GENEVA - GE Aviation’s Passport engine for business jet applications was awarded type certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), paving the way for its 2018 entry into service powering Bombardier’s Global 7000 and Global 8000 business jets. The Passport is designed to power a new generation of extra-long-range business aircraft between 10,000 to 20,000 lbs of thrust.

As of May 23, the Passport has accumulated more than 2,400 hours and 2,800 cycles in ground and flight testing. By the time the Passport enters into service, it will have accumulated the equivalent of 10 years of flying for an aircraft operator with more than 4000 hours and 8000 cycles.

In 2015, GE successfully completed Passport fan blade out testing at its Peebles Test Operation, a rigorous series of block endurance tests including a triple redline test for hot section durability validation. Prior to these tests, the Passport completed many certification milestones, including: flight trials aboard GE’s 747-100 Flying Test Bed, ice ingestion, hailstorm ingestion, water ingestion, altitude and crosswind testing.

Sporting a 23:1 compressor pressure ratio, the Passport engine incorporates advanced technologies and materials to provide 8% lower specific fuel consumption than competing engines in its class. It also generates significantly lower emissions and reduced noise, surpassing the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) Tier 6 emissions standards and meeting the Federal Aviation Administration’s Stage 4 noise regulations.

Among the engine technologies: a composite fan case to reduce weight, a 52-inch front fan blisk for lower cabin noise and vibration and technologies from GE's eCore suite to lower emissions and improve fuel efficiency. The Passport's integrated propulsion system from Nexcelle, a joint venture between GE and Safran, will feature a slim-line nacelle with clam-shell cowl opening to reduce weight and drag while allowing for easy maintenance access and high dispatch availability.

In 2013, GE announced agreements with IHI of Japan and Techspace Aero (Safran) of Belgium to become joint venture partners on GE's Passport. IHI and Techspace Aero are responsible for more than 37 percent of the Passport engine. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, IHI is responsible for the low-pressure turbine module, aerodrive systems, fan hub frame and aft fan case ( about 30 percent of the Passport program). Techspace Aero, located in Liège, Belgium, is responsible for the booster module, lube tank and pump and the heat exchangers ( about 7 percent of the Passport program) .

Source: GE Aviation