GE signs service agreement with Bristow Group

Lynn, Massachusetts – GE Aviation and Bristow Group officials have signed the first engine service agreement for the CT7-2E1 turboshaft engine powering the new, twin-engine AgustaWestland AW189 helicopter. This agreement expands the companies' long-standing partnership by adding new AW189 helicopters to Bristow's global fleet of Maintenance Cost Per Hour (MCPH) engines.

 

"We're pleased to sign the first service agreement for the growing CT7-2E1 fleet with Bristow, who has operated over 100 GE CT7 turboshaft engines for more than 10 years," said Ed Birtwell, vice president and general manager of turboshaft engines at GE Aviation. "The MCPH program provides our customers a customized service solution on a firm fixed price per engine flight hour basis that we will support with OEM expertise, parts, and dedicated management."

 

Bristow relies on long-term strategic partnerships with their OEMs. For the past seven years, GE's MCPH program has provided Bristow economical and predictable engine maintenance costs in support of their CT7-8A engines powering Bristow's S-92 offshore oil and gas operations.

 

"The program, backed by OEM expertise, provides significant value to Bristow and to our customers," said John Cloggie, Bristow's VP, and chief technical officer. "GE's MCPH program meets our needs, from replacements parts and repairs, to overhauls and spare engines. This proven service program, combined with the excellent reliability of the CT7 engine family, contribute to ensuring that our power plants achieve high levels of operability. We are very pleased to extend this program coverage to the CT7-2E1 powering our new AW189 fleet and look forward to finalizing similar deals with GE in the near future for our expanding operations."

 

The 2,000shp CT7-2E1 engine is the latest civil-certified addition to the CT7/T700 family of engines and includes a full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system and state-of-the-art hot section materials for increased power, reliability, and fuel savings. More than 30 GE CT7-2E1 engines have been produced for installation on the AW189 following U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine certifications in 2013.

 

The AW189 is the newest commercial application for GE's CT7 turboshaft engine. The aircraft's primary role will be to support the offshore oil industry but will also be employed in many other roles and missions. The first production-certified engine was delivered to AgustaWestland in June, 2013.

 

GE's T700/CT7 family of turboprop and turboshaft engines powers 25 types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft with more than 130 customers in more than 50 countries. The T700/CT7 design has achieved nearly 90 million engine flight hours. The T700/CT7 has extensive experience in battlefield operations for the U.S. military and international militaries in a variety of combat and utility helicopter applications, as well as vast experience in a variety of commercial helicopter and fixed-wing applications.