Airbus to test ‘green’ US engines

The European planemaker Airbus has announced an agreement to test fly new ‘green’ aircraft engines from the US firm Pratt & Whitney. Airbus said it had agreed to test Pratt & Whitney's new geared turbofan engine as part of its commitment to look at all new technologies and innovations that could potentially bring longer term environmental and economic benefits to the aviation sector. The tests will be performed on Airbus' own A340 Flight Test aircraft during the fourth quarter of 2008. The geared turbofan engine is one option Airbus is testing and the results will contribute to European consortim’s overall assessment of the different new engine technologies proposed by engine manufacturers and the benefits they could bring for the future. Airbus emphasised that: “At this point in time, the tests do not imply either a technological or a business decision on future product developments.”