UPS 767 Freighter Introduces New Low Emissions Technology Developed by GE Aircraft Engines

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Boeing 767-300ER freighters entering service with United Parcel Services (UPS) incorporate new engine technologies that sharply lower emissions.

The UPS 767-300ER freighter is powered by GE Aircraft Engines' CF6-80C2 engine, the best-selling and most reliable engine for widebody aircraft for several years. Today's aircraft delivery, however, marks the entry into service of a new low emissions combustor in the CF6-80C2 engine.

A combustor is the chamber within the engine where the mixture of compressed air and fuel are ignited. GE accelerated development of this new CF6 combustor specifically for UPS.

Certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last February, the low emissions combustor will be standard on CF6 production engines beginning next year and available as a retrofit kit in the spring of 1996.

The improved combustor burns fuel more efficiently and cleanly, reducing hydrocarbon emissions to 12 percent of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, carbon monoxide emissions to 22 percent of ICAO standards, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions to 49 percent of ICAO standards.

"The objective with this combustor design was to reduce emissions, particularly at lower altitudes without increasing emissions at high altitude," said Tony Rascov, director of airline sales, North America, for GE Aircraft Engines, which is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The CF6-80C2 low emissions combustor results from GE's technology- stocking program, under which GE develops and stores new jet engine technology for later use. "This is a textbook example of how technology-stocking works," Rascov said. "UPS wanted the cleanest engine possible to power its new Boeing 767s. With this low emissions technology already in our inventory, we met UPS' need within the time allotted."

Due to the GE philosophy of conducting stringent development testing and zero IFSD (in-flight shutdown) program management, CF6 engines are the most durable and reliable for the wide-body aircraft market. The CF6-80C2, rated at 52,500 to 61,500 pounds (233 to 273 kN) thrust, currently averages 477,000 flight hours per month, powering more than 635 wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus Industrie A300 and A310, the Boeing 747 and 767, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.