• Paving the way to first delivery

France | November 24, 2015– The world’s best-selling single aisle aircraft, the A320neo, has received joint Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 24th November 2015. The certified aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM engines.

The EASA A320neo type Certificate was signed by EASA’s Certification Director Trevor Woods and the FAA A320neo Type Certificate by Jeffrey Duven, FAA Manager of Transport Airplane Directorate – Aircraft Certification Service. 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 and ready to offer many airlines its winning combination of unbeatable economics and outstanding cabin comfort.”

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

The three flight test aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney engines successfully accumulated over 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 A320neo with Pratt & Whitney engines is the first variant in the NEO Family to receive Type Certification. The A320neo with CFM engines will be certified in the coming months, the A321neo and A319neo in both engines variants will follow.

The A320neo Family incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 with further cabin innovations. Launched on 1st December 2010, the A320neo offers airlines an engine choice between the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM and the CFM International LEAP 1A engines. With more than 4,300 orders received from over 75 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

Aircraft’s payload capability of 70 tonnes is one tonne greater than expected

The A330-200F has been granted Type Certification today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) following a successful 200-hour flight-test campaign. The trials were performed by two aircraft, covering both engine types on offer: the Pratt and Whitney PW4000 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 700.

This dedicated freighter aircraft, which is a derivative of the A330-200 passenger model, has been certified through an amendment to the existing A330-200 EASA Type Certificate granted to Airbus in 1998. This EASA award will be followed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Toulouse, Christian Favre, A330/340 Chief Engineer said: “After a very smooth and successful flight test campaign we have reached certification in line with our planning. Moreover, thanks to some design optimisation, the aircraft’s payload capability of 70 tonnes is one tonne more than first expected.”

He added: “With the freighter market already showing signs of recovery, rising by 20 per cent so far this year, we now have a great new aircraft to offer customers,” he concluded.

The A330-200F features an optimised fuselage cross-section, offering flexibility to carry a wide variety of pallet and container sizes. The aircraft offers 30 per cent more volume than any freighter in its class, and is based on the proven and technologically-advanced A330 platform, for which Airbus has over 1,000 orders and already more than 650 aircraft in service.

Over 3,400 freighters will be needed in the next 20 years to cater for a 5.2 percent average annual growth rate. This will include around 1,600 mid-sized freighters, of which the A330-200F will play an important role.