Certified for flight after demanding tests

CFM engines must meet the rigorous safety standards of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) before they are certified.

The CFM56 is tested under severe conditions that replicate every foreseeable flight condition, such as:

High winds: Engines are subjected to intense crosswinds to ensure they’ll operate without surging or stalling.

Bird ingestion: Migratory birds, such as duck and geese, often flock near airports. Engines must demonstrate they’ll continue operating safely even if they hit one or more of these birds.

Long operation: To demonstrate their endurance, engines must pass a 150-hour durability test, with 45 hours at maximum continuous thrust, and 18.75 hours at rated take-off thrust.

Icy temperatures: Engines are exposed to a water spray at subzero temperatures to ensure that they will not stall during snow or ice.

CFM parts demonstrate safe and durable performance as part of the whole working engine under all of these conditions. What about less than genuine parts which aren’t required to undergo the same rigorous tests?