EVENDALE, Ohio - With more than 125 commitments announced for the new Airbus A350 aircraft, integration teams between Airbus and engine supplier General Electric Company have reached a key milestone in designing the overall propulsion system. 

The GEnx engine, GE's newest commercial jet engine, is designated to power these A350 orders. The GEnx-powered A350 is scheduled to enter revenue service in 2010. 

In establishing the propulsion system, integration teams representing Airbus, GE, and Goodrich Aero have defined the key interfaces between the GEnx engine and the aircraft inlet, nacelle, and thrust reverser. The team has also been engaged in defining the engine mounts, gearbox concepts, and the engine pneumatic bleed and electrical system. 

Airbus has established an integrated certification schedule, which includes GEnx engine certification in 2007, flight tests in 2009, and aircraft/engine certification in 2010. GE has a full-time team of engineers at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, collaborating on the A350 program. 

"In freezing the initial product definition and launching the GEnx engine, we have essentially established the performance parameters for the GEnx engine on the A350," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. "We are thrilled to be in a position to use our engine to help optimize the performance of the aircraft system." 

The GEnx engine has received more than $2 billion in orders and commitments on the strength of new technologies that make it the most fuel efficient, quiet, and low-emissions jet engine that GE has ever introduced for large jet aircraft. 

The GEnx is part of GE's "ecomagination" products portfolio - GE's commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that will enhance customers' environmental and operating performance. Based on the architecture of the renowned GE90, the GEnx is the next-generation of engine technology to succeed GE's CF6, the best-selling engine for wide-body aircraft. Compared to the CF6 family, the GEnx will improve specific fuel consumption by 15 percent. 

The GEnx is the world's only jet engine with a front fan case and fan blades made of composites for greater durability and weight reduction. It will operate with 18 fan blades (50 percent fewer than the CF6), which helps provide noise levels lower than any large commercial engine developed by GE.