Airbus A320neo receives joint EASA, FAA type certification

Toulouse, France – Airbus’ single aisle aircraft, the A320neo, received joint type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Nov. 24, 2015. The certified aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM engines.

 

The A320neo successfully completed a rigorous program of certification which tested its airframe and systems well beyond their design limits to ensure the aircraft successfully met all airworthiness criteria.

 

The EASA A320neo type certificate was signed by EASA’s Certification Director Trevor Woods and the FAA A320neo type certificate by FAA Manager of Transport Airplane Directorate - Aircraft Certification Service Jeffrey Duven. The type certificates were handed over to Airbus’ Executive Vice President Engineering Charles Champion and Airbus A320neo Chief Engineer Pierre-Henri Brousse.

 

“This double seal of approval represents a great achievement for Airbus. It recognizes the hard work performed by all the teams at Airbus and Pratt & Whitney. It demonstrates the A320neo is meeting all requirements,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO. “The A320neo is now cleared for its first delivery.”

 

“Pratt & Whitney is proud that the PurePower engine is the launch engine on the A320neo and will contribute to more than 16% fuel burn savings when airlines enter into service,” said Greg Gernhardt, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “We continue to work closely together to support aircraft deliveries to customers as they embark on a new age in aviation.”

 

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.

 

The PurePower engine family has accumulated more than 26,000 hours of testing, including 42,000 cycles, on more than 80 test engines.

 

The A320neo with Pratt & Whitney engines is the first variant in the new-engine option (neo) family to receive type certification. The A320neo with CFM engines will be certified in the coming months, the A321neo and A319neo in both engine variants will follow.

 

Launched on Dec. 1, 2010, the A320neo offers airlines an engine choice between the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM and the CFM International LEAP 1A engines. More than 4,300 A320neo family orders have been received from more than 75 customers.