Airbus Explores Narrow-Body Jet Design With Engine Maker GE
- U.S. firm offers preliminary outline for geared-turbofan model
- Discussions revealed in court opinion that was later sealed
Airbus
SE has solicited engine ideas for a narrow-body jetliner in development, drawing
a proposal for a new geared design from General Electric Co.
GE’s
preliminary proposal, disclosed in a court opinion, reveals previously
unreported talks between the engine maker and Airbus for a “next-generation”
plane. The court decision was later sealed, indicating the high level of
interest in what’s next for Airbus.
It’s
unclear whether the mooted aircraft would be a new model or an upgrade to one
already in the company’s catalog, such as the A320neo or A220 single-aisle jets.
The court decision doesn’t say when GE proposed the new engine, whether the
plane might come to market, or how far along any talks are.
Airbus
Chief Executive Office Guillaume Faury has previously indicated that the firm’s
next narrow-body will be a carbon-free design, with work underway on developing
hydrogen-powered aircraft, though aviation watchers have also wondered whether a
new conventionally fueled plane might be in the offing.
Agency
Partners analyst Nick Cunningham said discussions may concern a model initially
powered by jet fuel but adaptable to using other propellants.
“A new
narrow-body would start with a kerosene-powered geared turbofan, but with scope
to use new propulsion technologies as they appear,” he said. Such technology for
a full-size airliner is unlikely to be ready before 2030, though a smaller
regional aircraft could fly before then, he said.
Airbus
shares traded 1% higher as of 9:02 a.m. in Paris, paring their decline this year
to 29%. U.S. rival Boeing Co. has declined 33%.
Engine
Tussle
Airbus
is building an extra-long range version of its A321neo that will allow airlines
to fly further with smaller, more efficient aircraft. The A320neo family
currently offers either LEAP 1A engines from a GE joint venture, or Pratt &
Whitney’s PW1100G geared turbofan as options. The Neo, which stands for new
engine option, is itself a more fuel-efficient version of the A320.
“GE
Aviation continually reviews opportunities with airframers, including Airbus and
Boeing, about engine technologies for the next generation of aircraft. The
details of these discussions are confidential,” the U.S. company said by
email.
Airbus
similarly didn’t disclose the nature of any discussions. “We are in constant
dialog with our engine makers about the latest state-of-the-art technologies and
ongoing innovations,” it said by email. “There are many studies. Not all studies
see the light of day.”
Cunningham said talks may be a “feint” by Airbus to
pressure Boeing into moving early on a new narrow-body plane before technologies
are really ready. That could allow the European company to come in a few years
later with a superior plane.
The
U.S. company’s single-aisle strategy was thrown into disarray by the grounding
of its 737 Max, which rivals the A320neo, after two fatal crashes. The Max has
only just been permitted to fly again and it’s not yet clear if it will be able
to compete effectively with the Airbus plane.
Geared
Turbofan
GE
proposed using a geared turbofan system it is developing, which it considered a
“technologically preferred design for the next-generation narrow-body market,”
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit wrote in an opinion
Wednesday.
Airbus
and Boeing are confronting mounting pressure to curb carbon emissions, while the
coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated a marketplace shift away from their largest
and most profitable planes. The two compete intensely over new designs that are
high stakes because of the long lead-times and deep pockets required to bring a
model to market.
The
same is true for engine-makers GE, Pratt and Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. The U.K.
company is now considering a return to the single-aisle market, and has said it
is in contact with Airbus about possible opportunities, while discussing a
potential new single-aisle design contemplated by Boeing.
The
disclosure about the GE-Airbus discussions came in a years-long dispute over
geared turbofan patents held by Pratt, which is a unit of Raytheon Technologies
Corp. The mechanism -- used for other aircraft in addition to the A320 family --
allows the fan blades and turbine in an engine to rotate at different speeds for
better efficiency.
Infringement Case
Beginning in 2016, General Electric launched an attack
against Raytheon’s patents on gas-turbine engines, claiming they were taking
credit for decades-old technology developed by GE or for processes that were
broadly known in the industry. In all, 33 petitions have been filed at a review
board within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, most recently in
January.
GE has
had mixed luck at the agency, including knocking out a patent for a way to set
the gear ratio in an engine. Last year, the Federal Circuit, which handles all
patent appeals, ruled that merely being a competitor of Raytheon wasn’t enough
to give Boston-based GE the right to use federal courts to appeal a different
case it had lost at the agency review board.
To
overcome that decision, GE had to provide information to show that it “is
‘currently undertaking activities’ likely to lead Raytheon to sue it for
infringement.” On Wednesday, the circuit held that GE had met that burden and
could pursue its case.
Raytheon said it was disappointed with the appeals
court decision and that it was evaluating its options. The case involves a
single patent, Raytheon said by email, and it has “many other patents covering
its revolutionary new GTF technology.”
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