[Avionics Today 11-24-2016] The upgraded, re-engined version of the Airbus A320, the A320 new engine option (A320neo), has achieved joint type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The certified aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM engines.
Airbus A320neo during flight testing. Photo: Airbus.
EASA’s Certification Director Trevor Woods and the FAA A320neo Type Certificate by Jeffrey Duven, FAA manager of Transport Airplane Directorate – Aircraft Certification Service, signed the EASA A320neo type certificate. The type certificates were handed over to Airbus’ Executive Vice President Engineering, Charles Champion, and Airbus A320neo Chief Engineer, Pierre-Henri Brousse.
The three flight test aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney engines successfully accumulated more than 1,070 flight hours in some 350 flights. Of these 1,070 flight test hours, 300 were completed with the same aircraft in an airline-like environment to ensure operational maturity at entry into service.
According to Airbus, certification for the A320neo powered by CFM engines will occur in “the coming months,” with certification for the A321 and A319 variants to follow.