Daily Archives: September 3, 2011
Airbus A320 Family
THE BEST KEEPS ON GETTING BETTER
The A320 single-aisle jetliner family (composed of the A318, A319, A320 and A321) is the undisputed best-selling aircraft product line of all time. It is used in a full range of services from very short-haul airline routes to intercontinental segments, on operations from challenging in-city airports to high-altitude airfields and an Antarctic ice runway, and on VVIP and government missions with the most discerning passengers.
To ensure this true market leader keeps its competitive edge, Airbus continues to invest in improvements across the product line, including development of the A320neo new engine option, enhancements to the jetliner’s aerodynamics, upgrades to the widest passenger cabin in its class, and extended service intervals for the airframe.
Since Airbus’ launch of the A320neo in December 2010, more than 1,000 orders and commitments had been logged for this enhanced family as of June 2011 – setting a sales record of its own with bookings from airlines and leasing companies alike. This represents an important percentage of the 7,000-plus firm orders booked for all A320 aircraft types.
A320NEO: SETTING NEW STANDARDS
The A320neo provides minimum change with maximum benefit for the best-selling A319, A320 and A321 through the incorporation of two new engine choices – the PW1100G PurePower from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International’s LEAP-X – along with Airbus’ Sharklets large wing tip devices.
These improvements will deliver fuel savings of 15 per cent and an additional flight distance of 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres), or the ability to carry two tonnes more payload at a given range. For the environment, the A320neo’s fuel savings translate into some 3,600 tonnes less CO2 per aircraft per year. Additionally, the A320neo will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.
This new A320 version will have over 95 per cent airframe commonality with the existing models, enabling it to fit seamlessly into existing A320 Family fleets – a key factor for Airbus customers and operators, which have received more than 4,700 aircraft delivered as of mid 2011.
SHARKLETS FOR THE A320 FAMILY
The Airbus Sharklets featured on the A320neo also will be available for A320 Family jetliners beginning in late 2012. These devices cut down on aerodynamic drag by helping reduce the spiral-shaped vortices that are formed at the wingtips of aircraft during flight.
The Sharklets bring more than 3.5 per cent savings in overall fuel consumption on long route sectors to A320 aircraft, while also improving takeoff performance and increasing payload by 500 kg. – allowing for additional range or more passengers to be carried.
The devices also should allow for less thrust to be used during takeoff when runway performance is not “limiting,” thereby decreasing airport noise. In addition to their environmental benefits, the Sharklets’ aerodynamic improvements are to provide multiple advantages for operators – including increased range and payload, better takeoff performance and rate-of-climb, higher optimum altitude, reduced engine maintenance costs and higher residual aircraft value.
With the popularity of its Sharklets, Airbus also is pursuing a large winglet retrofit option for the in-service fleet of A320 Family jetliners – which will further enhance the fuel efficiency and residual value of these aircraft operated around the world.
FAMILY VALUES
The A320 family’s cornerstone aircraft is the A320, which accommodates 150 passengers in a typical two-class arrangement, and up to 180 with high-density seating. The stretched-fuselage A321 version seats 185 passengers in the two-class layout, and up to 220 for a high-density cabin. The shorter-fuselage A319 has a 124-passenger capacity in the two-class configuration, and up to 156 in high-density, while the smallest – Airbus’ A318 – seats 107 passengers in the two-class cabin and 132 with high-density seating.
The A320 Family offers all of the benefits from Airbus’ advances in innovation and technology, which result in increased revenue opportunities. These aircraft were the first commercial jetliners to incorporate fly-by-wire flight controls. In addition, their optimised fuselage improves passenger revenue with the widest cabin in the single-aisle marketplace, and increased cargo revenue due to the larger cargo holds and integrated on-board loading systems.
Advantages of the A320 Family’s spacious cabin – which is seven inches larger than its competitor – include wider seats for unmatched passenger comfort, a wider aisle for faster boarding and highly efficient in-flight service, more space for carry-on baggage, and choices of seating configurations in four-, five- and six-abreast layouts.
GIVING A LIFT TO THE WORLD
Since the A320’s service introduction in 1988, this highly capable jetliner product line has transported approximately 90 per cent of the world’s population in total numbers, carrying some six billion passengers.
The A320 Family’s numbers speak for themselves: a takeoff every six seconds somewhere in the world, more than 50 million operating cycles logged since entry-in-service, and a best-in-its-class dispatch reliability of over 99 per cent.
By totally redefining the level of comfort for passengers, and delivering unmatched efficiency plus the best in technology for operators, the A320 Family has won a majority market share in segments that range from mainline network carriers and low-cost airlines to charter operators and leasing companies. It also has become an aircraft of choice for VIP and government transportation with the Airbus Corporate Jetliner versions.
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENTS
- A320 Family in formation flight
To regularly enhance the A320 Family’s capabilities and performance, Airbus invests more than 100 million euros annually in keeping the aircraft highly competitive and efficient.
In addition to the A320neo and Sharklets, Airbus has continuously improved payload and range since the A320 Family’s service entry, while various aerodynamic refinements have brought additional reductions in drag for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
Improvements in the two jet engine types currently available on the A320 Family –CFM International’s CFM56 and the International Aero Engines V2500 – have resulted in fuel consumption reductions, lower emissions, longer on-wing lifetimes and more cost-efficient maintenance.
An enhanced cabin configuration developed by Airbus for new production jetliners – as well as for retrofit on existing aircraft – provides additional shoulder-level room for passengers, 10 per cent greater stowage volume for overhead baggage, and a modern ambience using LED lighting, all while making best use of latest technologies, materials and design. As an added bonus, the new cabin also brings a reduction in weight.
