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Malev 737-500
Operating on CFM56-3C Engine
EVENDALE, OHIO
— August 28, 2003 — A CFM56-3C engine in
service with Malev has just established a new all-time world record
for initial time on wing. Earlier this month, the engine reached 40,
538 hours and 17,405 cycles without a single shop visit, surpassing
the previous record of 40,531 hours set in 2000.
CFM56-3 engines are part of the best-selling CFM56
engine family, which is produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50
joint company between Snecma Moteurs and General Electric Company.
The engine was part of the original installation on
a new Boeing 737-500 delivered to Hapag-Lloyd in December 1990;
Malev has been leasing the aircraft since 1999. During its
in-service life, the engine has undergone routine inspections but
has remained trouble free. Malev plans to remove the engine for
overhaul in September, so the ultimate record will be established at
that time.
Malev, based in Budapest, is the national carrier of
Hungary and has been in operation for more than 50 years. The
airline currently operates a fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300/-400/-500
aircraft powered by the CFM56-3 on routes throughout Europe, the
Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It will introduce 10 737-700s
powered by CFM56-7 engines into its fleet over the next two years.
The CFM56-3, which has one of the highest utilization rates in the
industry, averages 16,000 hours on wing before requiring an initial
shop visit, and about 10,000 hours after overhaul.
The CFM56-3-powered 737s in service have logged a
total of 126 million flight hours and 90 million cycles since the
first airplanes were delivered in 1984. During this time, the
CFM56-3 has consistently raised the standards for engine
dependability and reliability. The fleet has a 99.98 percent
dispatch reliability rate, which translates to less than one
departure per 5,000 being delayed or cancelled for engine related
issues.
The engine also maintains a .002 in-flight shutdown
rate or one event every 500,000 flight hours; this aircraft logs
between 2,500 to 3,500 flight hours per year. CFM shipped the last
installed CFM56-3 in 1999 after a production run of more than 4,400
engines.
*Information provided from
cfm56.com
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