EVENDALE, Ohio--The EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) has certified the GE90-115B, the world's most powerful jet engine, at an unprecedented 115,000 pounds of thrust. 



EASA oversees regulatory tasks in the field of aviation safety for the European Union, which represents 16 countries and grows to 26 countries in 2004. The EASA approval follows the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) engine certification of the GE90-115B in July 2003. 



Produced by GE Aircraft Engines, the GE90-115B powers Boeing's new longer-range 777-300ER and -200LR aircraft. Airlines and leasing companies have ordered a total of 76 longer-range 777s, from which the GE90-115B engine orders are valued at more than $2.6 billion. U.S. and European regulatory certification of the 777-300ER is scheduled for March 2004. The first 777-300ER will be delivered in April 2004 to International Lease Finance Corp. and its customer, Air France. 



"The rigor of this certification program continues well after the engine enters revenue service," said Chaker Chahrour, general manager for the GE90 Project. "Our four-year GE90-115B maturation test program will provide further insight into engine durability and reliability in an ETOPS (Extended Range Twin Engine Operations) environment while simulating 20 years of typical airline service on these engines."  



Earlier this month, a GE90-115B development engine completed 3,000 cycles and three 330-minute diversions as part of an extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) ground demonstration. During the ETOPS ground demonstration, the development engine was the first GE90-115B engine to operate at more than two times the production vibration limits in both the high-pressure and low-pressure systems at multiple thrust levels. This ETOPS ground demonstration is part of the most aggressive maturation test program ever devised by GEAE for a commercial engine.  



Snecma Moteurs, IHI, and FiatAvio are participants on the GE90-115B engine program. 



GE Aircraft Engines, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE ), is the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GEAE also manufactures gas turbines, derived from its highly successful jet engine programs, for marine and industrial applications. In addition, GEAE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its GE Engine Services operation, for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. Visit GEAE online at http://www.geae.com.