Engines Now Quieter For Urban Use

The Airbus A318 and A318 Elite business jet, equipped with CFM56 turbofans, were recently approved for Steep Approach landing capability by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The A318 approval by EASA on November 19 for the CFM engines was preceded in June 2007, when a similar approval was granted by the agency for the A318 powered by Pratt and Whitney PW6000 engines, according to Airbus.

The certification opens up the steep approach capability to all Airbus A318 and A318 Elite operators at airports where stringent approach requirements exist. As ANN reported, tests were carried out London City Airport in 2006, and the A318 demonstrated low noise characteristics making it suitable for urban airports.

Urban center airports are surrounded by buildings and usually have stringent noise rules. Steep approaches enable aircraft to meet these constraints by following an approach path at an angle of 5.5 degrees, instead of the three degree approach common at most airports.

The A318 is the smallest member of the A320 Family, which also includes the A319, A320 and A321. Typically seating 107 passengers in a two-class layout, and up to 132 passengers in a single-class layout, the A318 can fly distances up to 3200 nautical miles with a full load of passengers.

FMI: www.airbus.com