Engines
CFM throttles up research efforts
CFM International has thrown down the gauntlet to engine manufacturers hoping to compete on the next generation of single-aisle airliners by accelerating i

CFM International has thrown down the gauntlet to engine manufacturers hoping to compete on the next generation of single-aisle airliners by accelerating its research on an advanced engine to replace its CFM56 by as early as 2015, the company announced here yesterday.

The GE Aviation/Snecma partnership has extended its Leap56 technology acquisition program to include open rotor and contrarotating fan configurations as well as a conventional turbofan. “We’re facing a tremendous challenge,” said Leap56 director Ron Klapproth. “We’ve talked to more than 30 airlines about the next-generation engine. They’re saying a 20-percent aircraft-plus-engine fuel burn gain isn’t enough. They would like to see a step change to maybe 30 percent.”