, Massachusetts - GE's CF34 turbofan engine, which has demonstrated an outstanding performance record during more than six years of airline service on the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), recently achieved the three million engine flight hour milestone.

The CF34 entered service on the 50-passenger CRJ-100 with Lufthansa CityLine GmbH on November 2, 1992, followed shortly thereafter by entry into service with U.S. regional airline Comair. Comair and Lufthansa continue to operate the largest fleets of the CF34-powered airliners with 71 and 32 aircraft respectively.

"The continuing success and strong demand for the CF34 is due in large measure to the engine's exceptional performance and reliability record and the contribution it is making to our customers' profitability," said Frank Klaus, general manager of the Small Commercial Engine Operation of GE Aircraft Engines.

"During the past 12 months, the CF34 engine-caused inflight shutdown rate was 0.005 per 1,000 hours. This performance equates to one event every 228,200 hours. The engine's shop visit rate was also a very low 0.063 per 1,000 hours, or one visit every 17,300 hours. By any measure, that's a lot of trouble-free operation and an outstanding service record."

High engine reliability, coupled with GE's flight operations and customer support programs, contributed significantly to the CF34's nearly flawless introduction into airline service and the continuation of its excellent performance in a rapidly expanding global airline fleet during six years of operation.

"The CF34 is a great performer in other areas that also have a real value payoff to our customers," said Klaus. "The engine's excellent fuel efficiency has helped the CRJ deliver better than anticipated fuel consumption, and its low noise and emissions contribute to the CRJ's reputation as an environmentally 'green' aircraft."

A total of 277 CRJ aircraft are currently in service with 18 airlines throughout the world, plus firm and option orders valued at more than $1.5 billion were placed for CF34 engines in 1998.