SAFRAN : 05/19/2015 Successful first flight of LEAP-powered Airbus A320neo, with Safran engines and systems Add to cart
May 19, 2015 at 12:58 pm
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Toulouse, May 19, 2015
Airbus has carried out a successful first flight of the A320neo, the reengined version of its single-aisle commercial jet, powered by twin LEAP-1A engines. The airplane took off at 1:24 pm from Toulouse, landing 4 hours, 25 minutes later.
The new-generation LEAP engine is designed and built by CFM International, the 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE. It will succeed the CFM56, the best-selling engine in the history of aviation. Selected by Airbus in 2010 as one of the engines to be offered on the A320neo, the LEAP incorporates major technological advances that allow it to set the standard in this market, based on its performance in terms of reduced fuel consumption (15% lower than current engines), low CO2 and NOx emissions (50% under the current CAEP/6 standard) and very quiet operation. The LEAP-1A version is purpose-designed for the A320neo.
Several Safran companies contribute to the LEAP-1A engine alongside Snecma: Sagem provides the full authority digital engine control (FADEC), Techspace Aero the low-pressure compressor and lubrication equipment, and Hispano-Suiza the power transmission.
In addition to the engine, Safran companies provide key systems and equipment on the A320neo: nacelles (Aircelle), wiring (Labinal Power Systems), landing gear, wheels and carbon brakes (Messier-Bugatti-Dowty).
"This first flight is obviously a major milestone in the LEAP-1A testing and certification program," said Philippe Petitcolin, Chief Executive Officer of Safran. "The engine is already a tremendous business success even before entering service, with over 2,500 orders and commitments for the Airbus A320neo, accounting for 55% of this market. Today's flight also recognizes the expert contribution of other Safran companies, whose advanced products help drive the success of this program."
At April 30, all versions of the LEAP engine had recorded more than 8,900 orders and commitments worldwide.
Safran is a high technology international group, a leading equipment provider in the Aerospace and Defense markets. The group specializes in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of equipment and systems of high technology mechanical and electronic equipment. Net sales break down by product family as follows:
- aeronautic and space propulsion systems (51.2%): helicopter motors (No. 1 worldwide), civil and military airplanes motors, systems for space lancers and missiles, turboreactors for drone targets, etc.;
- aircraft equipment, defense systems and aerosystems (38%): airplane engine pods, landing gear, braking systems, electric wiring systems, etc. Safran also offers on board aircraft systems and equipment (primarily evacuation slides, emergency arresting systems, protective parachutes and oxygen systems, electrical power management systems, control systems, water and waste management systems and connectivity systems) and defense and security systems (helicopter flight controls, fingerprint-based biometric identification systems (No. 1 worldwide), inertial systems, optronic systems, tactical drone systems, etc.);
- aircraft interiors (10.7%): cabin interiors and seats;
- other (0.1%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (19.4%), Europe (24%), the Americas (34.8%), Asia and Oceania (13.2%), Africa and the Middle East (8.6%).