The CFM56-3 turbofan engine is the first advanced derivative of the CFM56 family and is perfectly tailored to meet the needs of second-generation, short- to medium-range aircraft like the Boeing 737-300/-400/-500. The engine was certified by the FAA and DGAC in January 1984 and covers a thrust range of 18,500 to 23,500 pounds, thereby offering a fuel burn efficiency improvement of 20 percent compared to previous low-bypass engines.

The CFM56-3 is quiet and clean by design and was built around the service-proven CFM-56-2 core. The engine averages on-wing time of 18,000 hours or 12,000 cycles before first removal for servicing is executed. Furthermore, a growing number of CFM56-3 engines have accumulated over 30,000 flight-hours without a shop visit, setting a new standard for reliability in commercial aviation.

Examples of aircraft that are powered by the CFM56-3