Saudi 744 engine drops off at CAI

[barit1]

...can we all agree that this can not bode well for the future of the CF6-50 as we know it?
--heracles

Don't forget that spare parts sales is a big chunk of an OEM's profit margin, and there's a reputation to withhold. GE is, I'm sure, motivated to produce a longterm fix for the CF6-50 - not just a beefier stg 3 LPT wheel, but for the HPT blade too. The -50 was the first engine to pass the 20K hr mark on wing, and we'll soon enough see how much of the problem is maintenance-induced.

[411A]

...and we'll soon enough see how much of the problem is maintenance-induced.

How do you say.... American Airlines.

[sunny11410]

First reaction ( just the beginning ):
GE will release 2ea new SB's for CF6-50s coming week, asking for an once thru the fleet action program,
including engine vibration surveys and special ultrasonic inspection of the LPT Stg.3 disk ( on-wing ).
Engines will be splitted into three categories ( 1 - 3 ) whereas most of the CF6-50 engines will likely fall into "cat 1",
which requires to carry out these actions within 15 cycles!!!after the effectivity date of SB.
FAA obviously considers to cover this requirement by AD Note asap.

This will be a major burden for all -50 operators!
Operators NDT inspectors haven't even been trained so far for this special inspection but several GE courses are setted up within the next two weeks.

This taff time schedule will become a challenging lesson for everybody!
And this is just the beginning......

[Wirelock]

it's not the worst time of year to have these inspections. hangars are generally empty this time of year. most airlines would be able to plan the inspections without a big operational impact. lets hope the inspections find some bad engines so we can avoid another event.

[lomapaseo]

lets hope the inspections find some bad engines so we can avoid another event.

Finding only one bad engine would be just about perfect.

It confirms the inspection criteria and statistically suggests that the problem is not widespread. Of course no more failures would help in this confirmation as well.