BOSTON, GE Aerospace announced significant progress in dust-ingestion testing for its new GE9X engine, the powerplant for Boeing’s upcoming 777‑9 aircraft, firmly ahead of its entry into commercial service.
According to Aviation A2Z (Natalia Shelley, June 10, 2025), GE has nearly finalized its second round of rigorous dust‑ingestion trials, which build upon the initial 1,600-engine-run cycles conducted in 2022. That first series, said to show “no adverse findings,” aimed to assess engine durability under conditions simulating sand and dust exposure.
Industry authorities such as FlightGlobal confirmed that GE announced on May 28, 2025, the near-completion of these second-phase tests, underscoring a strategic emphasis on environmental resilience .
The GE9X is the first GE engine subjected to dust-ingestion assessment prior to service entry. It follows earlier protocols applied to other engine models, designed to pre-empt reliability concerns in arid operational theaters like the Middle East and South Asia..
With a thrust rating of approximately 105,000 lb, the GE9X has already completed an extensive test regimen, more than 27,000 cycles and 17,000 hours, and received FAA certification in 2020. The current testing phase enhances durability credentials by simulating real-world exposure to airborne particulates, which can degrade turbine blades and airflow systems over time.
As GE moves closer to service entry, dust-ingestion results will contribute significantly to overall engine reliability and support Boeing’s plan to deliver the long-awaited 777-9 in 2026. The successful completion of these tests will reaffirm GE’s commitment to robust engine performance under diverse environmental conditions.
