CFM cites progress in LEAP-X development, testing

CFM International said development on its next-generation LEAP-X1C engine, selected late last year to power Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China's 150-seat C919 slated to enter service in 2016, is progressing well with second-phase core testing underway and scheduled to conclude by mid-May.

Executives from the GE Aviation/Snecma joint venture, briefing a small group of reporters including ATWOnline this week at GE Aviation's Cincinnati headquarters, expressed confidence that the Chinese aircraft (ATWOnline, Dec. 22, 2009) ultimately will appeal to airlines around the world and reiterated their strong interest in participating in potential narrowbody re-engining programs that both Boeing and Airbus are considering launching this year. 

Executive VP Chaker Chahrour said a variation of the LEAP-X is the "lowest risk option" for a 737/A320 re-engining. He said CFM has been presenting options to both Boeing and Airbus. The manufacturers are "obviously pursuing a re-engine product very heavily," he said, though he cautioned that neither has "made up their mind that they're going to re-engine."

He asserted that the LEAP-X is a better option than rival Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G geared turbofan (ATWOnline, April 1) owing to an advanced-technology core. "We pride ourselves on cores," he explained, adding that the LEAP-X core is based on "ninth-generation" technology and lessons learned on previous GE and CFM engine programs. "My competition doesn't have a [new] core, at least not for a re-engined product for the A320 or 737," he said. "The technology they're using for the [PW1000G] core is existing technology."

Even if the manufacturers decide against re-engining, CFM believes the C919 will give it the opportunity to prove that the LEAP-X can provide a 14%-16% fuel burn reduction compared to today's narrowbody powerplants.

Chahrour said COMAC is putting significant "resources" and "energy" behind the aircraft and shouldn't be underestimated despite skepticism that it will sell outside China. "We're very concerned about making it a commercial success," he commented. "The numbers in [the domestic Chinese airline market], as good as they are, don't really support a sustainable business case [for an aircraft or an engine program]. We do think they will make it a global airplane. From the perspective of our business plan, we'd be very happy if that materializes in the early 2020s. We're very realistic and we know it could take awhile."

President and CEOEric Bachelet said the company has the resources to produce both the LEAP-X1C for the C919 and a variant for a 737/A320 re-engining. "We have studied scenarios of how to stagger [development and testing] to do both," he explained. "We have closely studied this and [doing both] is feasible."