From Strength to Strength; TFE731 Turbofan Tops Reliability Stakes

Having spent more than $100 million on enhancing its product family and its engineering, program and product support organizations, Honeywell has been rewarded by figures showing turbofan fleet reliability levels more than three times the industry standard. Unscheduled removals for the heritage TFE731-2/3/4/5 have passed the 33,000-hour mark, the ­4 exhibiting 100,000 hours, attributable in no small measure to recent seal improvements.

These versions are in 23 types of aircraft, with 158 new engines delivered last year to boost the fleet to 8,550. The later TFE731-20/40/60 adds a further 1,000-plus and increases total annual output to 400 and user types to 31 subvariants of Bombardier/Lear, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream and Raytheon aircraft. Included are the new Learjet 40 and 45XR models announced at the Farnborough air show this past July.

Since 1972, 46 different models of the TFE731 have accumulated 53 million hours, including one million contributed by the ­20/40/60 series.

Working to reduce the cost of engine ownership, Honeywell has recently introduced an upgrade to increase low-pressure turbine disc life to 10,000 cycles; extended inspection intervals; and nearly doubled change time for filters and oil. Additionally, a digital electronic engine control is available for most applications. For the last three years, Honeywell has averaged a one-hour, 27-minute response to urgent (AOG) spares demands; a 95% fill rates on parts; and a 24-hour turnaround time on spare engine shipments.

By Paul Jackson