GE Aviation recently delivered its final CF6-80E1 production engine to China Airlines for its Airbus 330 fleet. Houng Wang, China Airlines’ senior vice president, said: “As one of GE Aviation’s largest customers in Asia, we are honoured to receive the final CF6-80E1 production engine. The CF6 engine has played a significant role in our airline’s success, and this delivery marks another milestone in our long history of collaboration with GE.”

Mike Kauffman, GE Aviation’s CF6 general manager, said: “China Airlines and GE Aviation have worked together for many years, and we are privileged to deliver this engine to them. The CF6-80E1 was the final CF6 engine model to enter service in 1994, and it continues to perform well on the A330 aircraft.”

China Airlines have operated CF6 engines for almost 20 years with the CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 engines powering their aircraft fleet. GE Aviation and China Airlines also signed a 15-year material agreement in 2016 and established a ‘local material storefront’ in the region to reduce turnround times on spare parts for use in the overhaul of its CF6-80E engines.

The CF6 engine celebrated 50 years of ‘revenue service’ in August. The engine family established a strong foothold for GE Aviation in the civil aviation segment. Built on the technology of the TF39 military engine, GE’s CF6 engine family grew to include the CF6-50, CF6-80A, CF6-80C2, and CF6-80E1 engine models, which have accumulated more than 460 million engine flight hours; and while the CF6-80E1 engine marked the end of production for the most powerful CF6 engine variant, the engine is seeing a growing interest in the passenger to freighter conversion of A330s.

Mr Kauffman added: “CF6 engines power more than 65% of the all widebody freighters. The CF6-80E1 engine provides freighter operators with thrust flexibility along with the better performance retention, lower fuel consumption, outstanding reliability, and longer time on wing than other A330 powerplants.

“With 67% part commonality with the CF6-80C2 engine that is still in production, freight operators have direct access to new spare parts along with GE Aviation’s used serviceable material, ensuring the CF6 will continue to serve the next generation of A330 converted freighter operators.”