The MoU was signed at the third Changi Aviation Summit on February 2, 2026 © Airbus

Singapore to pioneer ‘Open Fan’ engine airport trials

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), CFM International and Airbus have signed an MoU to establish Singapore as the world’s first airport testing ground for CFM’s next-generation Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) technologies. Central to this collaboration is the development and evaluation of open fan engine architecture, a breakthrough design expected to play a major role in the future of sustainable aviation.

The agreement was signed during the third Changi Aviation Summit on February 2, 2026, by Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, David Dufrenois, CEO of Safran Singapore on behalf of CFM International, and Rémi Maillard, Airbus Executive Vice-President of Engineering and Head of Technology.

RISE is CFM’s technology demonstration programme aimed at advancing next-generation commercial aircraft engines. A key innovation is the open fan architecture, which removes the traditional engine casing, enabling a larger fan diameter with reduced drag. This design is intended to deliver significant improvements in propulsive efficiency, with a target of more than 20% better fuel efficiency compared with today’s engines in service.

Beyond efficiency gains, open fan technology is being developed to reduce carbon emissions, lower noise levels, and ensure compatibility with future hybrid-electric propulsion systems. As such, it is positioned as a cornerstone technology for the next generation of narrow-body commercial aircraft, supporting aviation’s transition towards cleaner and quieter air travel.

Under the MOU, CAAS, CFM and Airbus will jointly develop a comprehensive readiness framework to integrate open fan engines into existing airport operations. This will include aircraft system and design considerations, potential infrastructure adjustments, changes to operational procedures, enhanced safety standards, and regulatory processes.

The partnership will also draw on Singapore’s strong aviation ecosystem to exchange expertise in airport design, safety protocols, regulatory frameworks and operational best practices. This work is intended to produce a global blueprint that can guide airports, airlines and manufacturers worldwide in preparing for Open Fan operations.

The parties also plan to conduct operational trials of the RISE open fan demonstrators at Singapore Changi Airport or Seletar Airport, validating the framework and assessing the real-world feasibility of this transformative engine technology.

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