Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
australian aviation logo

A320 family achieves ‘Sharklet’ certification

written by australianaviation.com.au | December 4, 2012
Fuel-savings 'sharklet' winglets aboard the A320 family have been certified by EASA, with the FAA to follow. (Airbus)

The European airworthiness authority EASA has certified Airbus’s ‘Sharklet’ wingtip fuel-saving devices on the A320 Family with CFM56 engines.

The approval follows 600 hours of flight testing during a 10-month program, while US FAA certification of the ‘Sharklets’ is expected imminently.Certification of IAE V2500 powered variants is to follow.

Airbus projects each A320 fitted with the 2.4-metre Sharklets will reduce emissions by approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.  In addition to fuel  savings, range will be extended by 100nm and payload increased by up to 450kg.

The devices will be fitted during final assembly at Airbus’s Toulouse, Hamburg, Tianjin and forthcoming Alabama final assembly lines.

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member today!

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.