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Read this story in our March 2019 printed issue.
GE Aviation's Passport business jet engine has entered service on a Global 7500. GE secured type certification for Passport from EASA in December 2018, following certification by the FAA in 2016.
“The delivery of the first Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft powered by Passport is a proud moment for us and we'd like to congratulate Bombardier Business Aircraft on their tremendous achievement,” says GE Aviation VP and general manager Brad Mottier. “We are excited to show the world the performance and efficiencies this engine will deliver to Global 7500 aircraft customers and business aviation. Passport has met or exceeded current specifications for standard fuel consumption, weight, noise and emission. It is the culmination of many years of development efforts from our employees, partners and suppliers located around the world.”
Passport production engines are manufactured and maintained at GE Aviation's facility in Strother, Kansas, where an extensive production ramp up continues. The engines are then ground tested at GE Aviation's test site in Peebles, Ohio. Twelve Passport engines and a dedicated team were used in the ground and flight test programme.
“For the past two years, 12 technicians from our customer and product service team were dedicated to supporting Bombardier's Global 7500 aircraft flight test programme,” explains general manager for business aviation support Jim Stoker. “This allowed us to gain significant operational knowledge on the Passport engine. This experience combined with our top-rated service and support network will provide our Global 7500 aircraft customers the most advanced support in the industry."
Coupled with GE's OnPoint, a full coverage, concierge flight hour service programme, the Passport engine will maximise Global 7500 aircraft availability. OnPoint provides Passport customers with a full risk-transfer service programme for the complete propulsion system.
The 18,000 lbs Passport has a high performance core similar to the CFM LEAP engine, which has more than three million flight hours since entering service in 2016.
