The CFM56-C is the most powerful engine in the CFM56 family and one of the quietest in its specific thrust class. The engine is an economical turbofan engine specifically designed for the Airbus A340-200 and Airbus A340-300 four-engine long-range airliners, providing between 31,200 and 34,000 pounds of thrust.

The engine was certified in December 1991 by both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the French civil aviation authority DGAC. Two years later in 1993, the CFM56-5C entered service, expanding the family's scope of application to include long-range widebody airliners. The CFM56-5C combines innovative technologies with proven design enhancements, in particular: a highly-efficient 72.3 inch diameter fan featuring a 3D aerodynamic design and resistant to Foreign Object Damage (FOD), a second generation Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), and a new four-stage booster to further increase core flow while limiting turbine temperatures.

With the combination of a high bypass ratio and a noise-efficient long duct nacelle with mixer, the A340's CFM56-5C powerplant offers one of the lowest noise signatures in commercial service. Furthermore, the engine also delivers reduced fuel burn at take-off or cruise, and an impressive dispatch reliability rate of about 99.9%.

Examples of aircraft that are powered by the CFM56-5C