Qatar Airways has become the first airline in the world to use GE’s 360 Foam Wash system after partnering with GE Aviation on a three-year trial of the new engine-cleaning technology.

GE’s 360 Foam Wash system works by injecting a specially formulated solution to dissolve dust and to direct particles from the engine gas path. Unlike traditional systems, the 360 Foam Wash is self-contained, allowing for its use inside maintenance facilities and aiding in its environmental friendliness.

“Qatar Airways prides itself on our ongoing commitment to innovation in all areas of business,” said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker. “Our technical department is constantly striving to maintain our position as an airline of the future by introducing the most forward-thinking, ground-breaking, and environmentally friendly technology, and our three-year partnership with General Electric for its 360 Foam Wash is a testament to this.”

Al Baker announced the deal with GE Aviation at the tenth-anniversary celebrations for the Qatar Science and Technology Park on October 21. With the partnership, the airline’s technical department becomes the first in the industry awarded a GE technical license to operate the technology on its GEnx-1B engines.