CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aviation, a division of General Electric of the United States and Snecma, a division of Safran of France. The joint venture was formed to build and support the CFM56 series of jet engines. An earlier version of the CFM56 became infamously known in the Kegworth of air disaster.The names of CFM International and the CFM56 product line are derived from the two parent companies’ commercial engine designations: GE's CF6 and Snecma's M56.Since its founding in 1974 through October 2011, CFM International has provided more than 23,000 engines for more than 500 customers throughout the world.