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Sales of GE90 Upgrade Kits Exceed $160 Million; Kits Pay For Themselves In Airline Operation

May 10, 2001

EVENDALE, Ohio - The GE90 Performance Improvement Program (PIP) upgrade kits, targeted for GE90-90B engines powering the Boeing 777, are winning widespread marketplace acceptance.Four customers have ordered the PIP kit for a total of 96 GE90-90B engines. This represents approximately 40 percent of the GE90-90B engines in service. PIP kit sales to date are valued at more than $160 million.The PIP upgrade kit includes advanced 3-D aerodynamic components in the high pressure compressor, fan outlet guide vane sealing, active clearance control optimization in the high pressure turbine, and clearance reduction in the low pressure turbine. A second upgrade package is available to increase the engine’s thrust rating from 90,000 pounds to 94,000 pounds.The PIP upgrade kit provides a 1.6 percent fuel burn reduction and over 20 degrees Celsius increased exhaust gas temperature margin. "These improvements, in addition to the increased payload capability from a higher thrust rating, create overall benefits that may pay for the PIP investment in a period of two years or less, and the customers are thrilled," said Chaker Chahrour, GE90 Project general manager at GE Aircraft Engines.The PIP upgrade kit was developed concurrently with the GE90-94B engine model. The GE90-94B, rated at 94,000 pounds of thrust, was certified and entered service on the Boeing 777-200ER in 2000. The engine’s advanced 3-D compressor is also a key building block of the GE90-115B, now under development to produce an unprecedented 115,000 pounds of thrust for longer-range Boeing 777-200 and -300 aircraft.The GE90 family, the best-selling engines for Boeing 777 aircraft, won the majority of engine orders placed for the 777 last year. In total, 17 customers have ordered 201 firm and 52 option GE90-powered 777 aircraft, with a firm engine value of more than $6.7 billion.