GE regain d'intérêt pour le 350 XWB

General Electric is hoping the 787 flight test program will help to break an impasse with Airbus regarding a second engine option for the A350 XWB.

Airbus says that the company is "always interested in exciting new technologies" for its aircraft and has an open line of communication with its engine providers.

GE on the other hand, was reluctant to offer an engine that would compete directly with its GE90 powerplant for the 777. Though the engine maker believes it can still offer a product that can exceed the performance of the Trent 1000, as well as the XWB by extension.

GE says that if reaches a deal to offer the current Boeing 787-optimized GEnx for the A350, it will only power the -800 and -900 variants.

Airbus has always maintained that it wanted a centerline engine for all three variants of its new long range twin though John Leahy, chief operating officer for Airbus, opened the door in 2007 for a GEnx offering on only two of three XWB variants.

"We would look at it if it was a better engine [than the GEnx], that was for the -800 and -900 now with the -1000's coming at a later date," said Leahy.

Jeannot a écrit: Mais le problème n'est-il pas dans le fait que GE ne souhaite pas fournir de motorisation pour le 1000.

Jeannot a écrit: Ce refus laisse largement la place au 777 pour les compagnies liées à GE et cela Airbus ne le souhaitait pas.