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| The first CFM Leap-1A-powered A320neo touches down in Toulouse. (Photo: Airbus) |
Airbus is considering increasing the monthly production rate of the A320 family from 50 in the first quarter of 2017 to 60 or more by 2020, CEO Fabrice Bregier revealed at the company’s Innovation Days media event in Toulouse on Thursday. The company currently builds 42 of the narrowbodies each month. “It is a question of when, not if,” said Fabrice Bregier. When the time comes, however, Airbus will have to meet three criteria: market demand, supply chain health and Airbus factory productivity. “We’ll go when we believe we have a market, when we have a clear commitment from our customers,” he added.
COO customers John Leahy expects an announcement by the end of the year and predicted the rate could actually go to 63. A major question remains with the supply chain, which still has yet to demonstrate it can acclerate to 50 and then “digest,” in Brégier's words, the new production rate before moving higher.
COO Tom Williams emphasized the supply chain “has to feel the same sense of urgency as we do.” An on-time delivery rate of 95 percent will not suffice, he said. Another concern centers on the financial health of the suppliers. “They have to be in a good shape to invest,” said Williams, who added that he is closely watching small companies but the biggest challenge lies with engine manufacturers that have to simultaneously increase production and transition to new products.
Airbus has begun simulating full rate production for those A320neo components that differ from their counterpart on the A320ceo, such as pylons. “We bring all the materials needed, set up support from the machine-tool manufacturer and then run production at the specified rate – it helps us see defect rates,” Williams explained.
Airbus plans to spread 50-aircraft-per-month rate spread between the final assembly lines in Hamburg (25), Toulouse (17), Tianjin (four) and Mobile, Alabama (four).
Meanwhile, flight testing of the A320neo with Pratt & Whitney engines has stopped, due to a “maturity issue,” according to Didier Evrard, executive vice president and head of programs. “A snap ring retaining a seal has to be replaced; it is a matter of days,” he said. The Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft in the test fleet has logged 130 flights. Evrard expressed confidence certification will happen by year-end.
The CFM Leap-powered aircraft, which first flew on May 19, has performed six flights.
Source: ainonline
