GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 1 Feb. 2013. GE Aviation won a contract from The Boeing Company to provide the flight management system for the Boeing 737 MAX airplane.
GE Aviation’s flight management system controls the aircraft track to an accuracy of 10 meters and the time of arrival to within 10 seconds to any point in the flight plan. Benefits include the ability to fly shorter flight paths and idle-thrust descents, which reduces fuel consumption, emissions, and community noise levels.
“Advancements in flight management technology for commercial and military aircraft are essential for the world's ever evolving airspace,” says George Kiefer, vice president of Avionics for GE Aviation. “Our system is a key part of most airlines’ plan to conduct Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations, and allows them to realize significant cost savings with lower fuel consumption while benefiting the environment with reduced emissions.”
The Boeing Next-Generation 737 is a fuel-efficient, single-aisle airplane with an eight percent-per-seat operating cost advantage over the nearest competitor. Equipped with new LEAP-1B engines from CFM International and improvements, such as the advanced technology winglet, the MAX reduces fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 13 percent while maintaining an operating cost advantage.
The noise footprint of the 737 MAX is improved for airlines and airport communities, at 40% smaller than today's single-aisle airplanes. The 737 MAX has orders for 1,064 airplanes from airlines and leasing companies worldwide.
The system will be designed and manufactured at GE facilities in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Clearwater, Fla. The first 737 MAX is on track to be delivered in 2017.
CFM International is a joint company of GE and Snecma (Safran Group).