MEETING WORLDWIDE DEMAND
To meet the A320 Family’s growing worldwide demand, Airbus will increase its output rate to 42 aircraft per month in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The A320 Family is produced on two Airbus assembly lines in Europe: Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany; which have been complemented by an additional facility in China. Toulouse is home to the initial assembly line, building A320s; Hamburg has responsibility for the A318, A319 and A321; while Tianjin assembles A320s and A321s.
Tianjin is Airbus’ first assembly facility located outside of Europe, resulting from a joint venture involving Airbus with a Chinese consortium comprising the Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC).
Obama backtracks on smog plan, bows to big business
President Barack Obama put a stop on Friday to new rules that would limit smog pollution, unexpectedly reversing course on a key policy measure after businesses said it would kill jobs and cost them billions of dollars.
Obama said the decision to withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency was part of an effort to reduce regularly burdens for business.
The EPA has become a lightning rod for critics of government regulation and a hot-button issue for Republicans in the runup to the 2012 presidential campaign.
The move will be seen as another slap in the face for Obama’s supporters on the left, a diverse group already concerned the administration has given in too quickly to big business and Republican pressure on debt-reduction and other issues.
“The Obama administration is caving to big polluters at the expense of protecting the air we breathe. This is a huge win for corporate polluters and a huge loss for public health,” said Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters.
Business groups and Republicans said the White House was making the right decision as the country’s economy continued to struggle.
Opponents have argued the tougher regulations would cost thousands of jobs and purge billions of dollars from the bottom line of corporate America.
“The president took a step today that highlights the devastating impact on jobs that has been created by this administration’s regulatory overreach,” said Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican.
“This action alone will prevent more job losses than any speech the president has given.”
Obama’s announcement followed grim data on Friday that showed U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in August, with the jobless rate stuck at 9.1 percent.
DEMOCRATS DISAPPOINTED
The EPA, under pressure from business and Republican lawmakers, delayed several times issuing the new rule that would limit smog pollution from power plants and factories.
Democrats in Congress called the White House’s decision disappointing, and urged the administration to move aggressively on other clean-air challenges.
“I am disappointed that the president chose to further delay important clean-air protections that would have helped to prevent respiratory and cardiac disease in thousands of Americans,” said Ed Markey, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
Environmental groups worry Obama is backing away from promises to protect the environment. They are concerned the administration seems poised to approve the Keystone pipeline to import more oil from the Canadian tar sands, potentially boosting greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, supported by a broad range of environmental groups, has said the ozone rules would save as much as $100 billion in health costs, and help prevent as many as 12,000 premature deaths from heart and lung complications.
“Many MoveOn members are wondering today how they can ever work for President Obama’s re-election, or make the case for him to their neighbors, when he does something like this,” said Justin Ruben, Executive Director of MoveOn.org
Obama acknowledged the EPA plan could be revisted again in the future, noting the ozone standard would be reconsidered in 2013. “Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered,” Obama said in a statement.
In a call with reporters, White House officials defended the administration’s environmental record, saying it would “vigorously oppose” efforts to weaken the EPA’s authority or regress on progress.
“This is not a product of industry pressure. This is a judgment of the merits,” a White House official said.
SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?
The initial standards, proposed near the start of last year, would limit ground-level ozone, or smog, to between 60 and 70 parts per billion measured over eight hours. The proposal was stronger than the 75 parts per billion set by the Bush administration in 2008, which environmentalists blasted as less aggressive than government scientists had recommended.
Under the rule, factories and oil, natural gas and power generators would be forced to cut emissions of nitrogen oxides and other chemicals called volatile organic compounds. Smog forms when those chemicals react with sunlight.
Dow Chemical has said the rule could cost as much as $90 billion. Several companies including Dow have urged the administration to delay the rule until 2013.
Melissa McHenry, a spokeswoman with American Electric Power, said she hoped Friday’s announcement would bode well for other regulations affecting coal power plants that are under consideration by the EPA.
“It’s good to see the administration recognizing the need to balance environmental rules with the potential impact on consumers and jobs,” McHenry said.
“We would hope that same consideration should be given to other rules that the EPA is moving forward with,” she said.
Louisiana coast braces for Tropical Storm Lee
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Tropical Storm Lee threatened the Louisiana coast on Friday with torrential rains and flooding and shut nearly half of U.S. offshore crude oil production and a third of offshore gas production.
The slow-moving storm is expected to reach the Louisiana coast early on Sunday and bring 10-15 inches of rain to southeast Louisiana over the weekend, including low-lying New Orleans, battered by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Lee was about 185 miles southwest of the Mississippi River’s mouth, with maximum winds of 45 mph, the hurricane center said. Its heavy rain and gusty winds were already buffeting the Louisiana coast, it said.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal warned that heavy rains, substantial winds and tidal surges from the Gulf of Mexicocould produce flash flooding in parts of New Orleans throughout the Labor Day holiday weekend.
“Get ready for the wind, get ready for the rain, it’s coming and it’s going to be here for a while,” Jindal said at a briefing in Baton Rouge. Jindal has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana, and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour made a similar ruling for seven coastal counties.
Lee has a 50-60 percent chance of reaching hurricane strength, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno told Reuters Insider
“The problem with this system is that it’s so slow-moving,” Rayno said. “The big story is going to be the flooding.”
Major offshore producers like Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp and BP Plc shut down platforms and evacuated staff earlier this week.
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