Engine Under Development For Use On Boeing, Airbus, Comac Airplanes

The engine that will eventually power the Boeing's 737 MAX, some Airbus A320neo airplanes, and the Chinese Comac 919 is proceeding on schedule, according to officials at CFM International.

Reuters reports that, in a conference call, Chaker Charuour, executive vice president of the Cincinnati-based engine maker, said that the company is "on track and on schedule for all three programs."

CFM is a joint effort between General Electric and Safran of France. The LEAP-X engine will be the only powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX, but will compete for business with the PW1100G engine being developed by a group led by Pratt & Whitney for the A320neo.

CFM CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga said the company already has orders for 5,000 LEAP-X engines, along with a similar backlog of CFM56 engines that currently power both Boeing and Airbus airliners. He said current orders placed by airlines with both companies mean "significant orders down the road."

Both CFM and Pratt & Whitney claim that their engines will be the most fuel-efficient and quietest jet engines available to the planemakers.

FMI: www.cfmaeroengines.com