Reuters: Market News: Boeing bears down on 737 fuel-savings target

Reuters: Market News Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Boeing bears down on 737 fuel-savings target Apr 11th 2012, 13:01 April 11 | Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:01am EDT April 11 (Reuters) - Boeing Co said it has made several design choices for its upcoming 737 MAX, the re-engined version of its best-selling narrowbody aircraft, to ensure it hits its ambitious fuel-efficiency targets. The plane-maker said it would improve the craft's aerodynamics by extending the tail cone and changing the way it integrates the engine with the wing. Boeing last year unveiled plans to put new fuel-efficient engines in its existing 737 design. Boeing named the aircraft the MAX and said it would enter service in 2017. "Based on design work and preliminary testing results, we have even more confidence in our ability to give our customers the fuel savings they need while minimizing the development risk on this program," said Michael Teal, chief project engineer and deputy program manager, 737 MAX program. Boeing said it also would update its flight controls and strengthen landing gear, wings and the fuselage to accommodate the weight of the larger engines. The MAX, which offers fuel savings of up to 12 percent over the current 737, will be powered by engines made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric Co and Safran. The airplane will compete with the Airbus A320neo, which also will feature new engines and offers fuel savings of 15 percent over the current A320. Boeing has taken more than 1,000 orders and provisional commitments for the MAX since winning its first provisional order for the plane from AMR Corp's American Airlines last year. Southwest Airlines will be the first operator of the plane. Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions