Airbus A319neo With CFM LEAP-1A Engines Earns FAA & EASA Type Certification

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Airbus recently reported that its A319neo commercial jet has obtained Type Certifications from both the FAA and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) for the CFM LEAP-1A engine. Airbus completed 500-plus flight hours with the engine during an “intensive” flight test program. (Photo courtesy of Airbus.)

After an “intensive” certification flight test program that began in March 2017 and that entailed 500-plus flight hours, Airbus’ single-aisle A319neo commercial jet equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines recently obtained Type Certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). The achievement means all three aircraft in Airbus’ A320neo family, which also includes the A320neo and A321neo, are certified for the CFM LEAP-1A engine.

Make Way For VIPs

The A319neo can seat 140 passengers in a two-class configuration or up to 160 in a high-density layout. The aircraft offers a 3,750-nautical mile (6,945-kilometer) range. Airbus says the recent certification paves the way for the company’s ACJ319neo, an Airbus Corporate Jet variant, to enter service in 2019’s first half for VIP operators. The ACJ319neo can fly 15 hours with eight passengers onboard, or 6,750 nautical miles (12,501 kilometers).

Airbus makes the A320neo Family models available with either the CFM LEAP-1A engine or Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G engine. Reportedly, Airbus will now focus on certifying the A319neo for the PW1100G engine sometime in 2019, a process that will require roughly 200 hours of flight tests. The A320neo and A321neo previously earned Type Certifications for the Pratt & Whitney and CFM engines.

The NEO Family

With more than 6,200 units ordered from more than 100 customers and a 60% market share, Airbus says its NEO Family is the “world’s best-selling single-aisle product line.” CFM, meanwhile, says 86 airlines currently operate 600-plus aircraft on five continents using the LEAP engine, which CFM states delivers a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency.

Overall, Airbus manufactures aircraft in A220, A320, A330, A350 XWB, and A380 product families. The ACJ family includes the ACJ318, ACJ319neo, ACJ319, ACJ320neo, ACJ321neo, ACJ3330neo, ACJ340, ACJ350XWB, ACJ380, and ACJneo models. You'll find numerous pre-owned Airbus aircraft for sale on Controller.com, including ACJ319s, ACJ318s, A340s, and A330s planes and Airbus H125 helicopters.

Source: Airbus

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