GEnx Engine ETOPs still on time

Photo Taken at BFI as the first of two GEnx Powered 787's departs on a test flight.

Flight Global reported today that General Electric (GE) is quickly approaching the required number of cycles for it GEnx-1B for Extended Operations commonly referred to as ETOPs. The GEnx-1B is used to power the Boeing 787. Having just surpassed 2000 of the required 3000 test cycles GE says that they are still on schedule for certification to be achieved in April, despite the month that they lost during testing when cracks were discovered on one of the engines main turbine blades just after 1500 cycles.

The cracks were found in January during a normal inspection of the engines after it reached the halfway point of the testing phases. GE pulled the blade off the engine to service it and fix the cracks and was placed back on the engine in late February when testing was then resumed.

Since this was discovered during a normal inspection similar to that of normal operating procedures it was deemed that it did not affect the normal operation of the GEnx-1B and was not any type of abnormal wear and tear.

GE believes that final testing and certification for the engine with the FAA will be completed by October in time for Boeing to deliver the first GEnx-1B powered aircraft to Japan Airlines.