http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/09/cfm-engine-idUSL6N0S41DK20141009

Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has been selected by Snecma to conduct engine development tests on the leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engine.

The scope of the five-year contract includes engine tests at AFI KLM E&M’s Phenix test cell at Roissy-CDG in France.

Air France Industries executive vice-president Anne Brachet said: "This agreement, the first of its type for AFI KLM E&M, demonstrates our ability to adapt to the expectations of all our clients."

The test cell will be revamped to comply with development testing procedures, Snecma said.

"Our decision to choose AFI KLM E&M was based on the successful development of their latest Zephyr test cell and on their capacity to propose a dedicated test cell optimised for our needs."

First tests are scheduled to begin by the end of this year.

Snecma engineering and technology vice-president Jacques Serre commented: "Our decision to choose AFI KLM E&M was based on the successful development of their latest Zephyr test cell and on their capacity to propose a dedicated test cell optimised for our needs."

The latest contract for the LEAP programme comes after Snecma awarded a contract to RTI International Metals to supply titanium aluminide alloy for the LEAP engine last month.

The LEAP engine is currently being developed by CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture of GE Aviation and Snecma.

The engine will be equipped on Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and Comac C919 single-aisle aircraft.

The developers aim to test 20 engines by the end of this year and build 60 engines over the next three years.

Image: A LEAP engine variant. Photo: courtesy of Eric Drouin / Safran.

Defence Technology