MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / LONDON
Airbus is preparing to begin flight-testing the new CFM International CFM56-5C/P engine for the A340-300 Enhanced model before year-end, following the recent launch order from South African Airways. The manufacturer is introducing a series of mid-life update improvements to the 10-year-old A340-300 programme, which will also apply to the A330 twinjet.
The key elements of the enhancements come from new developments for the A340-500/600. Alan Pardoe, director of product marketing for the A330/A340 family, says these include the fly-by-wire controlled rudder, improved flightdeck features (including liquid crystal displays and simplified layout), updated cabin and a new rear crew rest area option. The new features are expected to become standard across the range in the longer term.
"The lead aircraft for the improvements is an A330-300 for Northwest Airlines in mid-2003," says Pardoe. "The second variant will be an A330-200 for EVA Airways in early 2004," he adds.
South African Airways recently ordered six A340-300 Enhanced, becoming the launch customer, with deliveries due to start in February 2004.
The aircraft features all the internal improvements combined with the new CFM56-5C/P engine. "The engine will provide 10% lower maintenance costs," says Pardoe. It will also offer a 1% improvement in specific fuel consumption compared with the A340-300's present CFM56-5C4.
CFMI is due to deliver the first new engine to Airbus this year. It will enable 50h of performance and operability flight tests to start on the manufacturer's development A340-300 in Toulouse from November, brought forward from early next year.
Engine certification is due in the third quarter of next year. A short flight-test programme will be flown on the first customer aircraft ahead of its delivery to SAA.
Source: Flight International
