CFM International continues to work “on a daily basis” with Boeing and Airbus on new engine applications for the 737 and A320 families, according to Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of the General Electric-Snecma joint venture. Offering its new Leap-X series as the basis for any contribution it would make to either of the airframer’s re-engining efforts, CFM has already won a place on the Comac C919, the engine for which Bachelet said would start running by the end of 2012 or early 2013. Any time-frame projection for a Boeing or Airbus application would have to come from the OEMs themselves, however.
“I will not answer for them on that,” said Bachelet, who did, however, acknowledge that the prospects of re-engining the respective single-aisle airframes have gained momentum recently. “In the last year we felt that the case for the re-engining was growing stronger, and we have had continued discussions with them around our Leap proposal. As you know very well, they have not made a decision yet, although the case seems to be pressed harder and harder, I would say, especially with Airbus, which made a public declaration.”
More In Engines
