The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CFM International and Airbus to make Singapore the world’s first testbed airport for Open Fan engine operations. The agreement focuses on studying the operational impact of next-generation RISE technologies at airports.

The RISE programme is led by CFM and aims to improve fuel efficiency by over 20 per cent using Open Fan propulsion. These engines have no outer casing, allowing for a larger fan and reduced drag. The programme also supports future hybrid-electric compatibility and quieter operations.

The MOU was signed at the 2026 Changi Aviation Summit by CAAS Director-General Han Kok Juan, Safran Singapore CEO David Dufrenois (on behalf of CFM), and Airbus EVP of Engineering Rémi Maillard.

The partners will co-develop a readiness framework to evaluate airport infrastructure needs, aircraft integration, safety procedures and regulatory processes. Trials will be conducted at either Changi or Seletar Airport using Open Fan demonstrators.

Gaël Méheust President & Chief Executive Officer of CFM International says: “This first-of-its-kind agreement is a huge boon for the CFM RISE development program. These technologies are designed to deliver unprecedented improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions in a highly robust future product that can support demanding operations.”