MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - The Canadian government has selected 15 Cormorant helicopters powered by GE Aircraft Engines' T700/T6A1 turboshaft engine for its new fleet of Search and Rescue Helicopters. The value of the engine order is expected to exceed $60 million (Cdn).

"GE is very pleased with the opportunity to expand its industrial cooperation activities in Canada through this program, and to continue our tradition of powering Search and Rescue aircraft in Canada," said Carl Swabek, general manager for GE Aircraft Engines Canada. "GE has a long history of working closely with Canadian industry and government which dates back more than 100 years."

The T700 engines for the Search and Rescue program will be assembled and tested in Canada.

In addition to GE engines powering a variety of commercial and military aircraft in Canada, GE also operates a highly successful engine airfoils manufacturing plant in Bromont, Quebec, with more than 650 employees.

The T700 turboshaft engine family, and its commercial variant, the CT7 turboprop engine, power 24 types of civil and military helicopters, regional airliners, military transports, and multipurpose aircraft worldwide. More than 10,000 engines in service have established a record of outstanding reliability, often in extreme environments, while accumulating more than 27 million hours of operation. The T700 is the most reliable helicopter engine in the world.

GE Aircraft Engines, a business of General Electric Co. (U.S.A.), is the world's largest producer of jet engines for commercial, military, and marine and industrial applications.