LONDON, Sept. 24, 2013 – GE has awarded Alitalia its TRUEngine designation for 31 CF34-8E engines powering its fleet of EMBRAER 175s and 10 CF34-10E engines powering its fleet of EMBRAER 190s. Previously, Alitalia received the TRUEngine designation for its CFM56-5B engines and CF6-80E engines.
“Alitalia is part of a growing trend of carriers who are making a strong commitment to OEM quality engines maintenance by seeking the TRUEngine designation,” said Allen Paxson, general manager of the CF34 Engine Program at GE Aviation. “Including Alitalia’s fleet, more than 500 CF34 engines now carry the TRUEngine designation.”
The TRUEngine designation is available to all CF34 engines in service if they meet the TRUEngine qualification criteria. The TRUEngine designation provides assurance to owners, operators and engine buyers that engines qualified as TRUEngine have been maintained in the OEM configuration. Independent studies show that engines maintained with OEM parts and repairs maintain 25-50% higher asset values than engines that include non-OEM parts or repairs.
To qualify for TRUEngine status, the engine configuration, overhaul practices, spare parts and repairs used to service an engine must comply with GE-issued engine manuals and other maintenance recommendations. The qualification is obtained through the customer's declaration of compliance and GE's verification of customer submitted maintenance records since birth. The TRUEngine designation is available to all CF34 engines in service if they meet the TRUEngine qualification criteria. For more information, visit the TRUEngine website at www.geaviation.com/services/truengine-program.
Commercial jet engines typically are in service for more than 25 years and change ownership at least once in their operational life. The engine's configuration, material content, maintenance history and supportability impact marketability and overall value as it changes ownership. The TRUEngine designation enhances marketability and provides other valuable benefits at no additional cost, such as extended new part warranty, complimentary days access to the CF34 engine lease pool and AOG response guarantee.
Alitalia is Italy's leading airline operating more than 4,800 weekly flights across a network of 101 destinations - 26 of which in Italy and 75 in the rest of the world. With a fleet 142 aircraft, Alitalia carried more than 24 million passengers in 2012.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet, turboshaft and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.
For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation.
