BUENOS AIRES- Although the ALTA Forum tends to focus on the region and generate news of Latin American scope, a CFM conference held as part of the event gave rise to a question that goes far beyond that limit.
The engine manufacturer gave an overview of its current projects but did not dodge the big question that crosses the industry: Boom is still looking for someone to manufacture an engine for the Overture and so far, has had no luck. Rolls Royce, GE, Pratt & Whitney and Safran prefer to pass on development and concentrate on subsonic projects, with a defined and large market.
With all those builders down, would CFM finally be the one – or the only one – to shoulder development? The answer won’t surprise you: no.
“CFM’s current vision is to develop an engine that improves emissions and performance compared to current engines. Is there a market for supersonic engines that justifies committing part of those resources?” said Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM.
“Maybe, but we are committed to the RISE initiative and we don’t see a significant market for an engine that targets a very small potential niche” was Méheust’s lapidary response, leaving Boom with virtually no chance of getting a powerplant for its aircraft, without even getting into considering the aggressive – and at this point, nearly impossible – timeline that puts the Overture in service in 2029.
CFM is focused on supporting its LEAP engines, the CFM56, and its extensive services division for existing customers, in addition to the two major projects stemming from its RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) initiative: the Open Fan demonstrator and the Hydrogen demonstrator.
Between the Open Fan and hydrogen propulsion there is a 10-year leap, with the Open Fan expected to complete testing in the second half of this decade and the hydrogen system in the mid-30s.
If CFM and the rest of the manufacturers are not willing to risk a significant amount of funds to develop an engine that will have – at least for now – only one customer, Boom will most likely face an insurmountable dilemma: the stark reality.
