Farnborough Airshow News

Bombardier launches CSeries with 'letter of interest' from Lufthansa for 30 plus 30 options

CFM launches LEAP-X engine program for 37/A320 successor

Qatar, Etihad considered most likely to place major orders this week

GE, Safran extend CFM partnership until 2040

Embraer braced for new opportunity as industry grapples with fuel costs

Additional Stories

CFM Executive VP Bill Clapper announces the launch of the LEAP-X engine in London.

Bombardier launches CSeries with 'letter of interest' from Lufthansa for 30 plus 30 options

Bombardier launched its CSeries aircraft program yesterday, announcing on the eve of the Farnborough Airshow that Lufthansa had signed a "letter of interest" for 30 firm orders plus 30 options.

The aircraft, which will be powered by the new Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, will be priced at $46.7 million. If all options are exercised the LH contract would be valued at $2.8 billion. Entry into service is slated for 2013.

Bombardier President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin noted that LH was the launch customer for the popular 50-seat CRJ200 and called the German carrier "one of the highest quality customers in the world." He added that the Canadian manufacturer is "actively involved" in discussions with a number of other prospective CSeries customers.

LH Senior VP-Corporate Fleet Nico Buchholz said the aircraft would be used for both fleet replacement and expansion. No decision has been made on which model (110 or 130) it would take, he said. "We will have to see how the market develops. It's hard to tell where the market will be in 2013." The deal likely will be finalized by year end, officials from both Bombardier and LH indicated.

Launch of the program follows four years of stop and go. The CSeries concept first was unveiled at the 2004 Farnborough Airshow but the program was hindered by an uncertain economy and the fact that several prospective US customers were wrangling through bankruptcy reorganization. Also, Bombardier was not able to find a committed engine supplier until it reached an agreement with Pratt & Whitney in November 2007.

The CSeries will offer up to 20% lower fuel burn and will feature a largely composite and aluminum-lithium alloy structure, the company said. It also is touting an up-to-20% improvement in operating costs and "unmatched reductions in noise and emissions."

The manufacturer said it is investing $2.6 billion in research and development of the new 110- and 130-seat aircraft and will receive "repayable investments" from Canada and the UK as well as the governments of Quebec and Northern Ireland to fund a third of the R&D costs. Mirabel has been selected as the final assembly plant, with the company's Belfast facility slated to develop and manufacture the wings. Its Saint-Laurent site will manufacture the aft fuselage and cockpit. China's AVIC I will supply the fuselage and doors.

Rockwell Collins was selected to supply the avionics systems, C&D Zodiac will handle the design and production of the interior package, Parker Hannifin won the contract for the integrated fuel and hydraulics system and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS was picked to design and produce the air management system including the environmental control and cabin pressure control.

Bombardier President-Commercial Aircraft Gary Scott said the CSeries will be competing in an under-150-seat market "that has been ignored by Boeing and Airbus. We have the best product in this space and we'll take on anybody."
by Sandra Arnoult

CFM launches LEAP-X engine program for 737/A320 successor

CFM International moved forward yesterday on a new-generation powerplant for the eventual successors to the 737 and A320 families with launch of the LEAP-X.

"CFM is committed to the future, the LEAP-X program is launched and we are ready to go forward," Bill Clapper, executive VP of the GE/Snecma joint venture company, told journalists in London on the eve of the Farnborough Airshow.

Describing the engine as "a giant leap into the future," Clapper said "it will be significantly better than today's products," offering 16% lower fuel consumption compared to the CFM56-7 powering the 737NG. The new engine, which builds on CFM's LEAP56 technology acquisition program, will have noise levels 10-15 db lower than Stage 4 and 60+% lower NOx emissions versus CAEP 6. It will have its first run in 2012 with certification possible in 2016.

But it will not feature an open rotor design, technology much touted by GE, although this could be incorporated at a later date if challenges surrounding noise, reliability and blade size can be overcome. "We are not holding the LEAP-X decision hostage to the open rotor decision," Clapper said. "We are going forward with LEAP-X because we feel like the open rotor would be significantly later and we can't give up three years and not be ready." However, he also said the company is "committed" to continuing to test open rotor designs.

In discussing the 16% fuel improvement, Clapper stressed, "That's the engine contribution to the airplane system. When you put a new airplane with that, the number would be bigger." CFM has become more aggressive regarding fuel savings in light of today's oil prices. "If you looked at that number. . .14 months ago, it was more like 12.5%-13%. We believe we have to raise the bar because of the importance of fuel."

Making a big contribution to the savings are "three-dimensional woven resin transfer molding" fan blades that are significantly lighter and stronger than current composite blades, according to CFM Executive VP Olivier Savin. LEAP-X will have just 18 of the 71-in.-diameter fan blades weighing 168 lb. compared to 24 61-in.-diameter blades weighing 260 lb. on the CFM56-7B.

