It is definite now, the Airbus 320 family will get new engines, proper winglets and other enhancements so that it may stand on its own in the face of competition from, among others, the Bombardier CSeries and the Boeing 737NG.
NEO stands for New Engine Option and one of the new engines will of course be a variant of the P&W Geared Turbofan (GTF). This is good news for Pratt as riding on the Airbus band wagon will probably take away some of the reservations airlines seem to harbour in respect of the new turbofan architecture.
Analysts differ on the likely impact Airbus’ decision will have on the CSeries, a new aircraft proposal that has so far been less then spectacularly successful. Some believe the NEO Airbus will be replacing larger single-aisle aircraft and therefore will not eat significantly into Bombardier’s market. Others tend to view the CSeries as a dead duck.
There can be little doubt that hearing the news they have sighed with relief at Boeing HQ in Chicago. Ongoing aerodynamic improvements and an upgraded CFM International engine (to be certified by mid-2011) should keep the 737NG attractive enough to keep the competition at bay. But Boeing is not discounting a completely new engine or even a new aircraft design either. Not having to participate in a new design race just now, when the 747-8 and 787 are still taking up resources, is a relief to be sure.
The Airbus NEO should see first deliveries in 2012 with the 320 appearing first and the 321 and 319 following at six months intervals after that. 15 % reduced fuel burn, lower emissions including lower noise are promised. A lot of the improvements will come from the use of winglets which will finally make the 320 family wing tip look less like an awkward afterthought. Overall, the changes to the existing 320 design will be minimal… Airbus’ engineering resources are also stretched to the limit and they can miss the added burden NEO represents.
And what about a new design to replace the 320 family? For that we will have to wait until around 2025+. A lot of the technologies involved, from airframe to engines, will need to mature in that time so that the future bird may indeed earn the title NEW.
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