International Aero Engines and Snecma revealed at the show yesterday that they are in talks with Bombardier about engines for the Canadian manufacturer's proposed CSeries aircraft family.
"We have started conversations with Bombardier to really bring it to life," said IAE president Mark King of its idea of a new centreline engine in the 21,000-23,000lb (93-102kN) thrust category.
It will definitely be IAE, and not an individual member of the consortium - which is made up of Japanese Aero Engine Corp, MTU, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce - that leads the development of the engine for the CSeries, said King.
Product
Meanwhile, Snecma chairman Jean-Paul Bechat stressed that any engine for the CSeries would be a CFM International product - the French manufacturer's joint venture with General Electric - adding that the thrust required will be around that of the CFM56 family.
Unlike Bombardier, Bechat does not rule out the possibility of modification of an existing product. "It has to be decided and this is what we are doing together with Bombardier."
Asked whether IAE would develop its new engine under the shareholding share as the V2500, King said: "We don't rule anything in or out, but it is too early to talk about that."
Aggressive
Bombardier's aggressive schedule shows it planning to select an engine, or engines, by year-end.
As the engine makers get enthusiastic about the CSeries, Embraer president Mauricio Botelho believes arch-rival Bombardier faces formidable challenges in turning its proposed twinjet into reality.
The head of the Brazilian airframer suggests Bombardier will find it tough to formulate a practicable investment plan and he wonders how it will achieve the 20% reduction in direct operating costs he thinks will be necessary to succeed in the market.
"Embraer invested about $1 billion in the 170 and 190 and our costs are about half of theirs. So I would not like to be in their shoes," he said. "It is very risky."
Botelho predicts a robust response from Boeing and Airbus as Bombardier starts to challenge the bottom of their market for the first time.
MARK PILLING AND VICTORIA MOORES
Source: Flight Daily News
