Airbus A320 NEO

[Matej]

Airbus finally launched its A320 re-engined project called A320 NEO. The decision was suspended for a few months with the aim not to jeopardize funds and human resources for the A350 XWB. The two most important differencies are the new engines (LEAP-X or PW1100G) and the new large winglets. Development costs are estimated at one billion Eur and the potential market for the 4000 new airplanes.

India's largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 180 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft of which 150 will be A320neo’s and 30 will be A320s. It is the largest single firm order number for large jets in commercial aviation history, and also makes IndiGo a launch customer for the A320neo. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.

The A320neo, available from 2016, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called Sharklets delivering significant fuel savings of up to 15 percent, which represents up to 3,600 tonnes of CO2 annually per aircraft. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

“This order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft will allow IndiGo to continue to offer low fares,” said Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, co-founders of IndiGo. “Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying needs. The opportunity to reduce costs and to further improve our environmental performance through the A320neo were key to our decision.”

“The A320 Family is the recognised market leader. The A320neo, offering maximum benefit for minimum change, will ensure that this continues to be the case for many years to come,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers. “This order positions IndiGo to take full advantage of the predicted growth in Indian air travel and we are delighted that they continue to build their future with Airbus.”

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Some 6,800 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and some 4,500 delivered to more than 310 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7% reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. The A320neo will have over 95% airframe commonality with the A320 Family whilst offering up to 500nm (950 km) more range or two tonnes more payload.

Airbus link

 

[Nik]

Ouch.

Boeing is not going to like this...

 

[AeroFranz]

I'm all for re-engining the 320, but I wonder if they are going to meet the timetable

 

[Matej]

I think the Airbus will concentrate the effort primarily on the A350. So if it go to the same troubles as the B787 (hopefully not), the resources will be transferred from A320 NEO to the A350. We will see. However I am glad that the Airbus, compared to Boeing, finally decided to do so. The re-engining was the theme of the day almost during all the year 2010. Now the Airbus will have the comparable product (in the fuel economy) to its latest competitors from Russia, Canada and China, but can also offer the potential customers the best solution they are based on - the commonality. It is expected to have the 95% commonality with the older A320 and a very strong commonality with the rest of the Airbus products. That is something what the competitors cant offer at all. While the A320 NEO will be probably a bit more expensive in the fly-away cost, the overall savings can make it the better choice for the customers.

 

[AeroFranz]

Hopefully a re-engining effort does not entail the same level of re-design of a new airframe. I am sure it's not as easy as it looks as you really have to re-evaluate the local flowfield, the structures (be better if they can leave the landing gear alone).

 

[frank]

NEO being an acronym for what? I didn't see it anywhere & the article calls it neo in lower case. Is it a word or an acronym?

Hopefully a re-engining effort does not entail the same level of re-design of a new airframe. I am sure it's not as easy as it looks as you really have to re-evaluate the local flowfield, the structures (be better if they can leave the landing gear alone).

 

[flateric]

"New Engine Option"
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/18/349865/airbus-reveals-a320-neo-plans.html

 

[Archibald]

Near Earth Object

 

[fightingirish]

Probably you all know by now, that Airbus flew its new A320neo on its first test mission today on Thursday, 25th September 2014.

Airbus flew its new A320neo on its first test mission on Thursday, marking the start of a 3,000-hour flight-test program scheduled to lead to certification and entry into service in next year’s fourth quarter. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofans, MSN6101 took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France at noon local time. Accompanied by flight test engineer Jean-Paul Lambert, Airbus experimental test pilots Philippe Pellerin and Etienne Miche de Malleray flew the airplane for roughly two and a half hours, landing at 2:22 p.m. The airplane, carrying registration F-WNEO, started undergoing assembly in March and rolled out in July.
The airplane lifted off from Blagnac at around 60 metric tons. During the flight, which took the aircraft around southern France, the crew explored the aircraft’s flight envelope and systems operation, while experts on the ground monitored progress in real time via a direct telemetry link.
Plans call for the flight-test campaign to involve eight aircraft, encompassing all three A320neo models and both new engine options–the PW1100G and the CFM International LEAP-1A. Airbus expects the Pratt & Whitney-powered A320neo to become the first variant in the Neo family to receive type certification, followed by its entry into airline service with Qatar Airways.

Sources:
AINonline - Airbus A320neo Takes Flight
Airbus Press Release - First A320neo successfully completes first flight
Videos of the first flight ceremony are at Airbus YouTube Channel available.

 

[Grey Havoc]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-very-reliable-pw-powered-a320neo-by-mid-2-422626/

 

[Grey Havoc]

Undelivered Airbus jets jam parking spaces, hurt cash flow (Reuters)

 

[Mike Pryce]

@Airbus considering longer span, folding, composite wing for A320?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/14/airbus-brexit-warning-wing-production-bristol-wales

 

[Grey Havoc]

A320neo also potentially vulnerable to pitch-up scenario

Airbus has determined that the A320neo is potentially vulnerable to an angle-of-attack protection weakness which could result in excessive pitch attitude under certain circumstances.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[mboeller]

Bjorn’s Corner: Airbus’ A321neo has a pitch-up issue (now with a second update) - Leeham News and Analysis

July 19, 2019, ©. Leeham News: The European Aviation Safety Agency EASA has issued an Air Worthiness Directive (AD) to instruct operators of the Airbus A321neo of a Pitch instability issue. EASA writes “excessive pitch attitude can occur... Read More

leehamnews.com

a longer and far more detailed article about the issue with information's from Airbus.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Boeing cites risks in design of newest Airbus jet

Boeing Co has raised concerns over the design of arch-rival Airbus' newest narrow-body jet, the A321XLR, saying a novel type of fuel tank could pose fire risks.

www.reuters.com

 

[Zoo Tycoon]

What utter nonsense;- additional center (aka under floor fuselage) tanks are used on their 777-200LR/300ER. With Boeing’s recent record, what gives them the right to act as the world’s airworthiness authority ?

