EVENDALE, OH -- GE Aviation is celebrating the completion of the 1000th GE90-115B engine. The engine hit the 1000th mark eight years after it entered service with International Lease Finance Corporation's customer Air France.

More than 1,500 GE90-115B engines have been ordered by customers for their Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs and 777 Freighters, including a record-setting Emirates' order announced last year for 50 GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777s. In 2011, the GE90 engine experienced its most successful year and accumulated airline and freighter operator commitments for 400 engines. This surpassed the 2007 record of 250 engine commitments in a year.

"Delivering the 1000th GE90-115B engine is a remarkable accomplishment, and the teams working on the GE90 engine should be tremendously proud," said Bill Millhaem, general manager of the GE90 Program. "Our customers are thrilled with the performance of the GE90-115B engine. The record orders that we received for the engine last year demonstrate the respect that this aircraft-engine combination has attained in the industry."

The GE90 production levels continue to grow with a backlog of 800 engines that will be delivered in the next four years. GE Aviation will produce more than 180 GE90 engines this year up from 170 engines in 2011. The production rate is expected to climb to 225 engines in 2014.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.