Singapore will become the world’s first airport testing ground for next-generation aircraft propulsion technologies after Airbus joined aviation authorities and engine maker CFM International in a new partnership aimed at preparing airports for future engine designs, the companies said on Monday.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed at the Changi Aviation Summit, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), CFM International, and Airbus agreed to establish a testbed for CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) programme, with a focus on the Open Fan engine architecture. The initiative will assess how such engines would affect airport operations and develop a global readiness framework for future aircraft.

The agreement was signed by CAAS Director-General Han Kok Juan, Safran Singapore Chief Executive David Dufrenois on behalf of CFM International, and Airbus Executive Vice President for Engineering and Head of Technology Rémi Maillard.

CFM’s RISE program is designed to advance propulsion technologies for the next generation of narrow-body commercial aircraft. Central to the program is the Open Fan engine concept, which removes the traditional engine casing to allow for a larger fan diameter and improved aerodynamic efficiency. CFM says the technology targets more than 20 percent better fuel efficiency than current engines, alongside lower emissions and reduced noise.

Under the partnership, the three parties will co-develop a comprehensive framework covering aircraft design considerations, airport infrastructure requirements, operational procedures, safety standards, and regulatory processes needed to integrate open fan engines into existing airport environments. Singapore’s aviation ecosystem will also be used to exchange technical and operational expertise across airport design, safety, and regulatory practices.

Operational tests of Open Fan engine models are planned at either Singapore Changi Airport or Seletar Airport, pending approvals, to check the framework and see if the technology can work in real-life situations.

“This partnership is testament to Singapore’s offering as an integrated air hub with strong regulatory expertise where companies can testbed technologies and develop real-world protocols for deployment at scale globally,” Han said in a statement.

The CFM International president and chief executive, Gaël Méheust, said the agreement would support real-world demonstrations covering ground handling, maintenance, and airport operations, helping build confidence among airlines and passengers in the safety and durability of the new engine architecture.

Airbus’s Maillard said the collaboration would help mature new propulsion technologies by testing them against future operational requirements, adding that Singapore’s aerospace ecosystem made it an ideal location for such work.

For airlines and passengers, the project could pave the way for quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft in the next decade, with implications for operating costs, environmental performance, and airport infrastructure planning. Industry analysts say the readiness framework developed in Singapore could influence how airports worldwide adapt to future aircraft designs.

As the programme progresses, the partners will announce further details on trial timelines and regulatory milestones.

Source: Airbus Press Release