Snecma sees a market for at least 1,300 of
its new SM146 regional airliner engines, which was officially
launched just six weeks ago with its selection for the Russian
Regional Jet (RRJ).
The RRJ family is being developed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft jointly
with Ilyushin, Yakovlev and Boeing. Snecma is partnered with Russian
engine manufacturer NPO Saturn on the new 13,500 to 17,500 pounds
thrust engine, which will be common for all three-60-, 75- and
95-passenger-versions of the RRJ.
"It seems realistic that we can win a 10% share of the 6,400
regional jets that analysts say will be needed by 2020,"
says Snecma chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Bechat. "We hope we
can do far more."
The SM146 is based on Snecma's DEM21 core engine, which ran for
the first time at Villaroche a year ago with a six-stage compressor
and a low-emission single annular combustor. The SM146 will use
low-pressure system technology derived from Snecma's work on the
CFM56-7, including wide-chord fan blades.
Snecma and NPO Saturn believe the engine's direct-drive design
was seen as a technological advantage over the losing bid, the
geared fan PW800.
Ironically, Snecma was teamed with Pratt & Whitney when it
first eyed the regional jet market in 1997. "I remember that
year I welcomed French President Chirac to Le Bourget and advocated
the ATR regional jet," recalls Bechat. "But it turns
out that our proposed engine was selected for a non-existent program."-John
Morris
