Singapore will host the world’s first airport testbed for next-generation open-fan aircraft engines, El.kz reports citingInteresting Engineering.

The memorandum of understanding was signed at the Changi Aviation Summit, held on the eve of the Singapore Airshow, marking a significant milestone for global engine development efforts and for the city-state’s aviation ambitions.

The agreement, signed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Airbus, and CFM International, will see Singapore conduct real-world evaluations of open-fan engines developed under CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines program.

The initiative was confirmed ahead of the summit, with CAAS Director General Han Kok Juan briefing reporters on Jan 29. The work is expected to run for several years and will unfold at either Singapore Changi Airport or Seletar Airport.

Singapore becomes a real-world test site

Under the agreement, Singapore will serve as the first operational airport environment to study how open-fan engines could be integrated into daily aviation activities. Unlike traditional high-bypass turbofan engines, open-fan designs feature exposed fan blades, allowing for larger diameters with lower aerodynamic drag.

CAAS said the testbed will focus on developing a comprehensive readiness framework to support the introduction of these engines.

This includes assessing how aircraft and engine design choices interact with existing airport infrastructure, such as taxiways, gates, and maintenance areas. It will also study how operational procedures on the ground and in the air may need to change to support the new technology.

Both Changi Airport, one of the world’s busiest international hubs, and Seletar Airport, which supports business and regional aviation, are being considered. Using active airports is central to the effort, as it allows engineers and regulators to observe how open-fan aircraft perform in realistic, high-tempo environments.