Airbus A318 models, fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engines, were approved for Steep Approach on Tuesday 19th June. The approval was granted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Certification for the CFM56 powered A318 is expected to come later this year.
Steep Approach certification means that the A318 satisfies the approach requirements at London City Airport. It will be the latest generation airliner in the 100-seat class, offering more range than existing aircraft serving the airport. With the A320 Family cabin, the widest and most comfortable cabin of any single-aisle airliner, the A318 will bring higher comfort to business routes operating out of the airport.
This stamp of approval is the culmination of an extensive four-year development and test programme carried out by Airbus with EASA and airport authorities, during which the A318 already successfully performed compatibility tests, including steep approaches, at London City Airport. The tests also demonstrated that the A318 is an excellent neighbour, ideally suited to downtown sites, as it has ultra low noise characteristics.
The A318 is part of the popular Airbus A320 Family which ranges from the 100-seat A318 up to the 185-seat A321. Extensive commonality makes the A318 a natural and easy addition to an A320 Family fleet, enabling airlines to open routes to new destinations with a smaller aircraft that gives passengers the same high level of comfort.
