CFM International's RISE program on track for ground and flight tests mid-decade

More than 100 tests completed
Early testing results help validate open fan architecture

Two years after unveiling one of the aviation industry's most comprehensive technology demonstrator programs for a more sustainable future of flight, CFM International has completed more than 100 tests as part of its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) technology program.

Through the RISE program, CFM is advancing a suite of pioneering technologies, including advanced engine architectures like the open fan, compact core, advanced combustion technology, thermal management, and hybrid electric systems to be compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In addition, new technologies are also being matured to test direct hydrogen combustion.

Testing to date has helped validate the novel open fan architecture for greater propulsive efficiency, with early testing showing positive noise level performance. The CFM RISE program targets more than 20 percent better fuel efficiency with 20 percent lower CO2 emissions compared to the most efficient engines in service today. Technologies are also being validated to meet the most stringent non-CO2 and noise emission requirements.

Airbus and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, are collaborating to flight test CFM’s cutting-edge open fan engine architecture.

Airbus and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, are collaborating to flight test CFM’s cutting-edge open fan engine architecture.

The Flight Test Demonstrator aims to mature and accelerate the development of advanced propulsion technologies, as part of CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration programme, on board an Airbus A380. The flight test campaign will be performed in the second half of this decade from the Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France. Ahead of the A380 test flights, CFM will perform engine ground tests, along with flight test validation at GE Aviation’s Flight Test Operations centre in Victorville, CA, USA.

The flight test program will achieve several objectives that could contribute to future engine and aircraft efficiency improvements, including: enhanced understanding of engine/wing integration and aerodynamic performance as well as propulsive system efficiency gains; validating performance benefits, including better fuel efficiency that would provide a 20%* reduction in CO2 emissions compared to today’s most efficient engines; evaluating acoustic models; and ensuring compatibility with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). 

“New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation's net-zero objectives, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “By evaluating, maturing and validating open fan engine architecture using a dedicated flight test demonstrator, we are collaboratively making yet another significant contribution to the advancement of technology bricks that will enable us to reach our industry-wide decarbonisation targets.”

Airbus and CFM International launch a flight test demonstrator for advanced open fan architecture

Airbus and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, are collaborating to flight test CFM’s cutting-edge open fan engine architecture.

The Flight Test Demonstrator aims to mature and accelerate the development of advanced propulsion technologies, as part of CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration programme, on board an Airbus A380. The flight test campaign will be performed in the second half of this decade from the Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France. Ahead of the A380 test flights, CFM will perform engine ground tests, along with flight test validation at GE Aviation’s Flight Test Operations centre in Victorville, CA, USA.

The flight test program will achieve several objectives that could contribute to future engine and aircraft efficiency improvements, including: enhanced understanding of engine/wing integration and aerodynamic performance as well as propulsive system efficiency gains; validating performance benefits, including better fuel efficiency that would provide a 20%* reduction in CO2 emissions compared to today’s most efficient engines; evaluating acoustic models; and ensuring compatibility with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). 

“New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation's net-zero objectives, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “By evaluating, maturing and validating open fan engine architecture using a dedicated flight test demonstrator, we are collaboratively making yet another significant contribution to the advancement of technology bricks that will enable us to reach our industry-wide decarbonisation targets.”

Airbus and CFM International to pioneer hydrogen combustion technology

Airbus has signed a partnership agreement with CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, to collaborate on a hydrogen demonstration programme that will take flight around the middle of this decade.   

The programme’s objective is to ground and flight test a direct combustion engine  fueled by hydrogen, in preparation for entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft by 2035. The demonstration will use a A380 flying testbed equipped with liquid hydrogen tanks prepared at Airbus facilities in France and Germany. Airbus will also define the hydrogen propulsion system requirements, oversee flight testing, and provide the A380 platform to test the hydrogen combustion engine in cruise phase. 

CFM International (CFM) will modify the combustor, fuel system, and control system of a GE Passport turbofan to run on hydrogen. The engine, which is assembled in the US, was selected for this program because of its physical size, advanced turbo machinery, and fuel flow capability. It will be mounted along the rear fuselage of the flying testbed to allow engine emissions, including contrails, to be monitored separately from those of the engines powering the aircraft. CFM will execute an extensive ground test program ahead of the A380 flight test.

“This is the most significant step undertaken at Airbus to usher in a new era of hydrogen-powered flight since the unveiling of our ZEROe concepts back in September 2020,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “By leveraging the expertise of American and European engine manufacturers to make progress on hydrogen combustion technology, this international partnership sends a clear message that our industry is committed to making zero-emission flight a reality.”

“Hydrogen combustion capability is one of the foundational technologies we are developing and maturing as part of the CFM RISE Program,” said Gaël Méheust, president & CEO of CFM. “Bringing together the collective capabilities and experience of CFM, our parent companies, and Airbus, we really do have the dream team in place to successfully demonstrate a hydrogen propulsion system.” 

CFM shares Airbus’ ambition of fulfilling the promise they made in signing the Air Transport Action Group goal in October 2021 to achieve aviation industry net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by developing and testing the technology necessary to make zero emissions aircraft a reality within the ambitious timeline defined.

Airbus has a long-standing relationship with CFM and its parent companies, GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines and, together, the partners have established a great track record of delivering high-performance products that meet the needs of airline customers.

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BOC Aviation orders eight shipsets of CFM LEAP-1A Engines to power new Airbus A320neo family aircraft

BOC Aviation has confirmed orders for eight shipsets of CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power new Airbus A320NEO family aircraft on order from Airbus and scheduled for delivery in 2023.

CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines and produces engines for both the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 series.

“CFM engines have powered our fleet since 1998, and we are pleased to build on this long-standing relationship. This contract signifies our continued confidence in the CFM LEAP engine and reflects our customers’ satisfaction in CFM LEAP-powered A320NEO aircraft as an efficient and reliable airframe and engine combination,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOC Aviation, at a signing ceremony today.

“With this order, CFM engines will power 486 aircraft in our portfolio, and we look forward to continue providing our airline customers with fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft solutions,” said David Walton, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, BOC Aviation.

Read more on BOC Aviation's amazing milestone with GE. 

“We are pleased that BOC Aviation has again chosen the LEAP-1A engine to power its new A320neo family aircraft,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International “And we are both honoured by the continued faith that BOC Aviation has shown in our people and our products and proud to bring sustainability benefits in terms of better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, as well as the industry’s highest asset utilisation, to BOC Aviation and its airline customers.”

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SAS and CFM sign engine purchase and services agreement

SAS has selected CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power its new fleet of 35 A320neo family aircraft ordered in 2018. This agreement also includes eight spare engines. In addition, SAS has signed with CFM a Rate-Per-Flight-Hour (RPFH) support agreement to cover its new fleet of LEAP-1A engines, including spares, as well as 15 additional LEAP-1A-powered A320neo on lease. 

This new agreement is part of SAS' fleet upgrade program that aims to improve efficiency and sustainability performances. SAS has been at the forefront of introducing technologies that reduce the impact of aviation on the environment, as well as choosing efficient engines to power its fleet.

"The new LEAP engines and long-term services agreement are an integral part of SAS´ strategic fleet upgrade and will continue to greatly improve our efficiency in our operations. Our goal is to be industry leaders in sustainable aviation, and we are to reduce emissions with 25 per cent by 2025, in comparison to 2005. This will mainly be enabled by using state of the art technologies allowing for lower fuel consumption and an increase in use of sustainable aviation fuels"  says Magnus Örnberg, Executive Vice President and CFO, SAS.