GE Capital Aviation Services has placed a $650 million order for CFM56-7 engines to power the 65 Boeing 737NGs it ordered earlier this week at Farnborough 2000. The sale expands the 54% market share the CFM56 achieved in the 100+ passenger segment through the first six months of the year, which encompass 562 engines to power 276 aircraft.

The GECAS deal includes powerplants for 45 new 737NGs, six additional previously announced sales and 14 options converted to orders. Deliveries of the aircraft to the leasing company's customers are scheduled to start in 2001.

In 2.5 years of revenue service the CFM56-7 has logged 1.9 million cycles and more than 3.6 million flight hours while maintaining a 99.93% dispatch rate. In addition, the engine has achieved a 0.012 shop visit rate and 0.004 in-flight shutdown rate, some of the best in the industry according to CFM International, the engine's manufacturer.

The CFM56-7 was developed for Boeing's "next generation" 737 family, which includes the 737-600/700/800/900 models. Southwest Airlines' 737-900s, which have the highest utilization rate of the 737NG fleet, each average 13 flights per day.

By Paul Proctor