CFM International has shipped the first production LEAP 1-A engines featuring the new reverse bleed system (RBS) to Airbus. The new RBS system mitigates carbon buildup on fuel nozzles and was approved by the FAA and EASA in 2023.
On Tuesday (April 9, 2024), from MRO Americas in Chicago, CFM International announced that they have delivered their first production LEAP-1A outfitted with their new reverse bleed system (RBS) to Airbus, with entry into commercial service by mid-year. The new hardware will also be installed in the existing fleet by airlines and MRO shops, and will also be introduced on the LEAP 1-B engine as well. When equipped with the new RBS system, which mitigates carbon buildup on fuel nozzles, LEAP engine operators will enjoy reduced on-wing fuel nozzle replacement, resulting in a dramatically reduced maintenance burden. The new RBS was approved by the FAA and EASA in 2023, and once the system is deployed fleetwide, CFM anticipates fuel nozzle replacement to generally occur only during performance restoration shop visits.
In Tuesday’s announcement, CFM International’s President and CEO, Gaël Méheust, said,
“CFM has always invested in product improvements designed to meet customer expectations for our engines. The reverse bleed system is the latest example of that commitment. It is a testament to the ingenuity of our technical and customer teams, who designed a solution that seamlessly integrates with existing aircraft systems. This RBS is part of a broader plan to improve engine durability, that will see additional upgrades introduced throughout the year.”
Availability of the new RBS hardware, which can be installed on wing, is expected during Q2 2024. Installation training for the upgrade is available at four CFM facilities, including the GE Customer Technical Education Center (Springdale, Ohio), Safran Engines Customer Training Center (Montereau, France), Aero Engine Maintenance Center (Guanghan, China), and CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia (Hyderabad, India).
The advanced CFM LEAP Family of engines deliver a 15-20 percent reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and a smaller noise footprint compared to previous generation engines. Since entering service in 2016, LEAP engines have allowed operators to reduce carbon emissions by over 32 million tons. The LEAP Family has been the most successful new product introduction in CFM’s nearly 50-year history, with the fastest ramp-up of engine flight hours in the industry ever, approaching 50 million hours and 20 million cycles over the last seven years.
Source: CFM International