Towed washing cart 360

for aircraft

Overview
GE Aerospace’s 360 Foam Wash is an engine foam wash system that injects a proprietary foam detergent via a mobile cart to remove dust and deposits from turbine engines. As an alternative to conventional water wash, the foam reaches target areas inside the engine to restore performance and support improved fuel efficiency.

Approved engine programs
Technical licenses are available for GE90, GEnx, CF34 and Engine Alliance GP7200 engine programs. The foam wash process was developed by GE Aerospace technologists and validated in collaboration with airline and MRO customers worldwide.

Key benefits

• Deeper cleaning capability compared with traditional water wash
• Improved fuel efficiency through greater fuel-flow recovery
• Restores engine performance by reducing deposit build-up and lowering exhaust temperatures
• Increases engine time-on-wing and fleet availability
• Automatic data upload for wash analytics and traceability

360 Foam Wash vs. Water Wash (comparison)
BENEFIT | FOAM WASH | WATER WASH
Aircraft availability | Integrates with existing aircraft maintenance schedule | Integrates with existing aircraft maintenance schedule
Process time | ~1–2 hr prep/restore; ~3–4 hr cleaning | ~1–2 hr prep; ~1–2 hr cleaning
Manpower | 2 personnel, no cockpit crew required | 3 personnel, cockpit crew requires constant monitoring
Maintenance flexibility | In-hangar, outside or off-wing | Outside only; special drainage required
Dry-out window | 24 hours | 1–12 hours
Wash data for analytics | Automatic data upload | Manual data input
Fuel efficiency | Up to 3× better fuel-flow recovery than water wash (per GE testing) | 0.08%–0.22% fuel-flow recovery

Operational highlights & fleet benefits

• Fits into existing maintenance schedules and can be performed in-hangar, outside or off-wing
• Extended dry-out window (24 hours for foam wash vs up to 12 hours for water wash)
• Improved fleet management flexibility: maintenance planning, spare engine planning, increased time-on-wing
• Lower manpower impact during operations (typically 2 personnel)

Tested results & environmental impact

• Up to 3× the fuel savings of water wash in GE testing with GEnx, GE90 and CF34 engines
• GEnx example: potential to save ~15,900 gallons of fuel per year for Boeing 787 with GEnx engines
• GE90 example: potential to save ~35,500 gallons of fuel per year for Boeing 777 with GE90 engines
• Reported CO2 reduction examples: 70 tons and 380 tons per year in referenced test scenarios

Product testing & licensing
360 Foam Wash was developed and tested by GE Aerospace technologists in collaboration with customers worldwide. Technical licenses are available for the specified engine programs.

Technical specifications

• Product name / designation: 360 Foam Wash
• Application: Engine cleaning (alternative to water wash)
• Compatible engine programs: GE90, GEnx, CF34, Engine Alliance GP7200
• Cleaning agent: Proprietary foam detergent delivered via 360 Foam Wash cart
• Process time (foam wash): ~1–2 hr prep/restore; ~3–4 hr cleaning
• Manpower (foam wash): 2 personnel; no cockpit crew required
• Dry-out window (foam wash): 24 hours
• Data handling: Automatic data upload for wash analytics
• Fuel-flow recovery: Up to 3× better than water wash (per GE testing)