GE Aviation provides flight management for Boeing 737 MAX

GE Aviation has been awarded a contract from The Boeing Company to provide the flight management system for the Boeing 737 MAX airplane. The system will be designed and manufactured at GE facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Clearwater, Florida. The first 737 MAX is on track to be delivered in 2017.

"Advancements in flight management technology for commercial and military aircraft are essential for the world's ever evolving airspace," said 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."

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, thereby lowering emissions and community noise levels. Software and hardware updates provide the latest technology to continue to meet the needs of the world's evolving airspace, offering safe and efficient improvements to aircraft operations.

The Boeing Next-Generation 737 is the most fuel-efficient and reliable single-aisle airplane today with an 8 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 the 8 percent 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 currently has orders for 1,064 airplanes from airlines and leasing companies worldwide.