GE Aircraft Engines and Snecma develop and mature technologies for emerging markets. This is the first installment in a series of articles dealing with commercial jet engine design.

After enjoying much success with its CFM56 engines, the joint company of Snecma and GE Aircraft Engines, CFM International is developing and maturing new technologies that can be used in future aircraft engine designs or retrofitted onto its existing engines. The company has built a strong base, with its engines found on many Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. The engine is also popular on many Boeing 737s (737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -800, and -900). Eleven hundred orders have been made to date for CFM-powered 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 aircraft.

To maintain and build on this base, CFM International launched TECH56, an advanced-technology acquisition program to identify, determine feasibility, and validate engine technology for future market requirements. TECH56 is a three-year program that involves engine applications in the CFMÕs thrust range.

The idea of acquiring new technology to strengthen its hold on future markets was also embraced by GE Aircraft itself. Its GE90 aircraft engine already powers 110 Boeing 777 aircraft Ñ most of which are at the 90,000 lb thrust level. However, the company is looking at the possible development of increased gross weight versions of the Boeing 777 and it is developing and maturing technologies that will enable the GE90 to power the anticipated aircraft adequately and efficiently. These new technologies will enable the engine to compete with those now under development by other companies.

The development of these new technologies on a component basis will allow CFM and GE to keep the same engine architecture for the CFM56 and GE90. Once fully developed, these component technologies could be incorporated into the existing architecture, expanding the capabilities of the current engines and making them more competitive.

• TECH56
• The GE90