Airbus A320 Re-Engine May Get Two Choices
CFM International LEAP-X Engine To Get The Nod Ahead Of GTF
LEAP-X and GTF Will Both Feature
Higher Thrust-Rated GTF Engine To Follow
Airbus has all but decided to offer dual engine supplier choices when it announces later this summer plans to re-engine the A320 family.
The lead engine is slated to be CFM International’s LEAP-X followed by a higher thrust variant of the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G GTF engine. A higher thrust GTF engine would be available in 2016 to allow better performance for the A320 family - at present, the GTF engine that will enter service with Bombardier’s CSeries will provide between 21-24,000lbs thrust.
The decision to allow two engine types comes from operators demanding more than one engine choice as well as to leverage operational commonality with the existing A320 engines in service, split between CFM and International Aero Engines.
Image courtesy of Airbus
As Pratt & Whitney works to expand the engine core capabilities of the PW1000G engine, Bombardier is concerned that a higher thrust-rated GTF engine would undermine sales of its CSeries in favour of the Airbus A319 using the same engine - primarily because the latter offers a wider cabin, better short field performance, potentially lower cash operating costs, longer range as well as better residual value.
Pratt & Whitney’s venture with Rolls-Royce in IAE has yet to define a working arrangement that would either deliver a new engine or an agreement that would see the GTF sold through that partnership.
Unlike the rival 737, the A320 family would not require undercarriage modifications or lengthening to ensure adequate ground clearance for the bigger engines. Sources close to CFM confirm that “the possibility of the same engine entering service on competing airplanes (A320, 737 and C919) is unprecedented.”
Boeing meanwhile, affirms that it may make a decision on the 737 re-engine efforts toward the end of the year.
The COMAC C919 will be the first airplane to introduce the CFM LEAP-X engine in 2016.
Alongside the introduction of its “sharklet” winglets, Airbus is aiming to cut fuel burn for the A319, A320 and A321 families by between 15-20%. Service entry for the re-engined A320 would be poised for 2016.
20 comments March 4th, 2010
