The Airbus A318 last week flew for the first time powered by redesigned Pratt & Whitney PW6000s, three years after it took to the skies with the original version of the engine. Certification of the PW6124A-powered A318 is targeted for the end of 2005, after a 500h test programme. Airbus says the engines performed "exactly as anticipated" during the 2h 52min initial flight on 9 December. America West is the only remaining announced P&W customer for the A318, with 15 orders. Service entry was effectively delayed by four years when the PW6000 design was changed in 2002 to include the new six-stage MTU-developed HDV12 high-pressure compressor.
Source: Flight International
