The aviation industry made its long-awaited return to the Farnborough International Airshow this week, its first since 2018. An impressive display of commercial, military, and business and general aviation aircraft lined the side of the Farnborough runway, many with GE technology onboard.

A focus on decarbonization was evident at this year’s show as the industry aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

CFM International, a 50-50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, and Airbus announced a collaboration to flight test CFM’s cutting-edge open fan engine architecture. GE also announced it completed the world’s first test of a megawatt-class and multi-kilovolt hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions that simulate single-aisle commercial flight.

Not to be overlooked is the number of deals made during the show, signaling the continued progress that commercial aviation has made since the lows of the pandemic. GE and CFM received orders for 338 engines during the show and multiple service deal announcements. Here is a rundown of all the news that made headlines.

 

The Future of Hybrid Electric Flight Press Conference

Day 1: Sunday, July 17, 2022

GE's Strong Military Engine Portfolio Charting Future of Military Aviation Entering Farnborough International 

GE is in the midst of major test campaigns for transformational combat and rotorcraft engines. GE’s XA100* adaptive cycle engine for the F-35 has demonstrated performance consistent with the U.S. Air Force’s goals for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). This engine is expected to complete testing at a U.S. Air Force facility later this summer.
 

Lufthansa Signs Order for GE9X, GE90 Engines to Power Cargo Fleet

Lufthansa Group announced an order for a combined total of 18 GE9X and GE90 engines to power its fleet of long-haul Boeing 777 freight aircraft.
 

CF34 Engine Line Passes 200M Hours, 157 Million Cycles

The CF34 engine line has surpassed 200 million flight hours and 157 million flight cycles. In the history of GE and CFM*, only the CF6 and CFM56 engine lines have accumulated more commercial flight hours. Only the CFM56 has accumulated more flight cycles.
 

GE Showcases Innovative Technologies to Reduce CO2 Emissions for More Sustainable Flight 

GE announced GE to Net Zero, a new digital experience at the GE Pavilion during the upcoming 2022 Farnborough International Airshow where visitors will be able to learn more about the company’s efforts to meet its ambition to be net-zero by 2050, associated with the use of sold products.
 

Day 2: Monday, July 18, 2022

GE Unveils New Brand Names for Three Public Future Companies

Today, GE announced the brand names its future companies will create through its planned separation into three industry-leading, global, investment-grade public companies focused on the growth sectors of healthcare, energy and aviation. GE Aviation will become GE Aerospace. With an installed base of 39,400 commercial and 26,200 military aircraft engines, the company will continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry through a historic recovery while shaping the future of flight.

 

CFM and Delta TechOps Expand LEAP Open MRO Network

Delta TechOps has signed a CFM Branded Service Agreement (CBSA) to support LEAP-1B engines. Under the terms of the CBSA, Delta becomes part of CFM’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network for LEAP-1B engines.
 

Delta Announces Order for 200 LEAP-1B Engines to Power New Fleet of Boeing 737-10 Aircraft

Delta Air Lines has ordered CFM International LEAP-1B engines to power its new fleet of Boeing 737 10 aircraft announced earlier today. The order includes additional spare engines and an option to purchase up to 60 additional engines.

 

The Boeing 737-10, powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines.

Day 3: Tuesday, July 19, 2022

GE First in World to Test High Power, High Voltage Hybrid Electric Components in Altitude Conditions

At the Farnborough International Airshow, GE announced it completed the world’s first test of a megawatt (MW)-class and multi-kilovolt (kV) hybrid electric propulsion system in altitude conditions that simulate single-aisle commercial flight. The test of the high power, high voltage system — including electric motor/generators, power converters, power transmission and power control systems — successfully demonstrated performance and operation of the components in a replicated flight environment.
 

GE Digital's Airspace Insight to Help Qantas Improve Airspace Efficiency

GE Digital today announced Qantas has chosen to implement Airspace Insight™ as a tool designed to answer complex “what if” questions to improve airspace operations and identify opportunities to help drive more sustainable, efficient, and safe operations.
 

GE and BAE Systems Collaborate to Explore Next Generation Adaptive Power Systems for Combat Air Application

BAE Systems and GE announced a technical collaboration to explore next generation adaptive power management systems in the Combat Air domain. GE has been a major supplier to BAE Systems on Typhoon since its inception, providing cockpit displays and fuel system equipment from their Cheltenham facility in the UK. Since entry-into-service in 2004, some 680 aircraft have been sold to nine nations across the globe.
 

Safair Extends GE TrueChoice Overhaul Agreement for CFM56 Engines

Safair Operations Pty Ltd. has signed a five-year agreement to extend its TrueChoice Overhaul service with GE for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of CFM56-7B* engines that power FlySafair's fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Safair is extending its TrueChoice contract signed in 2019. The new agreement covers maintenance of its entire CFM56-7B engine fleet until 2027.
 

Airbus and CFM International Launch a Flight Test Demonstrator for Advanced Open Fan Architecture

Airbus and CFM International will flight test CFM’s cutting-edge open fan engine architecture. The Flight Test Demonstrator aims to mature and accelerate the development of advanced propulsion technologies, as part of CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration program, on board an Airbus A380. The flight test campaign will be performed in the second half of this decade from the Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France.

 

The outside of the GE Aviation chalet, featuring the GE9X fan.

Day 4: Tuesday, July 20, 2022

CFM Confirms easyJet Selection of a Further 112 LEAP-1A Engines to Power its A320neo Family Fleet

CFM International today announced that leading European airline easyJet has extended its selection agreement for LEAP-1A engines, to power the 56 Airbus A320neo family aircraft planned to be delivered between 2026 and 2028, bringing easyJet’s total A320neo family order commitment to 227.
 

Korean Air, GE Sign Five-Year GE90 Materials Service Agreement

Korean Air has signed a five-year TrueChoice™ Material Service Agreement with GE for spare parts, component repair, and used serviceable part upgrades for GE90-115B engines. Korean Air, a major global airline serving 120 cities in 43 countries, operates a fleet of 154 of the latest Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including the GE90-powered Boeing 777.
 

CemAir Orders Six CF34 Engines to Power its Expanding Fleet

CemAir has ordered six new CF34-3B spare engines to power its fleet of Bombardier CRJ 100/200 LR aircraft. The Johannesburg-based company currently owns and operates a fleet of 12 CRJ 100/200 LR airliners.