"Better designed, less [blades] per set, lighter, and much stronger: That's the revolutionary technology for the LEAP-X," Savin said. In conjunction with lighter materials in the composite fan case, the weight savings per aircraft is 1,000 lb. The new fan technology will make it possible to offer a bypass ratio in the 9:1-plus class, compared to around 5:1 for the CFM56-7. Almost half of the predicted 16% fuel savings comes from the larger bypass ratio.

A further 7% will come from core efficiency as the core pressure ratio rises 50% "from an 11-class to a 16-plus class," Clapper said, while the number of compressor stages is reduced from nine to eight. Third-generation 3D aerodynamics will be used throughout the engine, which will feature GE's new TAPS II combustor. The core itself will be based on GE's "e-Core" program that also was launched yesterday. The final 1.5% will come from advanced engine systems.

Separately, GE said its e-Core, comprised of the compressor, combustor and high-pressure turbine, will be the "technology cornerstone," for new jet engines for narrowbody, regional and business aircraft.
by Perry Flint

Qatar, Etihad considered most likely to place major orders this week

The 60th Farnborough Airshow opens today with the air transport industry dominated by the relentless march of fuel prices.

While commercial aircraft orders are expected to be lean at this week's show, high-fliers Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are expected to place substantial orders. Qatar is thought to be ordering more 777s and possibly 787s, while Etihad is expected to order a mix of Airbus and Boeing designs and possibly the 747-8.

Emirates placed massive orders valued at $34.9 billion at November's Dubai Air Show and could stay quiet this week, but there is some discussion that it still may be interested in the 747-8I and could announce an order at Farnborough.

Beyond those three carriers, Boeing and Airbus are not expected to receive many orders from airlines this week. But ILFC has hinted that it may be in the market for a big buy of 737s and/or A320s if the price is right.
by Geoffrey Thomas

GE, Safran extend CFM partnership until 2040

GE and Snecma parent Safran Group signed an agreement yesterday in London to extend their hugely successful CFM International partnership through 2040 for engines in the 18,000-50,000-lb.-thrust class.

The original framework agreement that led to creation of the world's best-selling jet engine was signed in 1974 and had been scheduled to expire in 2015. "We are more satisfied than we have ever been with the cooperation," new GE Aviation President and CEO David Joyce told journalists.

In an extension of their existing relationship on new-build engines, the agreement provides for "integrated services offerings" for the LEAP-X engine. Currently, GE and Snecma Services compete in the aftermarket for engine support.
by Perry Flint

Embraer braces for new opportunity as industry grapples with fuel costs

The soaring cost of fuel that is driving airlines to reduce capacity and ground older aircraft, particularly in North America, could provide a boost to manufacturers of large regional aircraft, according to Embraer Executive VP-Airline Markets Mauro Kern.

"Given the huge number of older, bigger jets like the MD-80 that could be replaced by 100-120 seats, the Embraer 190/195 brings lots of opportunities for the airlines," he said "If overall demand is reducing, with fares increasing, we can expect a good deal of down-gauging."

The Brazilian manufacturer is taking a cautious approach to managing through the fuel cost crisis and has no plan to rush any new product to market, Kern told ATWOnline ahead of the Farnborough Airshow.

"We would have to have a better understanding of the technology improvements of engines. Pratt & Whitney with the GTF [Geared Turbofan] has made the first move but there are some interesting prospects from the other two manufacturers [Rolls-Royce and GE Engines]," Kern said. "We don't see this as the right time to make a decision while all these things are changing. We expect to study all the factors, talking to engine manufacturers, working with technology developments and [studying] environmental initiatives. In a year or two we might have a much better understanding and we could make a decision about what to launch."

Embraer enjoyed a strong second quarter as it delivered 43 commercial transports, up from 27 in the June quarter of 2007. Still, it is acutely aware of the instability in the industry owing to the soaring cost of fuel. "Things are changing really fast so it's kind of hard for the entire industry to adapt to all of that," Kern said. "We have a family of products that can offer real advantages in terms of fuel burn, latest technology and passenger comfort. We don't feel the pressure to launch or make any decision before the right time."
by Sandra Arnoult

CFM International yesterday launched the TRUEngine designation to "help the industry more accurately appraise used CFM56 engines and to enhance the resale value of these assets." Engine owners that choose to participate in TRUEngine will have their engines tracked by serial number. To qualify for TRUEngine status, the engine configuration, overhaul practices, spare parts and repairs "must be consistent with CFM requirements for that engine model," the company said, a condition that intentionally rules out the use of non-OEM parts such as those being developed by Pratt & Whitney for the CFM56-3.