A GEnx engine.

Last week, Doha-based Qatar Airways announced it was partnering with GE to launch a three-year trial program to evaluate the engine manufacturer’s new foam cleaning system, ‘GE 360 Foam Wash.’

Qatar, the first airline licensed to use the product, will replace the traditional water-based washing process with the foam system when cleaning the GEnx-1B engines that power the carrier’s 787 fleet.

GE 360 Foam Wash is delivered through a self-contained machine that injects a heated detergent into the engine and dissolves dust and dirt particles.

Other carriers are evaluating the foam wash for cleaning various GE engine models, GE tells Cargo Facts.  “GE 360 Foam Wash reduces maintenance burden and is shown to provide higher benefits than traditional water wash as it pertains to engine performance restoration and fuel efficiency improvement,” said Yasser Elkilani, Time on Wing Leader GE Aviation Services.