Will Power Bombardier Global 7000/8000 Aircraft

Flight testing of GE Aviation's Passport engine for Bombardier’s new Global 7000 and Global 8000 business is underway on GE Aviation’s 747-100 flying test-bed.

On December 30, 2014, a single Passport engine successfully demonstrated aircraft systems and instrumentation functionality. Flight-testing will continue into January prior to expected FAA certification in 2015.

"This is a landmark day for the Passport program – we couldn’t ask for a better performance to close out an impressive year of testing,” said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's Business & General Aviation and Integrated Services division. "Since its first test in 2013, the Passport engine has met or exceeded our expectations, giving us great confidence as we close in on certification."

To date, the Passport engine’s has accumulated more than 750 hours and 300 cycles of testing. Before entry into service, the Passport engine will accumulate the equivalent of 10 years of flying for an average Bombardier Global 7000 or Global 8000 aircraft operator, with more than 4000 hours and 8000 cycles.

The first flight of the Passport engine completes a busy year of testing. Most recently, GE completed hail and bird ingestion certification tests and is currently instrumenting Passport engines for water ingestion and fan blade out certification tests, which will commence in the coming weeks. In April, ice ingestion tests were completed at GE's icing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In February, ground testing in an altitude chamber at GE Aviation's headquarters in Evendale, Ohio, demonstrated engine performance and operability from sea-level to 51,000 feet.

The Passport engine’s first flight occurred on GE’s flying test laboratory, a modernized 747-100. It was the 16th aircraft shipped off the original Boeing 747 production line, entering service for Pan Am in 1972.

GE says the Passport engine for the Global 7000 and Global 8000 business jets will produce 16,500 pounds of thrust and will incorporate advanced technologies and materials to provide: 8% lower specific fuel consumption than engines in its class; margin to CAEP/6 emissions and to Stage 4 noise regulations; and world-class reliability and support.

(Image provided by GE Aviation)

FMI: www.ge.com/aviation