LEAP engines on track

The Seattle Times reports that development of the engine designed for fuel-efficient versions of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 jet families are running smoothly, according to leaders of CFM International. CFM, a joint venture of GE and Safran, is making the LEAP engines for the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737MAX and the COMAC C919 jet. The first test engine for the Airbus A320 was started up last month at GE’s outdoor test facility in Peebles, Ohio. (Source: Seattle Times, 10/16/13) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., and Safran has an engineering center; GE has an engine parts plant near Hattiesburg, Miss., and Auburn, Ala.