 

[muttbutt]

What utter nonsense;- additional center (aka under floor fuselage) tanks are used on their 777-200LR/300ER. With Boeing’s recent record, what gives them the right to act as the world’s airworthiness authority ?

It's the "Look over there!" strategy....

 

[sgeorges4]

airbus should still check it in case

 

[Grey Havoc]

From back in 2018:

Airbus evaluates an A320neo multi-mission version

www.airbus.com

 

[riggerrob]

With the RCAF considering buying Airbus A330MRT, it only makes sense to palletize avionics to also fill the Maritime Patrol roll.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Up to a point.

 

[DWG]

What utter nonsense;- additional center (aka under floor fuselage) tanks are used on their 777-200LR/300ER. With Boeing’s recent record, what gives them the right to act as the world’s airworthiness authority ?

It's standard Boeing practise to run down Airbus designs, and to try to convince the market they are not what they should be buying, most successfully deployed against the A380. They particularly turn to it when they don't have a competitive product in the specific market segment. In this case the Boeing "New Market Airplane" is as much as a decade away from availability, whereas Airbus have evolved the A321 XLR from the A321 NEO to fill exactly that role. They squeaked out of Airbus having a competition free run at the standard narrow-body market during the Max grounding due to Covid cutting A320/321 NEO sales, but they're facing a years-long gap in the NMA arena with Airbus having a premium product and Boeing having nothing to compete with it.

So really it's a sign that Boeing are thinking: "Airbus have a hell of a product there."

And let's face it, if you have a fuel tank fire you're pretty much screwed whether it's in the wing or the fuselage.

 

[TomcatViP]

A hell of a product?!!!

So far the only thing we can see is an hastly adapted airframe with minimal sensor integration.

Honestly, I want to see those pushing for such a plane flying an A320 in bad weather at low alt for MAD employment through non-cooperative weather with an opposing force lurking around.

Poseidon, as discussed earlier and elsewhere, is a profoundly modified airframe with an extensive search for better systems and tactics that could fit the usage of an airliner derivative.

Until Airbus show that they had this integrated in their design (performances, structure, rewriten FBW, engines...) this is reasonably just an other potentially failed Airbus Military design promoted without much work on it.

And I won't mention the weird idea of having something as large as an A330 forward deployed for MPA missions. If you have to base it 500Nm from your operation area (what will probably be the case for Canada), a distance that would need more than one hour to cover from break release, you'd better be ready to parachute coffins instead of life rafts...

For example, Edmonton is more than 800Nm from the polar circle...

 

[riggerrob]

Dear TomcatViP,
The RCAF removed their C-130 and CH-47 transport squadrons from Edmonton a loooooooong time a ago. Now they use the closed runway at Edmonton North Airport to park trucks.
Serious patrols of the High Arctic would need to launch from Yellowknife or Churchill or Inuvik or Labrador.

 

[TomcatViP]

Thanks for the update @riggerrob . That's exactly what I had in mind. But wouldn't Yellowknife airport be too short for an A330 operating safely from there with full fuel? I mean their longest runway seems to be just inside an A330 minimum requirements.
Inuvik is 1800m
Yellowknife 2200m
Churchill 2800m

A330 take-off requirements (wiki) : 2200/2800m

 

[DWG]

A hell of a product?!!!

So far the only thing we can see is an hastly adapted airframe with minimal sensor integration.

You've confused two separate conversations within the thread.

I was talking about the A321XLR vs the (not even launched) Boeing NMA, and Boeing therefore trying to raise alleged safety risks about the A321XLR to try and reduce its market advantage.

Meanwhile the Airbus A330 MRTT being accepted to bid for the Canadian Tanker Transport replacement has some people, not me, suggesting synergies with the Canadian maritime patrol mission. No one from Airbus is suggesting maritime patrol A330s, and when it comes to MPA the P-8 has a clear already there advantage over any A320 based MPA.

 

[Apophenia]

...Serious patrols of the High Arctic would need to launch from Yellowknife or Churchill or Inuvik or Labrador.

Sure, but I'll betcha a Fuggles & Warlock Apricot IPA that RCAF Poseidon NorPats will still be flown out of CFB Greenwood and Comox

No chance that aircrews' H/SWMBOs are gonna accept relocation to some 'hardship post' North of 60!

 

[riggerrob]

...Serious patrols of the High Arctic would need to launch from Yellowknife or Churchill or Inuvik or Labrador.

Sure, but I'll betcha a Fuggles & Warlock Apricot IPA that RCAF Poseidon NorPats will still be flown out of CFB Greenwood and Comox

No chance that aircrews' H/SWMBOs are gonna accept relocation to some 'hardship post' North of 60!

Too true!
White-skinned Canadians soon go insane if deprived of sunlight.
Yes, that was a racist remark. But since I am descended from Scots-Irish, etc. immigrants, I am allowed to make sarcastic comments about my onw tribe. My skin is so white ... in a good year I can neutralize the blue.
Hah!
Hah!