By Rebecca Rayko, Editor
Le BOURGET - Airbus Industrie's Colin Stuart said at a single-aisle product focus briefing today that he is not confident that the world will see a CFM56-powered Airbus A318 in service.
CFM International is currently providing a business case for the CFM56-5A and -6A engines to become an optional powerplant for the 100-seat A318 airliner, but Stuart said today that he's not sure that will ever come to be.
Stuart said Airbus had considered the CFM models initially because of the desire expressed by Air France and other operators of CFM-powered A320 family models to keep engine commonality with existing fleets. However, Airbus has yet to receive a business plan from CFM that includes "the appropriate set of conditions," Stuart said.
The Pratt & Whitney PW6000 remains the only engine of choice for the newly launched A318. Designed specifically for this aircraft, the PW6000 will provide a 30% reduction in maintenance costs compared with the counterparts from CFM and BMW Rolls-Royce.
"Pratt is targeting maintenance costs, not fuel burn, for this engine," said Stuart, who adds that its the 60% reduction in the number of parts on the engine that will accomplish this.
Not only will fewer parts improve operating costs, it will boost on-wing performance time as well, he adds.
The Airbus answer to Boeing's assertion that the 717 is about six tons lighter than the A318 is that the technological package on board the A318 matters more to airline customers in the grand scheme of things than takeoff weight.
"The best economics comes from technology," Stuart said.
Another comparison chart showed the 717 having a 5% cost per seat mile advantage to the A318, but this fact is minor from the airline operator's point of view, according to Stuart.
"The A318 has the lowest operating costs per trip," he countered, such as the commonality benefits provided by adding the A318 to an existing fleet of A320 family aircraft.
There is a $15 million difference between adding an A318 to a fleet of A320 family aircraft than by adding a 717, Stuart said, giving due credit to the projected efficiencies of the PW6000 engine.
With 109 announced commitments for the A318, coming from four customers, only one customer has what are considered "firm" orders: ILFC.
Airbus expects Air France, Trans World Airlines and Egypt Air to firm up their commitments within the next two months, Stuart said.
He also predicted more announcements for the A318 program to come during that time period.
