GE Aircraft Engines is testing an enhanced GE90 with new technologies aimed at increasing the big engine's on-wing life and thrust on the Boeing 777-and, even more, to cut its fuel consumption.

Core engine tests were run at Evendale, Ohio, earlier this summer; last month a full engine began test running at the company's outdoor facility at Peebles, and later this year it will begin flying on GE's 747 testbed aircraft at Mojave, California.

Certification is expected by December next year, with deliveries of Boeing 777s powered by the GE90 "PIP" engine following in mid-2000.

PIP stands for performance improvement program, which will increase exhaust gas temperatures by up to 20%, reduce fuel burn by approximately 1.7% and boost thrust to 93,000 pounds.

Compared with rival engines, current GE90s offer a 1.4% advantage in fuel consumption which translates into an annual saving of $150,000 in fuel cost and up to $540,000 per year in extra revenue-attributed to payload increase, said GE90 program manager Chaker Chahrour.

The GE90 PIP's fuel burn enhancement would more than double the cash saving with a proportionate increase in potential payload revenues. Over a 15-year life, the fuel savings on a 747 which is PIP-powered could exceed $2 million and increased payload revenues could total over $14 million, Chahrour said.

By Bob Rodwell