Engine Alliance GP7200 Achieves EASA Engine Certification

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.,– The Engine Alliance has successfully achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) CS-E (Certification Standard-Engine) certification for the GP7200, the Engine Alliance powerplant for the Airbus A380. The GP7200 is the first large commercial engine to certify according to the full EASA validation requirements. This follows U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness certification granted to the GP7200 in December 2005.

“The GP7200 has been performing extremely well throughout the development and certification program, meeting both new FAA and EASA requirements as well as Airbus’ demanding requirements for maturity at entry into service,” said Bruce Hughes, president of the Engine Alliance.

The GP7200-powered A380 flight-test program has achieved more than half of its test objectives and accumulated 111 flights and 1,348 engine flight hours to date. The aircraft successfully completed natural icing tests earlier this month and will next conduct noise testing in Spain. Joint EASA and FAA aircraft certification is expected by yearend.

In addition to flight-testing, GP7200 factory engine endurance ground testing has amassed 4,349 hours and more than 13,000 cycles. The EA will launch a service readiness endurance test program this summer designed to accumulate an additional 3,000 cycles of maturity prior to entry into service.

The GP7200 engine has been selected to power the A380s ordered by Emirates, Air France, Korean Airlines and International Lease Finance Corporation. The first GP7200-powered A380 will enter service with Emirates in 2008.