Swissair today took delivery of the first Airbus Industrie A321 aircraft powered by CFM International's CFM56-5B engines equipped with the double annular combustor (DAC).
The CFM56-5B DAC, which was certified on the A321 earlier this month by the French Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile, will be the first commercial engine with a double annular, low NOx (oxides of nitrogen) combustor to enter service. CFM International is a 50/50 joint company of Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States.
Swissair has ordered a total of 6 firm, 9 option A321s and will take delivery of five of the firm aircraft this year. In addition, the airline has ordered 3 firm, 7 option A319s and 15 firm, 10 option A320s, all powered by the CFM56-5B DAC. Six of the A320s will be delivered this year while the A319s will begin delivery in 1996.
Swissair, along with Austrian Airlines, is a launch customer of the CFM56-5B DAC-powered A321; the two airlines provided the initial impetus to incorporate DAC technology into the CFM56 family and have been an integral part of the development process. Citing overall reliability and operability as their top priorities, Swissair and Austrian Airlines worked with CFMI on concept and design reviews to ensure that the engine meets existing, as well as projected, regulatory requirements.
On a typical flight cycle for Swissair , the DAC engine will provide a reduction in NOx emissions of more than 45 percent, compared to the CFM56-5B equipped with a single annular combustor (SAC). In addition, the engine emits no visible smoke.
CFMI is continuing development of low operating cost and low emission technology that brings the greatest value to the customer. Future, near-term developments will focus on the combustor cooling system, fuel nozzles, and control systems, with a target of achieving additional emissions reduction below current -5B DAC levels.
The fuel nozzle and control system will be certified in September of this year, while the combustor cooling system is scheduled for certification in 1996. The DAC engine, which was certified at 27,000, 30,000 and 31,000 pounds takeoff thrust in mid-1994, is operationally interchangeable with the SAC engine; thus, A319/A320/A321 customers have the option of specifying either combustor configuration for their -5B engines. CFMI is also extending double annular combustor technology, on an optional basis, to future members of the CFM56 family, including the CFM56-7 for the next-generation Boeing 737 family.