CFM engines make easyJet 25 per cent cleaner

Article Type: Mini features From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 6

CFM International (CFM) and easyJet celebrate a milestone in the airline’s ambition to be recognised as one of the world’s most environmentally efficient airlines by revealing new engines that will reportedly reduce mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 25 per cent and bring considerable progress in terms of CO₂ emissions, fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

The new CFM56-5B Tech Insertion engines, which are the product of CFM, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company,are being introduced onto the easyJet fleet of Airbus A319 aircraft and will reinforce easyJet’s position as one of the most environmentally aware airlines in the industry.

While most of the focus in recent years has been on aviation’s CO₂emissions, the European Commission is currently developing a NOx emissions legislative proposal by the end of 2008. The CFM56 Tech Insertion program incorporates advanced technologies that it believes will help operators lower their environmental impact while also reducing operating and maintenance costs. Improved analytic design tools developed as part of this program have reportedly enabled CFM to further optimise the Tech Insertion combustor so that it will provide 25 per cent lower NOx emissions. In addition, the engine’s 1 per cent improvement in fuel consumption will also lower CO₂, reducing these emissions by 200 tons per aircraft per year.

“Today marks a new chapter in our long relationship with easyJet”,said Eric Bachelet, President and CEO of CFM. “This airline’s ‘Green CFM56’ represents the best of available and mature technologies for the environment and will enable easyJet to meet future international emissions regulations with significant margins. We are proud to play a part in helping easyJet solidify its position as an industry leader in environmental consciousness.”

The engines are being fitted onto all new Airbus A319 deliveries.

“There is no doubt that climate change is a real and pressing danger which should be a concern for us all”, said Andy Harrison, CEO of easyJet.“There is also no doubt that the biggest benefits are to be gained from environmentally-sensitive companies, such as CFM and easyJet, developing and operating the big leaps forward in technology that will enable our industry to achieve the green growth that is expected of us”. CFM56 Tech Insertion will provide operators with longer time on wing through an equivalent 15-20°C additional exhaust gas temperature margin and will lower maintenance costs by between 5 and 12 per cent, depending on the thrust rating, through enhanced durability. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor and the high- and low-pressure turbines. The new configuration is designated by a “/3” on the engine name place (i.e. CFM56-5B5/3).

The CFM56-5B is said to be the engine of choice for the Airbus A320 family and is popular with major airlines, low-cost carriers, and leasing companies alike. More than 3,200 CFM56-5B engines have been delivered to date, and the fleet is growing at a rate of about 40 engines per month. The engine’s outstanding reliability, durability, low cost of ownership, and world-class customer and product support have led to its broad customer acceptance with low-cost carriers, mainline operators, and leasing companies world-wide. The CFM56-5B is claimed to be the only engine that can power every model of the A320 family, from the small A318 up to the A321, with the same bill of materials,giving airlines a significant commonality advantage.