CFM* International and LEAP56*

CFM International is a joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) of France and General Electric Company of USA. CFM produces the CFM56 engine of which more than 17,000 are currently in service. The CFM56 has more than 360 million engine flight hours and powers the Boeing 737 Classic and Next-Generation families; the Airbus A320 family; and the Airbus A340-200/-300.

Did you know?

• Aircraft engines produce CO2 as a combustion by-product. Other emissions are mostly constituted of nitrogen oxides (NOX) produced at high power, unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) produced at low power.
• CFM has worked for decades to reduce pollutants and CO2 emissions. NOX, CO2, and noise reductions have resulted from design trade-offs, including maintenance costs.

What are we doing?

• The LEAP56 (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) programme is a new technology acquisition and maturation programme. It is focusing on a new composite fan, an advanced compressor design, next-generation TAPS (twin-annular, pre-swirl) combustor technology and next-generation high- and low-pressure turbine technologies.
• CFM is working on two possible approaches. The first is a CFM56 type engine that would retain the conventional turbofan layout, but incorporate the most innovative technologies throughout the engine. The second approach, which could be available toward the end of the next decade, would use a brand-new design, based on counter-rotating fans or an open rotor.
• In 2007, CFM will complete a composite fan case containment test, along with fan aerodynamic, combustor, and high-pressure compressor rig tests, in addition to high- and low-pressure turbine component tests. The company will also complete component tests on the resin transfer moulding (RTM) fan blade and the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) high-pressure turbine nozzles.

What is the result?

• With LEAP56, CFM is targeting significant improvements, including 10–15% lower specific fuel consumption, which will help reduce CO2 emissions, a 15% reduction in maintenance costs, an initial on-wing life increase of 25%, all compared to today's industry-leading CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B powerplants for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737s aircraft families, and NOX emissions that are 60% lower than the current CAEP 6 regulations.

* CFM, CFM56, and LEAP56 are registered trademarks of CFM International.