As I meet with my colleagues at the world’s airframe manufacturers, one of the key points I’m explaining is Nexcelle’s philosophy on our relationships for integrated propulsion systems (IPS).
Nexcelle has a cooperative, open approach with airframers that I describe as a “flexible, collaborative perimeter” on the IPS.
We fully understand that aircraft manufacturers may have propulsion system expertise and capabilities which they want to retain on a new system – for example the pylon, engine inlet or exhaust nozzle.
Nexcelle is ready to share the IPS responsibilities appropriately, establishing lines of ownership according to the airframers’ wishes.
A good example of this approach is the LEAP-X1C integrated propulsion system on China’s COMAC C919 jetliner. Our Chinese partner is retaining the ownership for the C919 pylon, while Nexcelle and CFM are supporting COMAC with all the value we bring on the integrated propulsion system’s other key elements.
This joint approach further strengthens the collaboration that is required between the engine/nacelle supplier and the airframer to fully achieve the IPS benefits. Those benefits result in reduced development risk for airframers and lower life-cycle costs for the airlines.
I will continue underscoring Nexcelle’s “flexible, collaborative perimeter” viewpoint as we seek new opportunities of bringing the IPS to current, and future, aircraft types.
With this latest blog posting, I am providing the first glimpse at how an integrated propulsion system could look for a future application of the LEAP-X.
