GE Aviation GE9X engine achieves FAA certification

GE Aviation (Evendale, Ohio, U.S.) announced on Sept. 29 that its GE9X engine has been certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorities, a key milestone in its journey to power the new twin-engine Boeing 777X family.

The FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Part 33 certification involved nine test engines. This certification achievement culminates GE Aviation’s renewal of its commercial jet engine portfolio, including the GEnx for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the CFM LEAP engine. GE Aviation says its GE9X test engines completed just under 5,000 hours and 8,000 cycles for certification.

“It takes the world’s best talent in jet propulsion to create a game-changing product like the GE9X engine,” says John Slattery, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “There is no substitute that can achieve the combination of size, power and fuel efficiency of the GE9X. This engine will deliver unsurpassed value and reliability to our airline customers. I want to congratulate the entire GE9X team and thank Boeing, our partners and suppliers for the collaboration on this incredible achievement.”

The GE9X engine is said to be designed to achieve 10% lower specific fuel consumption (SFC) compared to the GE90-115B and 5% better SFC than any other engine in its class. The company says the engine will also operate with less smog-causing emissions than any other engine in its class. 

GE’s focus remains working with Boeing to complete the 777X flight test program and entry into service. Eight GE9X test engines and two test spares have been produced and delivered to Seattle for Boeing’s four 777X test airplanes. Several GE9X production engines have been assembled, and GE Aviation is in the process of completing factory acceptance tests.

GE Aviation is currently conducting 3,000 cycles of additional ground testing on the GE9X engine to support Extended Operations (ETOPS) approval. The GE9X team is also conducting maturation testing to help GE engineers prepare to support the engine in service.

For service and support of its customers, GE has also established GE9X engine training courses at its Customer Technical Education Center (CTEC) facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. A GE9X engine currently at CTEC is being used to develop lean maintenance practices that will be implemented in customer training modules and GE training procedures. Course work includes line maintenance, borescope and boroblend repair procedures, as well as fan stator removal and installation. The CTEC team is also working augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) training courses to supplement the in-person training.

GE has received orders and commitments for more than 600 GE9X engines.