The Pratt & Whitney PW6000-powered Airbus A318 will not enter airline service until mid-2005 - two-and-a-half years later than scheduled. The delay is due to problems with the PW6000's high-pressure compressor (HPC), coupled with requests for deferred deliveries and the need to secure an aircraft for flight testing.
P&W aims to select by May a revised HPC design to address the engine's higher than expected fuel burn. The initial five- stage HPC exceeds its specific fuel consumption target by 6%.
P&W says it considered continuing with the planned A318 certification programme with the PW6000 as the lead engine and compensating airlines for the additional fuel burn, but has now elected to redesign the HPC. As a result it has conceded lead-engine status to the CFM International CFM56.
The new HPC will be a seven-stage module designed by P&W or the six-stage HDV12 compressor already bench- tested by its German partner MTU.
Source: Flight International
