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GE Targets Triple-Engine Certification In CF34 Program

June 17, 2001

LE BOURGET - GE is steadily advancing toward its goal of concurrent certification of its CF34-8C5, -8D and -8E engines during the second quarter of 2002.Plans then call for all three engines to be in flight test on three different aircraft on three continents at the same time: the CF34-8C5 powering the Bombardier CRJ900 in North America; the CF34-8D powering the Fairchild Dornier 728JET in Europe; and the CF34-8E powering the Embraer ERJ 170 in South America.Following flight test, the ERJ 170 is scheduled to enter service with launch customer airline Crossair in 2002; the CRJ900, with Mesa Airlines in 2003; and the 728JET, with Lufthansa Cityline in 2003.The CF34-8C5, -8D and -8E share common turbomachinery and are all rated at 14,500 pounds (64 kN) thrust. Each is a growth derivative of the CF34-8C1, rated at 13,800 pounds (61 kN) thrust, which entered service in January of this year, powering a Bombardier 70-passenger CRJ700 airliner of Brit Air.Total firm orders for the entire series of CF34-8 engines currently exceeds 870, and options exceed 1,320.GE's next step within the CF34 family is the 18,500-pound (82-kN) thrust CF34-10 series. The CF34-10D will power the Fairchild Dornier 928JET, which accommodates 85 to 110 passengers, and the CF34-10E will power the Embraer ERJ 190, with a capacity of 98 to 108 passengers. The engines are currently in final design, and testing of the first complete engine is to begin in May of next year, with certification targeted for March 2003.Total firm orders for the CF34-10 series already number more than 65, and options number more than 145.The CF34-3 series of engines, the foundation of the CF34 engine family, is the leader in its class. Since entering airline service in 1992, CF34-3 engines have demonstrated exceptional reliability while accumulating more than 7 million flight hours powering Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 airliners powering Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 airliners in service with more than 35 operators worldwide. The engine's continuing popularity-- 950 installed engines plus more than 1,700 firm orders and 1,500 options--has prompted a production increase to more than 420 CF34-3B1 engines this year."We have responded to the regional market's demands with our range of CF34 engines," said Frank Klaus, general manager of the Small Commercial Engine Operation at GE Aircraft Engines. "We expect 5,700 new regional airliners to be delivered in the next 20 years. If that happens, we believe our installed engine base could quadruple within five years."