Company evaluating powerplant needs of new single-aisle aircraft to be developed by 2012

International Aero Engines (IAE) expects to start development of a new engine before the end of the decade to power the next generation of single-aisle aircraft to be built by Airbus, Boeing or other airframe manufacturers.

IAE's recently appointed president and chief executive Mark King says that "in all likelihood" a new engine will have to be developed in the coming years.

He says IAE, which makes the V2500, is "starting to look at the next generation" of single-aisle aircraft that may be developed by around 2010 or 2012 by two or more manufacturers, and what the powerplant needs may be.

Speaking at last month's Asian Aerospace 2004 air show in Singapore, King said that IAE expects noise and emission issues to be "the main driver" behind engine requirements for any new aircraft. A new engine would incorporate the latest technology from IAE's shareholders, who include Japanese Aero Engines, MTU Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce.

The company has had a so-called "Vista" initiative in place for some time to capture and mature technology for a new engine to power the next generation of single-aisle aircraft. It has said the engine could be a derivative or entirely new.

IAE's rival in the 20,000-35,000lb thrust (90-155kN) range is the CFM56 built by General Electric/Snecma joint venture CFM International. The Franco-US manufacturer is undertaking its own future project studies using the Tech56 designation.

The V2500 entered service on the A320 in 1989 and powers around 860 of the 2,100 A320 family aircraft in service worldwide - the rest are powered by the CFM56. The V2500's only other application is the out-of-production Boeing MD-90, of which 115 are in service.

NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE

Source: Flight International